Lisa Macuja tops 25th Aliw Awards; unique choices set new trends

Lisa Macuja is “Entertainer of the Year”. Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—In a decision that surprised but delighted everyone, including the awardee, the Aliw Awards Foundation on Monday night at the Fiesta Pavillion in Manila Hotel gave the much coveted “Entertainer of the Year Award” to internationally acclaimed prima ballerina Lisa Macuja.

For the past 25 years since it was founded, Aliw Awards have been known to give the trophy to a live performer from a more popular form of entertainment like singing or acting. If given to a dancer, it could be more of a Sex Bomb or EB Babes masa type.

Macuja was aware of this and in her nearly tearful acceptance speech, she thanked Aliw Awards for recognizing ballet as a popular form of live entertainment.

Macuja’s mission in life, as most people knew, has always been to make every Filipino, no matter his or her status in life, appreciate ballet.

Given also the fact that she had just celebrated her retirement as ballet dancer in a series of performances dubbed “Swan Song,” Macuja found the recognition as timely for her graceful

Everywhere she goes, Eugene Domingo makes everybody laugh. Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

exit.

Macuja brought home “the biggest trophy of the night” for the said category plus a few more.

She was named “Best Classical Dancer” for “Swan Song Series” by Ballet Manila, Best Dance Company for Ballet Manila and for Best Collaboration In A Concert for the show “Legends and Classics,” which she did with fellow living icons Lea Salonga and Cecile Licad.

Macuja’s co-dancers in Ballet Manila and some family members were there in the awards night.

As for reactions in giving Macuja the “Entertainer of the Year” award, a senior member of the selection committee who shall remain nameless for privacy and security reasons—given the controversies that usually accompany any award-giving bodies—said frankly it has been the tradition of Aliw to hand the said recognition to the one who will get the highest number of awards.

“Miss Macuja got the most number of awards tonight so naturally she is our ‘Entertainer of the Year’,” said the judge.

The Filipino Tenors led by (second from left) stage actor-visual artist-singer Miguel Castro Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

A columnist who also requested anonymity put in rather blatantly: “By choosing Lisa Macuja, Aliw Awards has regained its credibility. For a long time, this award-giving body has been tainted with controversies.”

Another awardee, singer-actress-performer Isay Alvarez said that though she’s been nominated and has won awards as a stage actress, it’s her first time to be recognized as a singer. Alvarez brought home the “Best Performance In A Concert (Female)” for her show titled “Swings Out with AMP Band” at Teatrino in Greenhills.

Hits and misses

Then again for a few members of the audience, there were also some eyebrow-raising choices.

For “Best Stage Director (Non-Musical)” category, Ricardo Abad won for the play “Sintang Dalisay” of Tanghalang Ateneo.

He beat more popular directors like Soxie Topacio for the highly entertaining “Bona” of Peta and Bobby Garcia for the acclaimed, very intense “God of Carnage” by Atlantis Productions.

Lifetime Achievement Awardees Imelda Papin and Jose Mari Chan. Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

Another was giving Eugene Domingo the “Best Actress (Non Musical)” award for her title role in “Bona,” beating the very effective and more veteran Menchu Lauchengco Yulo (“God of Carnage”), Sherry Lara (“Isa Pang Soap Opera”/Virgin Labfest 8) and Anna Abad Santos (“Seagull”/Dulaang UP).

Though there’s no doubt that Domingo gave a stellar performance that made audiences laugh and cry just like in her movies, many believed the three other actresses mentioned had more challenging roles that they all gave justice to.

But as the saying goes, you can’t please everyone.

There were also some lapses in the reading of nominees and announcement of winners. The projector and the announcer didn’t jive at all.

The visuals containing the names and photos of the nominees were projected onscreen faster than the one reading the program’s script.

25th Aliw Awards screening committee chairman Frank Rivera and member Philip Panganiban. Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

Before the host-announcer could finish reading the names, the audience already knew the rest of the nominees because of this mismatching.

At one point, the assigned reader-presenter of the winner who only depended on the visual projection onstage gave the wrong name.

In the “Best Performance In A Concert (Group)”, the lady reader said it’s Parokya Ni Edgar who won but the real awardee was rapper-rocker Gloc 9.

Whether it’s good or bad, members of the said rock band and Gloc 9 himself were no-shows that night.

A senior member of the jury had to stand up from his seat a few tables away from the stage and correct the mistake, shouting to the reader that it’s Gloc 9 who’d won the award.

Gloc 9 was represented by talent manager Noel Ferrer, who received the trophy in his behalf.

Also a no-show at the event was Sarah Geronimo, who won the “Best Major Concert (Female)” award for her “SG/24” show at the Araneta Coliseum.

Some kibitzers murmured the name of Aiza Seguerra instead, who was there to receive an award for her acting in the musical “Rock of Ages”. She thanked Aliw for it and for allegedly giving her the wrong trophy which she happily read “Best Actor in a Featured Role.”

The night was buoyed up with live performances of various groups, most notably the UP Singing Ambassadors (“Hall of Fame” awardee), The Filipino Tenors (Best New Artist/Group) and Jed Madela, winner of “Best Major Concert (Male)” award for his “Beyond Expectations” show at the CCP.

Director Freddie Santos, recipient of “Best Stage Director (Musical)” for the ongoing musical “The King and I” at the Resorts World Manila, summed up what the organizers and

Lisa Macuja thanking all her leading men on stage, fellow dancers, loved ones and supporters after receiving the final award. Totel V. de Jesus/INQUIRER.net

awardees had in mind that night.

In his thank-you speech, he said it’s all about giving all live performers—dancers, singers, actors, stand-up comedians and the like—their due recognition.

This year’s screening committee members are Len Santos, Junne Quintana, Phillip Panganiban and Joey Nombres. Poet-author-veteran actor Frank Rivera is the chairman of the screening committee. Sonny Valencia is vice-chair. Alice H. Reyes is founding and current president.

Despite a few glitches, the awards night was a resounding success that lasted past Monday midnight.

The complete List of 25^th Aliw Awards winners:

Best Child Performer: Alon Severino (Totong Hilot/Virgin Labfest 8)

Best New Artist: KZ Tandingan

Best New Artist (Group): The Filipino Tenors

Best Dancer Company: Ballet Manila

Best Cultural Group: Tanghalang SLU (Baguio City)

Best Choral Group: UST Singers

Best Instrumentalist: Mary Ann Espina (Piano)

Best Emcee (Female): Iza Calzado

Best Emcee (Male): RJ Ledesma

Best Stand Up Comedian: Jon Santos (Music Museum)

Best Classical Dancer: Lisa Macuja (Swan Song Series/Ballet Manila)

Best Classical Performer: Randy Gilongo

Best Production for Children: Wizard of Oz (Repertory Philippines)

Best Non Musical Production: Sintang Dalisay (Tanghalang Ateneo)

Best Musical Production: King and I (Resorts World)

Best Stage Director (Non-Musical): Ricardo Abad (Sintang Dalisay/Tanghalang Ateneo)

Best Stage Director (Musical): Freddie Santos (King and I/Resorts World)

Best Actor (Non Musical): Edgar Allan Guzman (Bona/PETA)

Best Actress (Non Musical): Eugene Domingo (Bona/PETA)

Best Actor (Musical): Leo Valdez (King and I/ Resorts World)

Best Actress (Musical): Joanna Ampil (Sound of Music/Resorts World)

Best Actress In A Featured Role: Aiza Seguerra (Rock of Ages/Atlantis)

Best Actor In A Featured Role: Phil Noble (Bona/PETA)

Best Musical Director: Mel Villena (Swings Out with AMP Band)

Best Concert Stage Director: Floy Quintos (Jed Madela Beyond Expectations)

Best Performance in Hotels, Music Lounges, Bars (Female): Pat Castillo (Tap Room/Manila Hotel)

Best Performer in Hotels, Music Lounges, Bars (Male): Ronnie Diao (Moomba Bar)

Best Performer in Hotels, Music Lounges and Bars (Group): Draybers (Resorts World)

Best Performance in a Concert (Male): Bo Cerrudo (Cerrudo atTeatrino)

Best Performance In A Concert (Female): Isay Alvarez (Swings Out with AMP Band/Teatrino)

Best Performance In A Concert (Group): Gloc 9 (Rap Rocker/ Metro Bar)

Best Collaboration In A Concert: Lea Salonga/Cecille Licad/ Lisa Macuja (Legends and Classics/CCP)

Best Major Concert (Male): Jed Madela (Beyond Expectations/CCP)

Best Major Concert (Female): Sarah Geronimo (SG/24 /Araneta Coliseum)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Danny Dolor

Jose Mari Chan

UP Concert Chorus

Imelda Papin

Hall of Fame

UP Singing Ambassadors

QC Performing Arts

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Liza Macuja