The feel-good coming-of-age movie Firefly pulled a surprise at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal last Wednesday night when it was proclaimed Best Picture, just a notch ahead of the night’s biggest winner, the historical film GomBurZa, which amassed a total of seven awards.

“Inaalay namin ang pelikula sa lahat ng taong naniniwala sa kapangyarihan ng pangarap, kapangyarihan ng pag-ibig at kapangyarihan ng sining (We offer this movie to all the people who believe in the power of dreams, love and art),” said Firefly’s director Zig Dulay in accepting the award. He was joined onstage by film producers from GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, as well as some members of the cast, staff and crew.

Firefly won two other awards: Best Screenplay for Angeli Atienza and the Best Child Performer for lead star Euwenn Mikaell.

GomBurZa, on the other hand, was awarded the 2nd Best Picture, Best Director for Pepe Diokno, Best Actor for Cedrick Juan, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound and the Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award.

Juan, who bested co-nominees Piolo Pascual (Mallari), Dingdong Dantes (Rewind), Alden Richards (Family of Two), Derek Ramsay (K)ampon) and Christopher de Leon (When I Met You in Tokyo), looked back on his formative years in theater in his speech, and thanked the producers of the movie about the three martyr priests GomBurZa for, as he put it, “pagsugal sa akin” (gambling on me) for the lead role of Fr. Jose Burgos.

He went on with his speech: “Inaalay ko ang parangal na ito para sa lahat ng Pilipinong hindi nakakakuha ng tamang hustisya. One hundred fifty-two years ago gano’n po ang nangyari sa atin. Iyon po ang kuwento ng tatlong paring martir. Sana ay matuto tayo sa ating history. Hindi para baguhin ito, kundi para matuto (I offer this award to all Filipinos who don’t get justice. That’s what happened to us 152 years ago. That’s the story of the three martyr priests. I hope we all learn from history. Not to change it, but to learn).”

Philippine entertainment icon Vilma Santos, meanwhile, copped the Best Actress award for the romantic flick When I Met You in Tokyo. She turned emotional in her speech, saying she only wanted to help revive the movie industry by participating in the MMFF with her perennial leading man De Leon, who also co-directed the movie.

The multi-awarded actress shared the latest addition to her collection with the other nominees: Sharon Cuneta (Family of Two), Marian Rivera (Rewind) and Pokwang and Eugene Domingo (both for Becky & Badette). She called Cuneta “my friend” and Rivera “my inaanak (godchild),” as she stood as a principal sponsor in Rivera’s wedding with Dantes in 2014.

JC Santos (Mallari) and Miles Ocampo (Family of Two) were named Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Santos, who also started his career in theater, paid homage to his mentor Tony Mabesa, “who reminded me back then, ‘Go back to the theater and always sharpen your skills.’”

MMFF 2023’s Gabi ng Parangal’s jury was headed by film director Chito S. Roño as chairperson of the board and multi-awarded actress Lorna Tolentino as vice chairperson. Other jurors included filmmakers Jose Javier Reyes, Mike Sandejas and Lee Briones Meilly.

After its traditional Christmas Day opening, with moviegoers coming in droves, the MMFF will continue to run until 7 January 2024 with the winning movies getting more theater allocation.

Here’s the full list of winners:

•Best Picture: Firefly

•2nd Best Picture: GomBurZa

•3rd Best Picture: Mallari

•4th Best Picture: When I Met You in Tokyo

•Best Director: Pepe Diokno (GomBurZa)

•Best Screenplay: Angeli Atienza (Firefly)

•Best Actress: Vilma Santos (When I Met You in Tokyo)

•Best Actor: Cedrick Juan (GomBurZa)

•Best Supporting Actress: Miles Ocampo (Family of Two)

•Best Supporting Actor: JC Santos (Mallari)

•FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence: When I Met You in Tokyo

•Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: GomBurZa

•Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda Award: “Mother” Lily Monteverde

•Gender Sensitivity Award: Becky & Badette

•Best Cinematography: Carlo Canlas Mendoza (GomBurZa)

•Best Editing: Benjamin Tolentino ((K)ampon)

•Best Production Design: Erickson Navarro (GomBurZa)

•Best Visual Effects: Gaspar Mangarin (Mallari)

•Best Original Theme Song: “Finggah Lickin” (Becky & Badette)

•Best Musical Score: Von De Guzman (Mallari)

•Best Sound: Melvin Q. Rivera and Loiue Boy Bauson (GomBurZa)

•Best Child Performer: Euwenn Mikaell (Firefly)

•Best Float: When I Met You in Tokyo