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Filipinas Eugene Domingo of “The Woman in The Septic Tank” and Shamaine Buencamino of “Nino” brought honors to their country by being named the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 6th Asian Film Awards held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center on Mar. 19.

Domingo bested Vidya Balan of “The Dirty Picture” (India), Michelle Chen of “You Are the Apple of My Eye” (Taiwan), Leila Hatami of “Nadir and Samin: A Separation,” and Deanie Ip of “A Simple Life” (Hong Kong) for the citation. Buencamino succeeded over Gwen Lun-mei of “The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” (Hong Kong/ Mainland China), Cris Horwang of “Headshot” (Thailand), Mitsushima Hikari of “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai” (Japan), and Yan Ni of “11 Flowers” (Mainland China/France).

FUNNY LADY

Domingo had the audience in the palm of her hand the moment she went onstage to accept the trophy from Chinese superstar Andy Lau, who won the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Actor. Before giving her acceptance speech, she held up her mobile phone to take a picture of herself together with Lau, telling the audience to wait for her since “I waited 25 years for this,” without elaborating if she means the award or the photo. Lau gamely posed with her and laughed out loud when Domingo suggested that they co-star in a movie.

“I’m very famous,” she told him and the audience in deadpan expression, obviously pertaining to the fact that her and Lau’s awards were determined by people’s votes. Domingo kept the punchlines coming by saying that she campaigned for Lau among Filipinos—who are very “talented” in texting, she pointed out—that’s why he won.

In presenting the nominees for Best Supporting Actor, Domingo, once again, cracked jokes. She told her co-presenter that the latter has the option to buy the Best Supporting Actor trophy from her or trade it for a necklace. The co-presenter smiled but declined the offer.

Jokes aside, Domingo offered her award to Team Philippines at the 6th Asian Awards that also included Chris Martinez, who was nominated in the Best Screenwriter category. When an international news agency asked Domingo on the red carpet a few hours prior about the message of her film, she proudly said that the Filipino film industry is “very promising” and that many Filipino films can stand up to the best of them anywhere in the world.

HER BIG COMEBACK

Buencamino’s triumph, on the other hand, was a tearful affair. With eyes shining and voice cracking, she shared why “Nino” means so much to her.

“Our film ‘Nino’ is about family…and I felt I gave up my acting for my family when I had my four children. I only came back just a few years ago—and here I am. Thank you, Lord.”

After thanking “Nino” director Loy Arcenas, Buencamino looked directly at his husband, actor Noni Beuncamino, to acknowledge him.

“To the love of my life, my lucky charm…thank you for dealing with my nerves for the last few days,” she said while cameras captured Noni trying to hold back tears. Buencamino also thanked her children for putting up with her absences while she was shooting the film.

Like Domingo, the “Nino” actress also expressed pride in being Filipino. She dedicated the award to the Cinemalaya festival (where “Nino” started), hoping for it to live on and “continue to make films that we can really be proud of.”

“Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!” was how she ended her speech.

In an exclusive interview with Bulletin Entertainment a few hours prior to the awards ceremony, Buencamino said she hopes to win if only for the chance to train the focus on “Nino” that proudly delves on “our [Filipino] heritage, our culture.”

AND THE OTHER WINNERS ARE…

Below is the complete list of winners at the 6th Asian Film Awards:

• Best Film – “Nadir and Simin, A Separation” (Iran)
• Best Director – Asghar Farhadi of “Nadir and Simin, A Separation” (Iran)
• Best Actor – Donny Damara of “Lovely Man” (Indonesia)
• Best Actress – Deanie IP of “A Simple Life” (Hong Kong)
• Best Newcomer – Ni Ni of “The Flowers of War” (Mainland China)
• Best Supporting Actor – Lawrence Ko of “Jump! Ashin” (Taiwan)
• Best Supporting Actress – Shamaine Buencamino of “Nino” (Philippines)
• Best Screenwriter – Asghar Farhadi of “Nadir and Simin, A Separation” (Iran)
• Best Cinematographer – Jake Pollock, Lai Yiu-fai of “Wu Xia” (Mainland China/Hong Kong)
• Best Production Designer – Yee Chung-man, Ben Lau of “Wu Xia” (Mainland China/Hong Kong)
• Best Composer – Chan Kwong-wing, Peter Kam, Chatchai Pongprapaphan of “Wu Xia” (Mainland China/ Hong Kong)
• Best Editor – Hayedeh Safiyari of “Nadir and Simin, A Separation” (Iran)
• Best Visual Affects – Wook Kim, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung of “The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” (Hong Kong / Mainland China)
• Best Costume Designer – Yee Chung-man, Lai Hsuan-wu of “The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” (Hong Kong/Mainland China)
• People’s Choice Award for Favourite Actor – Andy Lau of “A Simple Life” (Hong Kong)
• People’s Choice Award for Favourite Actress – Eugene Domingo of “The Woman in the Septic Tank” (Philippines)
• Lifetime Achievement Award- Ann Hui On-wah
• Edward Yang New Talent Award – Edwin
• 2011 Top Grossing Asian Film – “Let The Bullets Fly”

(Story courtesy of Manila Bulletin’s JOJO P. PANALIGAN)