What would Philippine Cinema be without Lily Monteverde, Nova Villa, Wenn Deramas, and Soxie Topacio? Less exciting and not as thriving, that is for sure; and probably awesome to a lesser degree. Thanks to their unrelenting dedication, immense talent, and ultimate love for Philippine Cinema, these Special Awardees voted by the Board of Governors of the 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards have proven to be worthy of such citations: Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award, Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement, and Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award.

The late Wenn Deramas and Soxie Topacio

What would Philippine Cinema be without Lily Monteverde, Nova Villa, Wenn Deramas, and Soxie Topacio? Less exciting and not as thriving, that is for sure; and probably awesome to a lesser degree. Thanks to their unrelenting dedication, immense talent, and ultimate love for Philippine Cinema, these Special Awardees voted by the Board of Governors of the 37th Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Luna Awards have proven to be worthy of such citations: Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award, Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement, and Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award.

Monteverde, widely known as “Mother Lily” in the entertainment industry is this year’s recipient of the FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award. As the 81-year-old matriarch of Regal Entertainment, Inc., she has produced more than 300 films since her first production in 1976, Luciano B. Carlos’ “Magsikap: Kayod Sa Araw, Kayod Sa Gabi.” Among the numerous classic Regal Films are Ishmael Bernal’s “Salawahan,” Joey Gosengfiao’s “Temptation Island” and “Katorse,” Emmanuel Borlaza’s “Asawa Ko, Huwag Mong Agawin,” Mel Chionglo’s “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita,” Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Boystown,” Lino Brocka’s “Mother Dear,” Maryo J. delos Reyes’ “Diosa,” Danny Zialcita’s “Bakit Madalas ang Tibok ng Puso,” Mario O’Hara’s “Uhaw sa Pag-ibig,” Pablo Santiago’s “Batang Quiapo,” Peque Gallaga’s “Scorpio Nights” and “Batang X,” Elwood Perez’s “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit,” Jose Javier Reyes’ “Sugatang Puso,” Chito S. Rono’s “Spirit Warriors” and “Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure,” and Joel Lamangan’s “Sabel” and “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita.”

Lily Monteverde with daughter Roselle Monteverde at Sine Sandaan: Celebrating the Luminaries of Philippine Cinema 

Other memorable titles from Regal are “Starzan 3,” “Pido Dida: Sabay Tayo,” and the longest-running Filipino film series of “Mano Po” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll.” Regal Films has branched out to Regal Multimedia Inc., Regal Home Video, MAQ Productions Inc., Mother Studio Films, and Good Harvest Unlimited. Not only is Monteverde a prosperous film producer and businesswoman, she is also a two-time Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awardee for Best Original Story with Roy Iglesias for “Mano Po” and “Mano Po 2: My Love.” Her “Mother Lily” title was formalized in 2017 when the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) lauded her as the “Ina ng Pelikulang Pilipino” for her invaluable contributions to Philippine Cinema.

A scene from "Miss Granny" starring Nova Villa

Villa, meanwhile, is a nominee and special awardee in the 2019 FAP Luna Awards. She is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Miss Granny,” plus she is the recipient of the Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievement. The veteran actress and comedian has been active in the industry for more than 55 years. She has starred in over 60 films such as “Maskarados” (1964), “Ang Mahiwagang Pag-Ibig ni Lola Cinderella” (1964), “Alyas Batman at Robin “ (1965), “Manila, Open City” (1968), “Diamonds Are for Eva” (1972), “Noviciada” (1975),  “Paraisong Parisukat” (1977), “P.S. I Love You” (1981), “Annie Sabungera” (1982), “So Happy Together” (2004), “Happily Ever After” (2005), “Close to You” (2006), “Desperadas” (2007), “Oh My Girl!: A Laugh Story” (2009), “Every Breath U Take” (2012), “Kung Fu Divas” (2013), “1st Ko Si 3rd” (2014), “All You Need Is Pag-Ibig” (2015), “This Time” (2016), and “Ophelia” (2016). Her character in the Sarah Geronimo-starrer “Miss Granny” (2018) was her first lead role in decades.

She was nominated for Best Actress at the 2015 Gawad Urian for “1st Ko Si 3rd” and for Best Supporting Actress at the 2015 MMFF for “All You Need Is Pag-Ibig.” The 72-year-old Villa is also a fixture on Philippine television since 1977, with various awards to her name such as the 1987 PMPC Star Award for Best Comedy Actress (Chika Chika Chiks), 1991 PMPC Star Award for Best Comedy Actress (Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata), 1998 PMPC Star Award for Best Comedy Actress (Home Along Da Riles), and 2014 Golden Screen TV Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Gag or Comedy Program (Pepito Manaloto). She has received the Helen Vela Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy at the 2012 Golden Screen TV Awards and the Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award at the  2014 Star Awards for Television. 

The late Direk Wenn Deramas (Photo from his Facebook page)

Two posthumous citations will be given through the bestowing of the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award. The first recipient is director and writer for film and television, Wenn Deramas. He has directed more than 30 films, including the box office hits “Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita” (1998), “Mula Sa Puso: The Movie” (1999), “Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip” (2002), “Ang Tanging Ina” (2003), “Volta” (2004), “Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo” (2007), “Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat (2007), “Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat” (2008), “BFF: Best Friends Forever” (2009), “Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round” (2009), “Hating Kapatid” (2010), “Petrang Kabayo” (2010), “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!)” (2010), “Who's That Girl?” (2011), “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin” (2011), “Moron 5 and the Crying Lady” (2012), “This Guy's In Love With U Mare!” (2012), “Sisterakas” (2012), “Bromance: My Brother's Romance” (2013), “Momzillas” (2013), “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” (2013), “Maria Leonora Teresa” (2014), “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” (2014), and “Beauty and the Bestie” (2015).

Deramas was the director of various top television programs as well. He directed the soap operas “Mula sa Puso,” “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,” “Marina,” “Kampanerang Kuba,” “Kokey,” and “Walang Kapalit.” His writing credits include the soap opera “Mula sa Puso” and films “Mula sa Puso: The Movie,” “Ang Cute ng Ina Mo,” and “Beauty and the Bestie.” In 2010, he won the MMFF Best Director Award for “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!).” He was a five-time Most Popular Film Director recipient at the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF) Box Office Entertainment Awards for “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!),” “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin,” “Sisterakas,” “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy,” and “Beauty and the Bestie.” He was also hailed as one of the GMMSF Most Popular Screenwriters for “Beauty and the Bestie” and “The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin” together with Keiko Aquino. Deramas was 49 when he passed away in 2016.

The late actor-writer-director Soxie Topacio (Photo from his Facebook account)

Soxie Topacio is the second recipient of the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award. The director, actor, and writer for film, television, and theater passed away in 2017 at the age of 65. His film directing credits include “Ikaw na Sana” (1994), “Reyna: ang makulay na pakikipagsapalaran ng mga achucherva, achuchuva, achechenes…” (2006), “Puso 3” (2006) together with Rahyan Carlos and Peque Gallaga, “Ded na si Lolo” (2009), “The Adventures of Pureza: Queen of the Riles” (2011), and “D' Kilabots Pogi Brothers Weh?!?” (2012). “Ded na si Lolo” was the official Philippine entry to the 2010 Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category. Topacio has also starred in more than 25 films like Brocka’s “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay,” Bernal’s “Tisoy!,” O’Hara’s “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,” Lupita Kashiwahara’s “Ibalik Mo ang Araw sa Mundong Makasalanan,” Celso Ad. Castillo’s “Tag-ulan sa Tag-araw,” Gosengfiao’s “Blue Jeans,” delos Reyes’ “High School Circa '65,” Perez’s “Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M.,” Tony Reyes’ “Ispiritista: Itay, May Moomoo!,” and Jun Lana’s “Bwakaw.” He is also credited as a writer for the films “Friends in Love,” “Diosa,” “Tsikiting Master,” and “Ded na si Lolo.”

On television, Topacio was a driving force behind and in front of the camera. He has directed television series, comedies, drama anthologies, and soap operas such as “True Stories,” “Komiks,” “Dear Diary,” “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin,” “Pira-pirasong Pangarap,” “Nuts Entertainment,” “Maynila,” “Family Zoo,” “Takeshi’s Castle,” “Impostora,” “Atlantika,” “Joey's Quirky World,” “Wattpad Presents,” “Juan Tamad,” and “Dear Uge.” Among his TV roles were for “Duplex,” “It's a Deal,” “Bakekang” and “Diva.” Onstage, Topacio was an actor and director for various productions of Gantimpala Theater and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). He has directed more than 45 stage plays and has acted in over 40 theater productions. The Golden Screen Awards has commended him in 2010 for Best Screenplay for “Ded na si Lolo” and has nominated him for Best Director for “Ded na si Lolo” (2010) and Best Supporting Actor for “Bwakaw” (2013). In the 2010 Star Awards for Movies, he was nominated for “Ded na si Lolo” for Digital Movie Original Screenplay of the Year and Digital Movie Director of the Year.

Monteverde, Villa, Deramas, and Topacio will be hailed as the Special Awardees at the 37th FAP Luna Awards Night on November 30, Saturday, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Monteverde and Villa will personally accept their lifetime achievement trophies, while representatives of Deramas and Topacio will accept their posthumous awards. Witness the Special Awards segment as well as the Red Carpet event and the rest of the Awards Ceremony via livestream on the Film Development Council of the Philippines Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/FDCP.PH).