By Jt Nisay
“Ang pinakamalaking trabaho ng cinematographer ay ilaw. Nasa ilaw lahat ng buhay.”—Romy Vitug
Celebrated Filipino cinematographer Romy Vitug has been called “Ang Alamat ng Liwanag.” As a former photojournalist, and the son of a famous one, as well, the Pampanga native has the innate and honed mastery of light, which brings to life his subjects in still photos and, more so, in films.
On Wednesday night Vitug stood in the middle of the Kia Theater stage and was on the receiving end of the lights, when the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) bestowed upon him the Natatanging Gawad Urian, the most prestigious award it hands out in the annual Gawad Urian, which was on its 39th edition. The winner of the same award last year was no less than the Superstar Nora Aunor.
The timid film legend was visibly uneasy in his acceptance speech, given all the attention. He went on a roll call of industry titans that he thanked, from Virgie Moreno (cofounder of the University of the Philippines Film Center and the one who, he said, told him to go to film) to FM Reyes, Lino Brocka, Mario O’Hara, Laurice Gulien and Armida Siguion-Reyna, to name a few.
Finally, in the middle of all his thanking, Vitug broke the fourth wall. “Pasensya na po. Mas madali pa kasi sumilip sa camera, kesa magsasalita rito.”
The jest was typical of the ace cinematographer, who’s known to never let glory get inside his head, despite being the country’s most decorated cinematographer.
Vitug is a six-time winner of the Urian Best in Cinematography, the first of which came in 1977, just three years after he started his career, with Mga Bilanggong Birhen. The next wins came in four-peat fashion during the early 1990s through famous titles, such as the Vilma Santos-starrer Kapag Langit ang Humatol and Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, featuring Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez.
In 1996 Vitug scored his sixth Urian with Bakit May Kahapon Pa?, starring Nora Aunor.
According to MPP President Grace Javier Alfonso, the esteemed recognition they have given to Vitug is for his contribution and effort in elevating the quality of Filipino films. “Ang kanyang sining na pag-ilaw ay nagbibigay ng atmospera, pakiramdam at impression, at nagbibigay buhay sa mga kilos ng aktor. Ganun din, ang mga galaw ng kamera at lente ay maigting na nagpapaektibo ng kanyang mga obra.”
Aside from Vitug, another huge Urian winner was the film Taklub, which ran away with the coveted Best Picture award from a tough field, which included Heneral Luna and Honor Thy Father. Directed by Brillante Mendoza and starring Nora Aunor, the story follows the lives of Yolanda survivors a year after the supertyphoon levelled the city of Tacloban in 2013. This was the film’s lone win out of ten nominations.
Blockbuster Director Jerrold Tarog scored the Best Director and Best in Editing nods for Heneral Luna, which took home the most number of trophies with four. The hit period piece also won Best in Sound (Mikko Quizon) and Best in Cinematography (Pong Ignacio).
Crowned as Best Actor for Honor Thy Father was John Lloyd Cruz, who was also nominated in the same category for A Second Chance. “This film gave me the opportunity to be enlightened by own choices,” he said. “This film taught me how to better understand my desires as an actor. This film taught me that it’s OK to be different.”
LJ Reyes bagged the Best Actress trophy for Anino sa Likod ng Buwan, an acclaimed one-shot, two-hour, three-character political drama directed by Jun Lana. “Napaka-complex ng role na ginampanan ni LJ kung saan, kinakailangan niyang sauluhin ang mga linya, masterin ng tuloy-tuloy sa halos dalawang oras na performance,” Manunuri Benilda Santos narrated, as she presented the award.
The 71-year-old Bernardo Bernardo won Best Supporting Actor for Imbisibol, while Anna Abad Santos won opposite him for Apocalypse Child.
The other Gawad Urian winners include Jake Abella, Best in Music, and Robby Tantingco, Best in Screenplay, both for Ari: My Life with a King; Ben Payumo, Best in Production Design, for Water Lemon; and Sheron Dayoc’s The Crescent Rising for Best Documentary. Wawa by Angelie Mas Macalanda, a librarian by profession, won as Best Short Film.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza