EASILY the most memorable feature of the 33rd Catholic Mass Media Awards on Wednesday (October 19) was the presentation of the Special Achievement Award to action film icon Ramon Revilla Sr.

Wheeled to the stage of the San Carlos Seminary Auditorium on Edsa Guadalupe by his son Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Revilla Sr. received the award from the CMMA for contributing to the upliftment of the Philippine movie industry through his more than 50 years in the industry and for “inspiring Filipinos with the heroic roles” that he played.

The CMMA trophy was handed to him by Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, archbishop of Manila and honorary chairman of CMMA, and Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, president and chairman.

The elder Revilla was visibly touched when, trickling in until they almost filled the stage, his grandchildren serenaded him with the song “Iingatan Ka” by Carol Banawa, especially as a little girl’s voice prevailed over the rest as she sang with gusto into a mike that she held.

He tried to express his thanks but had to stop as he choked back tears, prompting his son to take over to express the entire family’s thanks.

“This award is very important and very meaningful to us, coming from the CMMA, we are very thankful and proud of it, we will always treasure it,” said the senator.

The Blessed John Paul II Award, another special award, was launched by the CMMA on the same occasion in honor of the beatification this year of the late Pontiff. It was conferred on Cardinal Rosales for his outstanding service to the poor through the Pondo ng Pinoy Foundation.

A new sub-category for film, the Students’ Choice Award for Best Movie, was also approved for this year’s awards. The first recipient of this award is “Sa ‘Yo Lamang” of Star Cinema.

Vice President Jejomar Binay introduced his keynote speech with a request for prayers for slain Italian priest Fr. Fausto Tentorio who, he said, “has earned his eternal award” after years of bringing the good news to the people of Mindanao as a missionary.

In keeping with the CMMA’s theme this year of “Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age,” Binay underscored the vast power of modern communications technology to influence the course of events. Digital media, he said, could be used for either good or bad and mass media pracitioners “have a great responsibility on their shoulders... they should be truthful and prudent, more discerning, determined not to contribute to the problems created by digital media.”

“Media must be placed at the service of the integrated whole individual,” Binay enjoined media.

The CMMA was initiated in 1978 by the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin to give recognition to local media who help propagate the Christian faith through their works.

Almost 700 entries were submitted to the CMMA this year, up from the preceding year’s almost 550, in the seven main categories, namely, Print, Radio, Internet, Advertising, Television, Music, and Student.