It might have been the most prestigious if not the consolation prize for the pride of Batangas Province, specifically Lipa City, when one of its residents, Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto, could receive from the 2nd Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Los Angeles, California.
But something went disarray along the way.
The 2025 MIFF was held on the first week of March after it was postponed from the original February calendar immediately after the outbreak of wildfires in the US in January 2025 that heavily damaged properties and cost human lives around the Los Angeles County that affected Hollywood, the site of the 2nd MIFF TCL Chinese Theater which was the venue of all scheduled screenings of Philippine films.
Still, TCL was the main circuit of the fest.
Originally, Mentorque Productions had fielded the showing of "Uninvited" which starred Vilma with Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre but it was pulled out from the lineup on March 6.
It could have been pitted against other entries from the Philippines and Filipino films in the diaspora like "Love Hurts" directed by Jonathan Eusebio, "Song of the Fireflies" directed by King Palisoc, "Espantaho" directed by Chito Roño, "The Kingdom" directed by Michael Tuviera, "My Future You" directed by Crisanto Aquino, the last three, all products sold at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.
It could have been Santos-Recto's fighting chance in the Best Actress category.
Since it was withdrawn during the last minute, Vi missed the race.
Instead, female stars like Judy Ann Santos ("Espantaho"), Francine Diaz ("My Future You"), Morisette Amon ("Song of the Fireflies") etc. were the ones in the running.
It was Morisette who clinched the award.
Santos-Recto was feted, surely, with a special award, the Monty Manibog Lifetime Achievement Award together with Ricky Lee, Boots Anson Roa and the late Lily Monteverde, better known as Mother Lily.
Monty Manibog, whose recognition was named after, was a Filipino wrestler in the US who fought at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Manibog was also the first Asian American who was elected to the Monterey Park City Council in Southern California.
While we are still at the MIFF discussion, wonder why former Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and founder of Young Critics Circle (YCC) Mike Feria wasn't recognized at the 2nd MIFF when he was a forerunner in organizing Philippine film festivals in the US through his FACINE (Filipino-American Cine Festival) which has outlived other Filipino film fests abroad.
FACINE has already endured its 30 years of existence until Mike decided to terminate the showing and awarding of Filipino films from the Philippines and overseas. Instead, FACINE will eventually focus on film education and appreciation.
While at it, the International Film Festival Manhattan organized by Fil-Am Luis Pedron could also be given recognition no matter its stage of early years in the arts and trade.
Just because Feria and Pedron are independent individuals doesn't mean they are insignificant compared to the bigger MIFF.
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