BusinessWorld PH · সাধারণ

Bloom Where You Are Planted, Quezon win big at 2026 Gawad Urian

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NONI ABAO’S documentary on Cagayan Valley activists, Bloom Where You Are Planted, emerged victorious at the 49^th Gawad Urian awards ceremony held on Oct. 8, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Documentary.

For Mr. Abao, their victory was not just theirs alone. “Ito ay para sa sambayanang lumalaban (This is for the people who continue to fight),” he said in a speech during the ceremony.

He emphasized that land rights in the region continue to be an ongoing issue, with reforms needed especially as foreign mining companies continue to have a presence in the area. The documentary’s editor, Che Tagyamon, also took home the Best Editing prize. The documentary weaves together the stories of Cagayan Valley-based activists Agnes Mesina, Amanda Echanis who is currently incarcerated, and the late Randy Malayao.

Another film that bagged four awards was Jerrold Tarog’s historical fiction epic Quezon. It went home with trophies for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Music, as well as Best Actor for the man who played Manuel L. Quezon, Jericho Rosales.

One thing that set the night apart was that its Best Actor and Best Actress categories both had double wins. Mr. Rosales shared his honor with Carlo Aquino, who was lauded for his performance in Bar Boys: After School. Meanwhile, the two Best Actresses were Maris Racal for her work in Sunshine and Odette Khan, also for Bar Boys: After School.

The 49^th Gawad Urian Awards were held on Oct. 8 at De La Salle University’s Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium in Manila. The annual film awards are given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, a group of film critics, which also celebrated its 50^th anniversary that night. — Brontë H. Lacsamana