WELL, it pays to come early,” said Dingdong Dantes, as he accepted his award for being the Best Dressed Male Face of the Night of the 23rd Star Awards for Movies mounted by the Philippine Movie Press Club.

And that, in a nutshell, was what the awards night was mostly about, held March 23 at the U.P. Theater.

While invites read 6 pm, the show itself didn’t start till a little over three hours later, and even then, some of the name names were either no shows or were still on their way to the theater.

So to see A-lister Sam Milby warming his butt in the theater when the show actually commenced meant he was in for some kind of parangal. And true enough, our shy guy was called to the stage twice: for Male Star of the Night and Best New Movie Actor for You Are the One, which he starred opposite Toni Gonzaga.

Kim Chiu, who was around and seemed to have her own cheering squad of fans, won as Female Star of the Night.

Ogie Alcasid was another double winner. He picked up the trophy for Movie Original Theme Song of the Year for “Sana’y Malaman Mo,” which he co-wrote with Louie Ocampo for the movie Don’t Give Up on Us. He thanked everyone, and true to Ogie form, added, “and to someone very special, you know who you are.”

When he was called back to the stage to receive his second award as Darling of the Press, he quipped: “Buti na lang, di ako umuwi.”

It was also a twin win for the Movie Actor of the Year, with co-host Jericho Rosales and Piolo Pascual cited for their respective movies, Pacquiao and Don’t Give Up on Us.
Along with Dingdong, co-host Heart Evangelista was named Female Face of the Night. She promptly thanked “lahat ng aking endorsements.” She, Jericho and Dingdong hosted the show with Iza Calzado.

Kuya Germs, named the Ulirang Artista was heartfelt in his gratitude and strong in his sentiments about the values of loyalty and friendship. He was cited for being a star builder, plugging on long after many have given up on him or his causes. As Letty Celis wrote in the PMPC program, “Ang kanyang ‘Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman’ay nananatiling umeere sa kabila ng late night airing nito. Programang sa simula’t simula ay inulan ng batikos – pagkutya dahil literal na ‘walang pangalan’ ang nagge-guest, at walang suporta sa GMA management dahil si Kuya Germs ang gumagastos mismo sa set, ultimo ‘yung mga pako, alambre, papel at kung anu-ano pa para sa set, pero dahil ang intensyon niyang makatulong para makasikat ang isang nangangarap na bituin, hanggang ngayon, kahit hindi na mabilang ang programa ng Siyete (GMA) ang nawala, pero gising na gising pa rin ang mga viewers pagdating sa programa niya.”

Production numbers included one with Gerald Santos, another with Ai-Ai delas Alas, Ogie and Jaya, and Kuh Ledesma.

A total of 19 awards were handed out, certainly much less than the fans who occupied the theater’s premium seats, and perhaps equal only to the number of stars who actually deigned to show up that night.

Movie Of The Year..................... Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo –Star Cinema
Movie Director Of The Year......... Jose Javier Reyes -Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
Digital Movie Of The Year............ Inang Yaya (Unitel Pictures)
Digital Movie Director Of The Year....... Veronica Velasco and Pablo Biglang-Awa, JR
(Inang Yaya/ Unitel Pictures)
Movie Actress Of The Year........... Judy Ann Santos -Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
Movie Actor Of The Year............. Jericho Rosales Pacquiao & Piolo Pascual- Don’t Give Up On Us
Movie Supporting Actress Of The Year........ Gina Pareno -Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
Movie Supporting Actor Of The Year............ Allen Dizon (Twilight Dancers)
Movie Child Performer Of The Year.............. Tala Santos -Inang Yaya
New Movie Actress Of The Year.................. Maja Salvador -Sukob
New Movie Actor Of The Year...................... Sam Milby -You Are The One
Movie Editor Of The Year............................ Manet Dayrit –Sukob
Movie Production Designer Of The Year........ Egay Littaua -Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah
Movie Original Screenplay Of The Year......... Jose Javier Reyes -Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
Movie Cinematographer Of The Year............. Charlie Peralta -Don’t Give Up On Us
Movie Musical Scorer Of The Year................ Vincent De Jesus -Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah
Movie Sound Engineer Of The Year............... Albert Michael Idioma -Sukob
Movie Original Theme Song Of The Year........ “Sana Ay Malaman Mo”
(theme song from the movie Don’t Give Up On Us
from Star Cinema....................................… Composed by Ogie Alcasid
and Louie Ocampo/ Interpreted by Piolo Pascual)
Ulirang Artista Awardee................................ Mr . German Moreno
Darling Of The Press.................................... Ogie Alcasid
Male Star Of The Night................................. Sam Milby
Female Star Of The Night............................. Kim Chiu
Male Face Of The Night............................... Dingdong Dantes