Four ‘higante’ of PH cinema to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is set to honor four distinguished figures in Philippine cinema with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2025 Parangal ng Sining, recognizing their enduring contributions to the art and industry of film.

This year’s theme, “Ang Mga Higante ng Kasaysayan ng Ating Pelikula: Tradisyon at Ebolusyon,” pays tribute to “the artists who helped shape—and continue to shape—the direction of Philippine cinema,” according to FDCP chair Jose Javier Reyes.

“The theme asks: Who are the giants that helped shape where we are now? It’s about those who inspired the roads we’ve taken in our storytelling and our cinematic identity,” Reyes told reporters in a recent media gathering.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred on former President Joseph Estrada, veteran media executive and actress Charo Santos-Concio, filmmaker and actress Laurice Guillen, and internationally acclaimed indie director Lav Diaz.

“People always ask—what about the National Artists?” Reyes said. “Well, they’ve already received the highest honor the country can bestow. What we’re doing here is honoring others whose legacies are equally crucial in our cinematic evolution.”

Estrada will be honored not only for his long career as an actor and producer, but also for his work with the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund). “His most nationalist film, ‘Sa Kuko ng Agila,’ is what we’re showing as part of the tribute,” Reyes added.

Influence across generations

Charo Santos-Concio is being recognized for her influence across generations of Filipino viewers and filmmakers. “Not only is she an actress and producer, she also helped shape pop culture. She was part of the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, helped form Star Cinema, and played a huge role in ABS-CBN’s film content,” Reyes said.

He shared, “Charo was my classmate in La Salle. Who would’ve guessed that just years after graduating, she’d win Asia’s Best Actress for her first film, ‘Itim,’ written by our teacher Doy del Mundo and directed by Mike de Leon?”

Guillen, meanwhile, is hailed for her excellence both in front of and behind the camera. “Laurice is one of our best actresses—onstage, on TV, on film. But what’s more important is that she is one of the cofounders of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival,” Reyes said. “People remember her for ‘Tanging Yaman,’ her most successful film. We tried to find a copy of her most beautiful film, ‘Salome,’ but sadly, we believe it’s now a dead film.”

And finally, Lav Diaz. “Why Lav? No further explanation needed,” Reyes quipped. “This is the man whose film made Meryl Streep say, ‘Your movie rearranged the molecules of my mind.’”

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Other honorees

The Parangal ng Sining will also spotlight Filipino filmmakers and artists who made waves internationally over the past year. Among the honorees are Judy Ann Santos, who won Best Actress at the Fantasporto Film Festival for “Espantaho”; the animated film “Iti Mapukpukaw” (The Missing), which bagged the best animated film trophy at the 17th Asia Pacific Screen Awards; and Antoinette Jadaone’s “Sunshine,” which took home the Crystal Bear from the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).

Now on its third year, Parangal ng Sining will be held on April 11, 5 p.m., at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City, with Iza Calzado hosting. There will be musical performances by Nyoy Volante, Rachel Alejandro, Arman Ferrer, Nicole Asensio, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Cookie Chua.

“People close to the awardees will also be sharing tributes—it’s going to be a night filled with heartfelt moments,” Reyes said.

To further honor the awardees, tribute screenings will be held from April 10 to April 12 in select Ayala Malls cinemas. The featured films include “Itim” (as tribute to Santos-Concio), “Tanging Yaman” (for Guillen), “Ang Babaeng Humayo” (for Diaz), and “Sa Kuko ng Agila” (for Estrada).

Through this celebration, FDCP continues to honor the evolution of Filipino cinema “by celebrating both the legends who paved the way and the innovators pushing its boundaries today,” Reyes said.