FIRST SAY:
“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are God. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”
― Christopher Hitchens, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
The 7th Eddys (Entertainment Editors’ Choice) is celebrating the best in local cinema by honoring actors who played a crucial role in reviving cinema attendance after the pandemic challenges.
The annual film event is presenting the Box Office Heroes Award to the lead stars of last year’s highest-grossing films that successfully attracted audiences back to cinemas, significantly helping the film sector bounce back.
“Each of the films cited in this year’s Box Office Hero award has earned more than P100 million at the box office,” said SPEEd (Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors) president Salve Asis, entertainment editor of Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang Masa.
“The figures they produced are more than enough to inspire the industry to continue producing films that are both commercially viable and artistically impactful,” Asis added.
Initially announced in February, the Box Office Heroes special award will be given to Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Piolo Pascual, Alden Richards, Julia Montes, and Kathryn Bernardo.
Dingdong and Marian are recognized for their 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Rewind.” The family drama, which has garnered widespread acclaim and a strong box office performance, is currently the highest-grossing local film of all time, earning P1 billion during its commercial run.
“Rewind” is a co-production between Star Cinema, Agosto Dos Media, and APT Entertainment.
Alden and Julia will receive the accolade for their film “Five Breakups and A Romance.”
Apart from their characters resonating deeply with audiences, the romantic drama, co-produced by GMA Pictures, Cornerstone Studios, and Myriad Entertainment, earned more than P100 million at the local box office.
Another Eddys Box Office Hero is Kathryn, who captivated the public in her unconventional role in “A Very Good Girl.” The dark comedy thriller, produced by Star Cinema, earned a spot among last year’s top cinematic achievers, tallying P100 million box office gross. It is the first local film to breach the 100-million mark in terms of box office revenue since the pandemic started.
Piolo will be honored for his role in “Mallari,” the 49th MMFF’s second box office winner. The horror film by Mentorque Productions earned P225 million commercially.
The Box Office Hero award will be given out during The 7th Eddys Awards Night happening on July 7, 7:00 p.m., at the Ceremonial Hall of the Marriott Grand Ballroom at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City. The awards show will be broadcast on a delayed telecast on ALLTV on July 14, 10:00 p.m.
The Eddys is an annual event that honors filmmakers, actors, writers, directors, workers, and producers in the Philippine film industry.
SPEEd is a non-profit organization whose members and officers are the entertainment editors of national broadsheets, top tabloids, and leading online portals.
Chinese Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng has accused the United States of seeking to build “an Asia-Pacific version of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization),” and described the superpower as the “greatest challenge to regional peace and stability.”
Chinese Senior Col. Cao Yanzhong, a researcher at China’s Institute of War Studies, meanwhile asked the question of whether the US was trying to create an Asian version of NATO with its emphasis on partnerships and alliances, a common Chinese claim.
These concerns cannot just be set aside, as they could trigger conflict with China. Remember that it is widely believed that the expansion of NATO to the east threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin and pressured him to act, launching the special military operations in Ukraine.
Several Chinese officials still cling to the belief that the eastern expansion of NATO has led to the war in Ukraine, which has now cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.
They ask: what implications do you think the strengthening of the US alliance system in the Asia-Pacific will have on this region’s stability and security?
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