2nd Eddys Choice set, 14 plums up for grab

At a time rife with award-giving bodies, does a trophy still matter anymore?

I believe recognitions of any sort are flattering to anyone, even for those who have shelves full of plaques and trophies. No matter how obscure, an award is a form of recognition or validation. To the recipient, it could be meaningful, or memorable, and others perhaps surprising, unexpected.

It is important to ask what the award itself carries for the award winner. In this sense, one must look at the award-giving body and its part in the industry in which it moves.

Some awards affirm one’s bankability in the box-office. Others look into how much hard work or sacrifice or going beyond a talent did to merit recognition.

The Eddys explores quality work. It does not distinguish between studio-funded or independent, mainstream or indie, veteran or newbie, etc. It values story, and story tellers in various permutations. It appreciates form in the context of entertainment.

The group behind the awards, the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd), assures that the results come out of a free and fair voting process, tallied by an auditor and kept safe and secret until the big night. Even Speed members do not know who the winners would be until the awards night itself.

Speed members, composed of entertainment editors from various broadsheets and tabloids in Metro Manila, are independent minded — they have never claimed to know better, only that they know their own mind. The results may not have been to everyone’s liking, but they are the fair conclusion to a long and tedious process. The process shows no collusion of minds, no efforts to sway each other to vote a certain way, no backdoor fixing and absolutely no leakage before the awarding.

Among the most memorable moments in the first Eddys was the first-ever hosting tandem of father-and-son team Edu and Luis Manzano. The two lit up the Kia Theatre with their wit and humor, and took the audiences through the ceremonies with finesse and ease. The presenters’ roster included top-class stars, from young love teams to more experienced and award-winning celebrities.

The 2nd EDDYS (Entertainment Editors’ Choice) will be held on July 9, 7 p.m. at The Theatre at Solaire.

The awards ceremony will be hosted by celebrity siblings Ruffa and Raymond Guttierez, while the posh red carpet affair will be anchored by Rhian Ramos and Tim Yap.

This year, SPEEd joins forces with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) led by chairperson Liza Dino-Seguerra, and Globe Studios as major presenter.

Media partners are MEGA and Inside Showbiz of the One Mega Group, which will showcase the red carpet affair and the Eddys after-party.

Some of the performers on awards night are Abra, Loonie, Morissette Amon, Bituin Escalante, Wishful 5 and Noel Cabangon.

The five nominated works in the Best Film category are Birdshot (TBA Studios/Pelikula Red); Deadma Walking (T-Rex Entertainment, Octo Arts Films); Respeto (Cinemalaya Foundation, ArkeoFilms, Dogzilla); Smaller And Smaller Circles (TBA Studios); and Unexpectedly Yours (Star Cinema).

Nominated in the Best Actress category are Joanna Ampil (Ang Larawan); Mary Joy Apostol (Birdshot); Sharon Cuneta (Unexpectedly Yours); Bela Padilla (100 Tula); at Alessandra de Rossi (Kita Kita).

Battling for the Best Actor honor are Abra (Respeto); Joshua Garcia (Love You To The Stars And Back); Edgar Allan Guzman (Deadma Walking); Aga Muhlach (Seven Sundays); and Ronaldo Valdez (Seven Sundays).

Special awards will be given to Mario Hernando, Joe Quirino Award (posthumous); Ricky Lo, Manny Pichel

Award; and Viva Films producer Vic del Rosario for the Producer of the Year Award.

SPEEd will also give out the EDDYS Rising Producers Circle Award to Roselle Monteverde of Regal Entertainment and Veronique del Rosario of Viva Films.

The EDDYS Icon awardees are Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Nora Aunor, Charo Santos-Concio at Maricel Soriano.

Immediately following the awards rites is the glamorous after-party, The EDDYS Mega Party, led by OneMega Group.