THE 1975 METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: ESTRADA, SOLIS TOP AWARDEES

JE’s Dilingin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa topped the 1975 First Metro Manila Film Festival winning six major awards--- Best Picture; Best Actor (Joseph Estrada); Best Supporting Actor (Vic Silayan); Best Director (Augusto Buenaventura); Best Sound Engineering and Best Editing (Edgardo Vinarao). Charito Solis won the Best Actress award for Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi. Other awardees were Nida Blanca (Best Supporting Actress/ Batu-Bato sa langit); Luciano B. carlos (Best Screenplay/ Batu-Bato sa Langit); Nonong Rasca (Best Cinematogarphy/ Kapitan Kulas); George Canseco (Best Music/ Batu-Bato sa Langit) and Ophelia San Juan (Best Story/ Kapitan Kulas). Known then as the 1975 Metropolitan Film Festival, the first Metro Manila film festival was held on September 21, 1975, to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. Nora Aunor's entry, NV Productions’ Batu-Bato sa Langit (directed by Luciano B. Carlos), was a hit and won as 3rd Best Picture. Vilma Santos, on the other hand, gave a notable performance in Roma Films' Karugtong ang Kahapon. That time, Nora and Vilma were in their peak, their career and the movies they made were being followed closely, compared, watched, praised, scrutinized both by fans and critics. Their storied and fierce rivalry dominated our movie industry for years. In fact, one could argue that even to this day, a Filipino movie fan is either a Noranian or a Vilmanian.

"Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa" (1975)- Stars Joseph Estrada, Gloria Diaz, Paquito Diaz, Vic Silayan, Tommy Abuel, Subas Herrero, Enie Zarate, Karim Kiram, Paquito Salcedo, Francisco Cruz, Capri Asturias/ Directed by Augusto Buenaventura "Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi (1975)- Stars Charito Solis, Rosanna Ortiz, Tony Santos, Sr. and Dindo Fernando/ with Marianne dela Riva, Gina Alajar, Ernie Garcia, Anita Linda, Angelito/ Directed by Danilo Cabreira "Batu-Bato sa Langit (Ang Tamaa'y Huwag Magagalit!)/ 1975- Stars Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Nida Blanca, Luis Gonzales, Nova Villa, German Moreno, Ven Medina, Tita de Villa, Nenita Jana/ Directed by Luciano B. Carlos "Karugtong ang Kahapon" (1975)- Stars Vilma Santos, Edgar Mortiz, Gloria Romero, Celia Rodriguez and Eddie Garcia/ with special participation of Jay Ilagan, Romy Mallari Joseph Sytangco, Patria Plata, Ronaldo Ruiz/ Directed by Fely Crisostomo

"Siya'y Umalis, Siya'y Dumating" (1975)- Stars Marlene Dauden, Pinky de Leon, Orestes Ojeda & Alona Alegre/ with Luis Gonzales, Blanca Gomez, Bert Leroy Jr., Walter Navarro & Nestor de Villa/ Directed by Mitos Villareal

"Postcards From China" (1975)- Stars Dante Rivero, Boots Anson-Roa, Johanna Raunio, Ramil Rodriguez and Pilar Pilapil' with Olivia Cenizal, Butz Aquino, Ruben Rustia & Robert Arevalo/ Directed by Cesar Gallardo

"Kapitan Kulas" (1975)- Stars Ramon Revilla, Elizabeth Oropesa, Helen Gamboa and Walter Navarro/ with Max Alvarado, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia & Alma Moreno/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana

"Alat" (1975)- Stars Tony Ferrer, George Estregan, Chanda Romero, Suzanne Gonzales, Paraluman, Ray Marcos, Daria Ramirez, Dranreb/ Directed by Pierre Salas