MANILA, Philippines – If there was anything that the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal proved, it was why representation in film is such a big deal in the first place.

On Saturday, December 27, one film and two actors took home the biggest wins of the night: the awards of Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Actor. But these victories aren’t just for these awardees — they’re for the communities they represent.

Perhaps it was I’mPerfect that was the most talked about movie of the evening. Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, this romance drama film charts the love story of Jiro and Jessica, two individuals who have Down syndrome.

It’s not every day that you see films striving to dig deeper into the lived experiences of individuals with Down syndrome. When they do appear in films, they’re often just minor characters we don’t really get to see the depth of. This is where I’mPerfect comes in.

During the Gabi ng Parangal, Bernardo shared that she had pitched the film to several producers but to no avail. These rejections only fueled her to fight to tell the story of I’mPerfect even more, until it finally found its way to actress Sylvia Sanchez, who agreed to produce the film.

“When I made this project, it was supposed to be just an advocacy, [a form of] awareness, pero ngayon, it’s a movement, so sana po hindi lang po ito simula. Sana po wala nang wakas ito,” Bernardo said.

(When I made this project, it was supposed to be just an advocacy, a form of awareness, but now, it’s a movement, so I hope this isn’t just the beginning. I hope this won’t have an end to it.)

“Let them be seen, be heard, and please include them, mga direks (directors),” Bernardo said about individuals with Down syndrome.

Against all odds — with seven other promising films going up against it — I’mPerfect was not only crowned Best Picture, but its main female lead Krystel Go was also named Best Actress.

Go and her co-actors turned emotional as she was called onstage to accept her trophy. They accompanied her behind the mic as she delivered her speech.

“Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataon na ito para mabigyan kami ng boses at mapakita namin na kaya rin umarte ng person with Down syndrome,” a teary-eyed Go said.

(Thank you so much for this opportunity to amplify our voice and allow us to show that a person with Down syndrome can act, too.)

The rising actress said that it was a dream come true for her and her fellow cast members to finally become actors. And to top it all off, they also won the Jury Prize for Best Ensemble.

For the LGBTQ+ community, and all the mothers

Vice Ganda, meanwhile, was named Best Actor for his performance in Call Me Mother. Directed by Jun Robles Lana, the film follows Twinkle de Guzman, a single queer mother who is in the process of adopting her son, Angel.

Twinkle then faces several setbacks when Mara, Angel’s biological mother, shows up unannounced.

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The actor-comedian admitted that he normally doesn’t prepare speeches when he gets nominated for awards like this as he never expects to win anyway.

Even then, he still left the audience with a profound message: “It’s really 2025, and it is really possible. And it is real. Queer people can be best actors. A queer person in gown can be a best actor. It’s 2025. It’s about damn time.”

Call Me Mother was the film that saw Vice really embody his character like never before, and it was because Twinkle’s was a story close to his heart. More than anything, the film tackled the greatest fears of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community who also strive to become parents or mothers of their own.

“Ginampanan ko po ‘yung isang tao na may sapat na kakayahan, may sapat na laki ng puso at kalusugan para magmahal, pero takot na takot na baka hindi payagan (I portrayed a person who is capable, has a big heart, and has the capacity to love, but is terrified that she won’t be allowed to love),” Vice said.

The film was also a reflection of Vice’s own dream to become a mother himself. In an emotional moment onstage, the It’s Showtime mainstay apologized to his longtime partner Ion Perez, whom he has long planned to raise a child with. But their plans have yet to push through because of Vice’s work and obligations — with the comedian likening it to the feeling of losing a child each year.

“Kaya sana magkaroon pa ako ng mahaba pang buhay at sana makapagdesisyon na talaga ako para maibigay na ‘yun sa pamilya namin kasi gusto ko na talagang maging nanay. Kasi gusto ko nang magmahal ng bata na sarili ko, na akin, na puwedeng-puwede, dahil nanay talaga ako,” said Vice.

(This is why I hope I can live a long life and make up my mind so I can give a child to my family because I really want to become a mother already. I want to love a child who’s my own, because I am truly a mother.)

Aside from Vice’s Best Actor win, Call Me Mother won 3rd Best Picture alongside Manila’s Finest, as well as the Gender Sensitivity Award.

The victories of I’mPerfect and Call Me Mother contribute to pushing the stories of lesser-heard communities into the mainstream, and signal the path to a more inclusive means of storytelling through film. – Rappler.com