SPEARHEADED BY THE College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Department of Languages and Literature, in collaboration with the Society of Bedan Literati and Linguists (SBLL), Gawad PASADO returned to San Beda University (SBU) on October 22 at the Abbot Lopez Hall, as it honored outstanding achievements in film, television, and media.

The Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro (PASADO), an organization of teachers, professors, and film educators, annually holds Gawad PASADO to recognize excellence in Philippine cinema and television. This year, the awarding body recognized films that revisited the country’s history, celebrated women’s empowerment, and highlighted stories that reflect the diverse experiences of Filipinos.

University Rector-President Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, O.S.B. opened the awarding ceremony with a heartfelt message on how artistic crafts have long served as a reflection of reality and truth in society. “Noon pa man… Ang sining ang nagbibigay sa atin ng paraan upang maipahayag natin ang isang bagay na sa ating paniniwala ay repleksyon ng pagsandig sa tama, katarungan, at kaayusan,” he shared.

PASADO also presented the Rector-President with a “Gawad Pagkilala” plaque in appreciation of the University hosting the awarding ceremony.

Among the awardees present were Charo Santos-Concio, who received the PinakaPASADOng Aktres award; Coco Martin, who was named PinakaPASADOng Aktor sa Telebisyon sa Teleserye; Mon Confiado, who received the PinakaPASADOng Katuwang na Aktor award; and Odette Khan, who was conferred the PASADO Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other awardees who failed to attend included Sunshine cast members Maris Racal, recipient of the PinakaPASADOng Aktres award, and Jennica Garcia, who received the PinakaPASADOng Katuwang na Aktres award, as well as director and screenwriter Antoinette “Tonet” Jadaone, who was recognized with the PinakaPASADOng Istorya award.

PinakaPASADOng Aktor awardees Jericho Rosales and Joshua Garcia were also unable to attend the ceremony. Noel Trinidad, another recipient of the PASADO Lifetime Achievement Award, was likewise unavailable.

Kaila Estrada, recipient of the PinakaPASADOng Aktres sa Telebisyon sa Teleserye award, gave a video message expressing her gratitude to the awarding body for the recognition, in lieu of her non-attendance. She also shared her appreciation for the opportunity to portray strong female characters and tell their meaningful and inspiring stories.

Romnick Sarmenta then received the PinakaPASADOng Guro award in recognition of his work in the academe after accepting Trinity University of Asia’s (TUA) offer to teach in 2019.

In his acceptance speech, Sarmenta recalled telling his students that he had little knowledge of preparing syllabi, developing lesson plans, or teaching in general when he first entered the academe. However, he emphasized that he could draw from his years of experience in the entertainment industry to share valuable insights with his students.

Actress and Pasig City Councilor Angelu de Leon received the PinakaPASADOng Lingkod-Bayan award, wherein she described the recognition during her acceptance speech as a “double win,” expressing how she felt “truly blessed to be doing two things I equally love,” referring to acting and public service.

De Leon then emphasized the role of film and education in reflecting social realities, stating, “Ang pelikula at edukasyon, isa po itong salamin para sa ating lahat para makita kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sa ating bayan.”

Beyond individual recognitions, PASADO also honored outstanding films, such as Quezon, Meet, Greet & Bye, and Sunshine, which shared the PinakaPASADOng Pelikula ng Taon award.

Historical drama film Quezon emerged as the night’s most awarded film, bagging nine honors, including PinakaPASADOng Sinematograpiya, PinakaPASADOng Tunog, PinakaPASADOng Musika, and PinakaPASADOng Editing. Its director, Jerrold Tarog, also received the PinakaPASADOng Direktor award.

Following the awarding ceremony, Prof. Marvin Reyes, PhD, chairperson of the Department of Languages and Literature, hopes Bedans will extend their appreciation for cinema to Filipino films, recognizing the quality and significance of locally produced works alongside foreign films. “Kasi, maraming maganda, maraming may quality, maraming may saysay,” he said.

The University last hosted the awarding ceremony in 2003. 23 years later, the awarding body, together with San Beda, remains committed to honoring pillars of Philippine cinema and their role in youth building. Its return marks the enduring significance of local films and their role in shaping cultural discourse as it further strengthens the University’s continuing commitment to promoting Filipino cinema and celebrating the stories that shape the nation’s identity.

(With reports from Julia Velasco)