Rome Mallari Shines in the 26th PMPC Star Awards for Movies

Congratulations to Romalito Mallari for winning Best New Movie Actor in the 26th PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2010 besting Enchong Dee (Paano Ko Sasabihin), Zyrus Desamparado (Engkwentro) and Joey Paras (Last Supper No. 3) for his lead role as Kiko in Mike Sandejas’ Dinig Sana Kita produced by Cinemalaya Foundation and Echo & Mirage Media

The Philippine Movie Press Club Star Awards for Movies dubbed as the Philippine counterpart of the Golden Globes was held last April 24 at the Ateneo de Manila University, Henry Lee Irwin Theater. Voters consist of movie publicists and movie and entertainment writers.

Dinig Sana Kita (If I Knew What You Said), a love story between a Deaf Dancer (Romalito Mallari) and a Rock Musician (Zoe Sandejas) who cross paths at a Youth Camp that mixes Deaf and Hearing kids, also won Best Sound for Ronald De Asis and Mark Locsin, Best Music Score for Francis Brew Reyes, and Best Movie Theme Song for ‘Sana Ako’y Marining.’

The first Filipino Deaf Actor cast in a lead actor role, Rome, is currently a student at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies. To prepare for Dinig Sana Kita, Rome joined lead actress Zoe in noted Filipina Filmmaker Laurice Guillen’s acting workshop.

In the Director’s Statement posted in the movie’s expanding website, Dinig Sana Kita “opened doors for the Deaf artists as it was well received by audiences both hearing and Deaf. Several filmmakers are now contemplating using Deaf actors…and several Deaf writers are now planning to direct their own films.” As a struggling independent filmmaker, Director Mike Sandejas felt a kinship with the Deaf and thus started his advocacy for the Deaf artists.

Rome is also nominated for the same film for the Seventh Golden Screen Awards for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor along with Zyrus (Engkwentro), Daniel Medrana (Engkwentro) and Chase Vega (Agaton and Mindy). The Golden Screen Awards of the Entertainment Press Society (EnPress), Inc. is on May 5 at Teatrino in Greenhills.

Sources: www.philstar.com / www.en.wikipedia.org / www.echoandmirage.com