MANILA, Philippines—Angel Locsin, the second Filipino nominated for best actress in the 37th International Emmy Awards, will walk the red carpet at the gala ceremony in New York on Monday (Tuesday morning in Manila).
“This is a big honor. I try not to think about whether I would win the award or not. It’s enough that people appreciated my hard work. It’s time the world took notice of Filipino talents. It’s our time to shine,” Locsin, 24, told reporters shortly before she left for the United States on Thursday.
Locsin has been nominated for her role as she-wolf Lyka Raymundo in the TV series “Lobo” (The Wolf) that aired in January 2008 on ABS-CBN. It also featured matinee idol Piolo Pascual as lead actor. Cathy Garcia-Molina directed.
Locsin is competing against actresses Emma de Caunes for her performance in “Night Birds,” produced by Chez Wam, France; Cecilia Suárez for her work in “Capadocia,” produced by HBO Latin American Originals, Mexico; and Julie Walters for her portrayal of a woman diagnosed with an incurable degenerative disease in “A Short Stay in Switzerland,” produced by the BBC, United Kingdom.
Tessie Tomas was the first Filipino nominated for best actress in the International Emmys for her role as controversial former first lady Imelda Marcos in the 1989 film “A Dangerous Life.”
The International Emmys honor excellence in TV programming produced outside of the United States. The awards night will be held at the Hilton Hotel in New York and will highlight 41 nominees from 17 countries competing in 10 categories.
Best telenovela
Two other shows from the Philippines have been nominated in the category of best telenovela: “Magdusa Ka” (Suffer) produced by GMA 7, which was premiered in May 2008 and “Kahit Isang Saglit” (A Time For Us) a co-production of ABS-CBN and Malaysian firm Double Vision, which started airing in September 2008.
The other nominees in this category are “India—A Love Story” from Brazil and “Second Chance” from France.
Dennis Trillo and Katrina Halili, who star in “Magdusa Ka,” will not be able to attend the gala awards night. Trillo is in Beijing, shooting “Mano Po 6” while Halili is taping for the TV series "Darna."
Jericho Rosales, who appears with Malaysian actress Carmen Soo in “Kahit Isang Saglit,” also missed his chance to go to New York as he is working on another drama series “Dahil May Isang Ikaw.”
Cocktails in New York
Soo, however, left for New York with Locsin and her talent manager Becky Aguila for the four-day trip. Soo was accompanied by the show’s production manager Des Tanwangco.
“I hope Carmen and Angel would have a good time there,” Rosales told the Inquirer. “The world is our stage now. I hope more Filipino projects would be recognized globally in the future.”
On Friday, Locsin and Soo attended the opening cocktails at the British consul general’s residence in New York. The pair also took part in the Nominee Medal Ceremony of the World Television Festival held at Sofitel Hotel on Sunday morning and the HBO cocktail party later at night.
Locsin will wear a Michael Cinco creation when she walks on the red carpet, said ABS-CBN Adprom manager Roxy Liquigan.
Honors for David Frost
British TV personality David Frost will be honored at the 37th Annual International Emmy Awards for a wide-ranging career that has taken him from pioneering political satire on television to conducting serious interviews with former US President Richard Nixon and other newsmakers.
ABC’s Barbara Walters will present the International Emmy Founders Award to Frost at Monday night’s awards gala.
“When they’re up there on the stage, you are going to be looking at two of the greatest interviewers in the history of television paired together,” said Bruce L. Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
British TV
British television productions garnered a leading nine nominations, including the long-running MI5 spy series “Spooks” for best drama and the TV talent show parody “Peter Kay’s Got the Pop Factor …” for top comedy.
Mexico’s “Capadocia,” produced by HBO Latin America, had three nominations. The series set in a fictional women’s prison rife with corruption is in contention for best drama, actress and actor.
China’s “Ultimate Rescue” was a double nominee for best TV movie/mini-series and actor.
Another British nominee is Ben Whishaw for his star turn in the thriller “Criminal Justice,” about the odyssey of a 21-year-old defendant accused of murder.
Brazil had five nominations, including the comedy “The Slum,” followed by the Philippines, Germany and Mexico with three apiece. Thailand had its first-ever nomination for the children’s program “Lharn Poo Koo E-Joo.” With reports from AP and www.iemmys.tv.
