Dennis Trillo, 50th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor, was so inspired by his character in Green Bones that he decided to give in full his cash winnings to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
His best actor win came with a silver statuette designed by Filipino-American visual artist Jefre Manuel Figueras and a P100,000 cash prize.
Green Bones won Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Ruru Madrid.
A collaboration project between GMA Pictures and Brightburn Entertainment (Dennis and Jennylyn Mercado’s production outfit), Green Bones is about a PDL (Dennis) who is about to be released. His release was halted by an evil jail guard played by Ruru Madrid who did anything and everything to make sure that he’d remain locked in prison.
When queried why he decided to donate the cash prize, Dennis said: “Isa sa pinaka-mensahe ng pelikula ay patungkol sa kabutihan ng tao o pagiging mabuti. Kung tayo ay may kakayahang makatulong, piliin natin na tumulong kaya naman wala ng pagdadalawang isip pa.”
“Pareho kami ni Jen na gustong ibigay ang halagang napanalunan ko para sa mga PDL at para matupad ang kanilang mga munting hiling sa kanilang Tree of Hope.”
At his acceptance speech, Dennis, with overwhelming gratitude and joy, said he did not want to be stressed out for competing. This is his third acting award from MMFF.
“Lagi ko pong sinasabi na ngayong araw ng Kapaskuhan, ayoko na pong magpa-stress sa pakikipag-kumpitensya o pakikipagpagalingan sa kahit kanino man dahil pakiramdam namin, panalo na kami nung naipasok pa lang sa 10 entries dito sa 50th anniversary ng Metro Manila Film Fest ang ‘Green Bones.’ Kaya palakpakan po natin ang mga sarili natin. Winners tayong lahat,” he said.
Dennis also expressed his gratitude to GMA Films bosses Annette Gozon-Valdes and Nessa Valdellon, writers National Artist Ricky Lee, JC Rubio and Anj Atienza, and director Zig Dulay.
In the end, he profusely thanked his number one supporter, his wife Jennylyn.
“Sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa akin, lalo na sa aking No. 1 supporter, ang aking asawa, si Miss Jennylyn Mercado, maraming salamat. Inaalay ko po ang award na ito sa aking pamilya, kung sino sila po talaga ang nag-inspire sa akin para pagbutihin ang ginagawa ko at i-maximize ang lahat ng oportunidad na binibigay sa akin. Maraming salamat po. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ito. Mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino!” he said.
His third acting trophy at the MMFF, Dennis won Best Supporting Actor for Aishite Imasu 1941 and Best Actor for One Great Love in 2018. (NIGEL CHAVEZ DE ESTRADA)
