Atty. Dennis Gorecho
- Children tie for Best Supporting Actor award in Cinemalaya 2026 - August 19, 2026
- Animals as metaphors of social critique in Cinemalaya - August 14, 2026
- SVBB celebrates 50 Years of Legal Advocacy (1976-2026) - August 7, 2026
The battle for the Best Supporting Actor award during the 22nd Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival ended in a tie between Lucas Andalio (Mag-Iina) and K.D. Omalin (Hand Of God).
In Mag-iina (2026), Andalio plays Ynigo as strange adopted son in the Abreu family. The film follows Anj (Janine Gutierrez) as she returns to her ancestral home days before the 40th day after her father’s death. She reunites with three generations of women in her family, mother Mita (Agot Isidro), aunt Ysobel (Cherry Pie Picache) and matriarch Angela (Jackie Lou Blanco) who are trapped in grief and madness, uncovering long-buried “dark forces.”
In “Hand of God” (2026), Omalin portrays 10-year-old Khaleel, a child soldier of a violent terrorist group in Basilan. The war drama follows a military lieutenant (Ruru Madrid) who uses sports, specifically football, as a means of intervention and a chance at a different path away from war. He sets up a makeshift football post to win the trust of residents suspected of terrorist ties.
The young Andalio was cited for “taking on a most complex role; for seamlessly navigating through intense, grotesque character shifts alongside seasoned co-stars; for instantly owning the screen, holding his own among an elite cast to pull off a jarring, grotesque transformation from innocent child to dark force that remains crucial to the film’s impact; and for an astonishingly mature performance for someone so young.”
The equally young Omalin was cited for “a deeply moving performance and extraordinary screen presence, for fully capturing the spirit of a young boy torn between conflict and hope, and for effectively rendering the sensibility of a Mindanao child soldier whose life transforms as he discovers a love and talent for football, giving powerful life to a dream of escaping violence for a brighter future.”
Andalio is just 8 years old, making him the youngest to receive the best supporting actor award.
The youngest winner of best actor award was Noel Comia Jr. for Kiko Boksingero (2017) when he was then 13 years old, followed by 15-year-olds Jansen Magpusao for John Denver Trending (2019) and Enzo Osorio for The Hearing (2024).
Nathan Lopez was also 13 when he was given Special Citation (for acting performance) for Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005).
Other entries this year that had equally talented child actors include “Ganggang” with Raine Dela Cruz, Kenneth Vincent Mendoza , Don Richmond Cerbito, Prince España; “Kaka Sa Yawan” with Bryce Nicolo Mercader and Dennis Dato.
“Mag-iina” was also cited for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, and Best Original Musical Scoring.
Other films that received Balanghai trophies in the full length category include :
“Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam” with Best Actor for Martin del Rosario; Best Ensemble Performance for del Rosario, Miguel Ordon, Yayo Aguila, Epy Quizon; Best Cinematography; Best Sound Design.
“2 Valid IDs” with Special Jury Prize, Audience Choice Award and Best Actress for Marietta Subong/ Pokwang.
“Status: Rejected” with Best Actress for Ruby Ruiz and NETPAC Award.
“A.ni.mál” with Best Supporting Actress for Bituin Escalante and Best Editing.
The Best Actress award was also shared by Pokwang for “2 Valid IDs” and Ruiz for “Status: Rejected”.
The winners In the short films category include Silkscreen as Best Short Film ; Gabriela Serrano for (Elenita Elena Elaine as Best Director: Para-paraan for Special Jury Prize; Runo! for Best Screenplay; Hoy Hoy, Ingat! for Audience Choice Award; The River Flows in Different Places for NETPAC Award.
With the theme “Reel Reflections,” the festival had nine full-length films and 10 short features in competition from the 278 short film submissions and 199 full-length story scripts.
It run from August 6 to 18, 2026 marking Cinemalaya’s longest run ever as it spans two weekends.
Cinemalaya was held in partner commercial shopping malls and cinemas across Metro Manila because the main Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) building is undergoing rehabilitation, with plans to return to CCP next year.
Chris B. Millado, Cinemalaya’s festival director, said that this year’s festival earned Php18.5 million as of Augusts 17, which is 47% higher than last year’s Php12.6 million.
Millado noted that Cinemalaya’s symbol is the ancient Philippine boat balangay “because it is the vessel that carries new filmmakers and their stories across rough seas.”
( Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786.)
