In photo are Entertainers of the Year Gerald Santos and Julie Anne San Jose
By Alice H. Reyes
MANILA—For the first time in the history of the Aliw Awards Foundation(AAFI), which spans over four decades, Aliw 2020 Congress was held recently at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.
The Congress tackled the plight of the live entertainment industry during the time of Covid-19, a very timely topic, considering the fact that the live entertainers have been hard hit by the pandemic.
Speakers at the Congress were Film Development Council of the Philippines(FDCP) Chairman Liza Dino Seguerra, DECS USEC Tonicito Umali and actor/director Audie Gemora.
Highlight of the Congress was the tribute given to the frontliners, special awardees and winners of Aliw Awards for their performances in the past year.
Entertainers of the Year who were honoured were Gerald Santos and Julie Anne San Jose, while the People’s Choice Award went to SB 19.
Miss Pilita Corrales received the Alice H. Reyes Achievement Award.
Lifetime Achievement Awardees were NCCA Chairman and CCP President Arsenio Nick Lizaso, Laurice Guillen, the late Bert Nievera, Kuh Ledesma, Ivy Violan and the Aliwan Fiesta.
Hall of Fame awardees were Vince Tanada, Best Actor; Louie Ignacio, Best Musical Director, and Binondo:A Tsinoy Musical, Best Musical.
Other awardees were : Dingdong Fiel, Best Instrumentalist; Issa Litton and Derek Monasterio, Best Hosts; Jade Riccio and Ana Feleo, Andrew Fernando and Arthur Espiritu , Best Classical Performers;
Julie Anne San Jose, Best Rhythm & Blues performer; Janah Zaplan and LA Santos, Best Pop Artists; Mga Sayaw ng Puso at Kaluluwa, Best Dance Production; Douglas Nierras, Best Choreography;Adamson Chorale, Best Choral Group;
Migz Almendras, Best Lead Actor in a Play; Peewee O’Hara, Best Lead Actress in a Play; JC Santos, Best Lead Actor in a Musical; Cris Villonco, Best Lead Actress in a Musical ;
Lloyd Mara and Jon Joven, Best Solo Performers in Hotels, Lounges and Bars;FUSE, Best Group Performer in Hotels, Lounges and Bars Joseleo Logdat, Best Performance in a Concert; Zephanie Dimaranan, Best Performance in a Concert; Rita Daniela and Ken Chan,
Best Featured Performance in a Concert; Regine Velasquez and Sarah Geronimo, Best Collaboration in a Concert; UP Concert Chorus, Best Major Concert; Gerald Santos ,Best Major Concert; Lea Salonga, Best Major Concert; Newport Performing Arts Theater, Best Venue for Concerts and theater; Michael Pacquiao and Christian Biando, Best New Artists; Golden Canedo, Best New Artist; 8One, Best New Group Artist; Patty Tiu, Best DJ;
Donita Nose, Best Stand-up Comedian; Johnrey Rivas, Best Male Crossover Performer; Daiana Meneses and Beverley Salviejo, Best Female Crossover Performers; Sining Tanglawan ng Sam Jose del Monte, Bulacan, Best Cultural Group; Mutia Ti La Union 2020 and Fiestang Caragan 2020, Best Festival Practices and Performance;Governor Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III, Best Festival Catalyst/ Organizer;Philippine Couture, the 40th Anniversary, Best Special Events Production; Bernard Maybituin and Dexter Santos, , Best Special Events Directors; San Pedro Calungsod, Best Rerun Musical;
OJ Bacor, Best Featured Actor in a Play; Vean Olmedo, Best Featured Actress in a Play; Tim Pavino, Best Featured Actor in a Musical; Bituin Escalante, Best Featured Actress in a Musical; Best Ensemble performance , Lam-Ang; Best Music Direction for a Musical, Pipo Cifra; Best Composer for Original Musical Theater;
Fitz Edward Torres & Marco Viana, Best Stage Director for a Musical; Martin Nievera, Best Concert Stage Director ;Marvin Querido, Best Musical Director for a Musical; Patrick Libao, Best Stage Director for a Play ; Batang Mujahiddin, Best Play; Lam-ang, Best Original Musical; We Sing As One Online Concert/PAGCOR, Best Online Production;
Gerald Santos, Best Online Performer; Gari Escobar, Breakthrough Performer of the Year.
SPECIAL AWARDEES were Cong. Alfred Vargas, Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno, USEC Martin Dino, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, FDCP Chairman Liza Dino Seguerra, PAO Chief Persida Rueda Acosta, Dr. Edinell Calvario, Alma Lim, Diane de Mesa, Khenzuyo Yamamoto,Jeffrey Campos, Lolita Ching, Shirley Halili Cruz, Therese Madrigal, Anna Halili Cruz Bueno and Grace Perez, Zardo Austria and Fernando Segovia of Novuhair.
Frontliners who were honored for helping live entertainers were Dr. Tan Cho Chiong, Dr, Gil Vicente, Dr. Frederick Francisco, Dr.Benito Atienza, and Dr. Federico Malubay.
Aliw 2020 Congress is the start of the project that the Aliw Awards Foundation will hold annually. The Covid-19 pandemic has not been all that bad, after all, for it gave birth to the brilliant idea of an Aliw Congress!
To God be the glory
