Naglabas kahapon ng mahabang rant sa Facebook ang anak ni Eva Darren matapos umanong mabastos ang kanyang ina sa katatapos na 72nd FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) na ginanap sa Manila Hotel last Sunday, May 26.

Sa post ni Fernando dela Pena na may titulong “A moment of debacle at the FAMAS Awards Night,” ikinuwento niya ang naranasan ng kanyang ina.

“My mother, Eva Darren, a veteran actress of the Philippine movie industry, having performed on the big screen and television for more than five decades, usually does not attend social events. She loves the simple pleasures in life being surrounded by family,” simula ni Dela Pena.

“A couple of months ago, she received a notice of invitation for the FAMAS awards night. For those of you who aren’t familiar, FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards) is the equivalent of the USA’s Oscar Awards. She was also given a script to go over and memorize as an awards presenter coupled with another veteran actor, Mr. Tirso Cruz III,” patuloy niya.

Pinaghandaan umano ng ina ang Gabi ng Parangal at ginastusan ang damit gayundin ang hair and make-up.

“During the event, she brought along three of her very proud grandkids. With a price tag of P5,000 ($90) per plate for four people, needless to say, it was not a cheap evening.

“It was all worth it though. After all, the last time she was on stage during a FAMAS awards night was back in 1969 when she received the coveted Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in the movie ANG PULUBI (The Beggar) opposite legendary actress Charito Solis,” saad pa ng anak ni Eva.

Kahit nga raw signal no. 1 ang bagyo nang gabing iyon ay talagang pumunta si Eva sa Manila Hotel.

Pero hindi raw nakaakyat ng stage ang veteran actress and instead, isang young singer ang nakapareha ni Tirso sa pagpe-present ng award.

“During the point where she was supposed to present an award, her partner, Mr. Tirso Cruz III went upstage with an upcoming young singer instead. Not my mom. My mother never went on the stage,” kwento ni dela Pena.

“The PR officer of the Production Staff who had been in constant communication with my mother prior to the event had absolutely no explanations to offer, just a thousand apologies. He confessed not knowing what happened and wasn’t sure why there was a last-minute change. My Mom said ‘it’s okay’ but decided to leave nonetheless. I couldn’t blame her. Staying around was just rubbing salt on her FAMAS-inflicted wounds,” aniya.

“You would think and assume that a ‘prestigious award-giving body’ who had been doing the same thing every year, over and over without fail, would have mastered their craft after 72 years. But no, not this entity,” he went on.

Para sa anak ni Eva, kabastusan at kawalan ng respeto ang ginawa sa kanyang ina.

Mensahe niya sa FAMAS, “to all of you people behind FAMAS, you cannot do this to an icon of Philippine Cinema! It makes one wonder… how many times have you callously and insensitively done this in the past without remorse or consideration for emotional consequences?

How many times have you stepped on an artist’s dignity?”

“It is RUDE… It is DISRESPECTFUL… It is UNETHICAL… it is UNPROFESSIONAL to say the very least!!!” pahayag pa ni Dela Pena na halatang masamang- masama ang loob.

Sa huli ay sinabi ng anak ni Eva na binalak niyang magsagawa ng legal actions against FAMAS dahil sa nangyari sa ina pero pinigilan siya ng kanyang kapatid na babae.

“I can think of a hundred other words to describe what FAMAS did to my mother, even contemplated on legal actions for a second or two.

But my sister, a devout Christian, told me to leave it to the hands of God. And so I will,” aniya.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Vinia Vivar