A major acting showdown ended in a rare tie at the 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, with veteran actresses Pokwang and Ruby Ruiz sharing the Best Actress Award.
Pokwang, was recognized for her performance in 2 Valid IDs, while Ruiz earned the same distinction for Status: Rejected.
Their joint victory became one of the highlights of the awards night held Sunday at Shangri-La Plaza.
Pokwang’s award adds another milestone to her career as she takes on a more dramatic role in 2 Valid IDs.
The film follows a poor farmer who struggles to claim a remittance because she does not have the required two valid IDs.
Ruiz, meanwhile, continued to prove her acting prowess with Status: Rejected, which tells the story of a grandmother who becomes involved in an unexpected online romance while searching for love and a better life.
Also making waves was Martin del Rosario, who was named Best Actor for his performance in “Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam.”
The film also bagged Best Ensemble Performance and Best Cinematography, among other awards.
But the biggest winner of the night was
“Mag-iina,” which took home six Balanghai Awards, including Best Feature Film and Best Director for Giancarlo Abrahan.
It also won Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Musical Score, and Best Supporting Actor for Lucas Andalio.
The 2026 Cinemalaya edition featured nine full-length films competing for the prestigious Balanghai Awards, continuing the festival’s tradition of giving Filipino independent filmmakers and performers a major platform to showcase their work.
(Photo Courtesy: Sparkle GMA Artist Center)
