Topacio Speaks Out on the MMFF Best Actor Award, Picks Piolo Over Vice Ganda
FERDINAND TOPACIO — The lawyer publicly disagreed with Vice Ganda’s Best Actor win at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), saying he personally preferred Piolo Pascual’s performance in the film Manila’s Finest. Vice Ganda received the Best Actor award for the movie Call Me Mother, produced by Star Cinema, Viva Films, and IdeaFirst Company, while Piolo Pascual starred in Manila’s Finest under MQuest Ventures, Cignal TV, and Spring Films.
During a press conference for the film Spring in Prague, which was produced by Borracho Films, a company owned by Topacio, he shared that he had watched both films and believed that while Vice Ganda delivered a good performance, Piolo Pascual’s acting deserved the award more. His comments were firm and direct, showing strong disappointment with the final result of the festival’s judging. Beyond the acting awards, Topacio also raised broader concerns about how the MMFF is being run.
He suggested that the festival should no longer be managed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), stating that the agency does not have the proper background or mandate to oversee a film festival. According to him, the responsibility should instead be given to organizations that focus on culture and film, such as the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) or the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which he believes are more qualified to handle artistic and industry-related decisions.
He also looked back at the festival’s earlier years, noting that it was once known as the Metropolitan Film Festival and featured more meaningful films with strong social messages. In his view, the quality and direction of the festival have changed over time because the movie industry has been placed in the hands of people who may not fully understand filmmaking and artistic standards.
Related Post: Shuvee Etrata’s Emotional Message to Vice Ganda Sparks Buzz Before MMFF Premiere