MANILA, Philippines - While independent films dominate the nominations for the Urian (critics) Awards, mainstream movies lead the race for the 26th Luna Awards handed out by the Film Academy of the Philippines.

The nominations were announced by FAP director-general Leo Martinez and member-actors Candy Pangilinan and Jason Abalos Friday night in SM Megamall.

Three Star Cinema (SC) productions topped the bids in 12 categories: Maryo J. de los Reyes? ?A Love Story? with nine; Jose Javier Reyes? ?Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo? with eight; and Cathy Garcia-Molina?s ?One More Chance? with five.

The SC projects, among the top box-office earners last year, all received nods for Best Picture.

Among the independent projects that cinched nominations in different categories are Cesar Apolinario?s ?Banal,? Eddie Romero?s ?Faces of Love,? Neal ?Buboy? Tan?s ?Ataul for Rent,? Benji Garcia?s ?Batad: Sa Paang Palay? and Bong Ramos and Sigrid Andrea Bernardo?s ?Haw-Ang.?

?Banal? is in the running for Best Picture, Director, Actor (Paolo Contis) and Supporting Actor (Pen Medina).

?Ataul? received nods for Actor (Joel Torre), Supporting Actress (Irma Adlawan), Supporting Actor (Ronnie Lazaro), Cinematography (Renato de Vera); ?Faces? for Picture, Director (Eddie Romero), Screenplay (Romero and Rica Arevalo), Musical Score (Jobin Ballesteros); ?Batad? for Supporting Actor (Galura) and Screenplay (Vic Acedillo Jr.); ?Haw-Ang? for Screenplay (Murphy Redd and Bong Ramos) and Production Design (Bianca Dadivas and Felisberto Besina).

Two actresses got double nods in a single category: Maricel Soriano for Actress (?A Love Story? and ?Bahay Kubo?) and Eugene Domingo for Supporting Actress (?Bahay Kubo? and ?Paano Kita Iibigin?).

Veterans and newcomers are in the acting honor roll this year.

Other nominees for Best Actress are Bea Alonzo (?One More?), Regine Velasquez (?Paano Kita?) and Judy Ann Santos (?Sakal?).

For Actor, other nominees are Aga Muhlach (?A Love?), John Lloyd Cruz (?One More?) and Piolo Pascual (?Paano Kita?).

For Supporting Actor, other nominees are Dante Rivero (?A Love?) and Wendell Ramos (?Happy Hearts?).

For Supporting Actress, other nominees are Angelica Panganiban (?A Love?) and Gina Pareño (?Sakal?).

For Best Director, other nominees are Maryo J. de los Reyes (?A Love?), Jose Javier Reyes (?Sakal?) and Joel Lamangan (?Silip?).

Four special awards will be given this year: Golden Reel Award to former President Joseph Estrada; FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award to Mowelfund executive director Boots Anson-Roa; Manuel de Leon Award to director Cirio Santiago; Lamberto Avellana Memorial (Posthumous) Award to sound engineer Juanito Clemente.

Touted as the local Oscars, the 26th edition of the Luna Awards will be mounted by the Manio Events Management at the SMX Convention Center (set tentatively next month), with the ceremonies to be aired on Studio 23.