MANILA, Philippines?Anita Linda couldn?t make it to the Cinemanila awards rites held Monday in Malacañang because that was her ?gardening day.?

?My hair wasn?t fixed and my hands were dirty,? she recalled.

Still, she said she was ?overjoyed? to win Best Actress for her work in Adolf Alix Jr.?s ?Adela,? which competed with six other films in the festival?s Southeast Asian section.

Alix said Anita cried upon learning the good news.

?It?s my first international recognition,? she later told Inquirer Entertainment in a phone interview. ?It?s a pleasant surprise and a great birthday gift.?

Turning 84

The legendary actress, who won a Maria Clara Award in 1951 (precursor of the Famas) for ?Sisa,? turns 84 on Nov. 23.

Also in the SEA section, Mario Maurer of Thailand?s ?The Love of Siam? won Best Actor; another Philippine entry, Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto?s ?Confessional? won Best Film.

In the festival?s main/international section, Israel?s ?The Band?s Visit? won Best Film, RP/Iceland?s ?The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela? won the Grand Jury Prize. Best Actress went to another Filipina, Angeli Bayani, for Lav Diaz?s ?Melancholia.? Kenneth Moraleda won Best Actor for Australia?s ?Lucky Miles.?

Pinoy descent

According to festival director Tikoy Aguiluz, Moraleda is of Filipino descent.

In the Digital Lokal section, Sherad Anthony Sanchez?s ?Imburnal? won Best Film, Ato Bautista won Best Director for ?Carnivore.? Carlo Aquino of ?Carnivore? won Best Actor and Jodi Sta. Maria of ?Sisa? won Best Actress. Raya Martin?s ?Next Attraction? won Jury Prize.

?After doing three films, I no longer expect to win because my team and I make unpopular films,? said Bautista, who also won for the first time.

?Carnivore? tackles corruption, he said.

The trophies were handed out by President Macapagal-Arroyo. ?I apologized to her because I was in jeans,? Bautista said.

Young cinema

In the Young Cinema section, Ralston Jover and James Amparo?s ?Marlon? won Best Documentary; Antoinette Jadaone?s ?Tumbang Preso? won Best Short; and Christopher Gozum?s ?Surreal Random MMS Texts for a Mother, a Sister and a Wife who Longs for You: Landscape with Figures? won the Ishmael Bernal Award.

Scriptwriter Jose Lacaba is this year?s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Among the jury members are National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera (chair of the main section), Netpac critic Wong Tuk Cheong (Southeast Asian chair), Lav Diaz (Digital Lokal chair) and Bangkok film fest programmer Pimpaka Towira (Digital Lokal jury member).

(E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com)