FAMAS clarifies Maricel Soriano, Maris Racal awards

The organization behind the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards clarified Wednesday the distinction between the acting awards received by Maricel Soriano and Maris Racal following apparent confusion over their respective wins.

On Tuesday, Soriano was named Best Actress at the 74th FAMAS Awards for her performance in the family drama “Meet, Greet & Bye,” while Racal received the Actress of Distinction award for her role in “Sunshine.”

The announcement sparked confusion among movie fans, some of whom initially believed the two actresses had tied for Best Actress.

In a statement, FAMAS organizers said the Best Actress Award “recognizes not only the excellence of an actress in a particular film but also the depth, maturity and cumulative artistic achievements that lend greater significance to her performance.”

“In this regard, Maricel Soriano exemplifies the very essence of this recognition,” it added. 

“Her remarkable and effective body of work, spanning diverse characters, genres, and generations, reflects an extraordinary command of her craft. Her sustained excellence, emotional authenticity, and profound contribution to Philippine cinema establish her as an actress whose artistry transcends any single performance,” organizers said of the veteran actress hailed as the “Diamond Star.”

Meanwhile, the Actress of Distinction “recognizes a singular performance of exceptional artistic merit — one that demonstrates extraordinary depth, originality, emotional conviction, and an unmistakable impact on the cinematic experience,” organizers said.

Racal won Actress of Distinction for her performance in “Sunshine” because it “demonstrates remarkable courage, sensitivity, and artistic maturity.”

“It is a singular performance of such distinctive quality that it merits recognition in its own right, independent of the cumulative achievements traditionally considered in the Best Actress category.”

FAMAS organizers noted that the two awards “are neither competing recognitions nor measures of superiority over one another.”

“Rather, they celebrate two equally important dimensions of cinematic excellence: the enduring brilliance of an actress’s collective artistry and the extraordinary power of one unforgettable performance,” it said.

“FAMAS believes that excellence in acting cannot be measured through a single standard alone. Some artists distinguish themselves through a remarkable legacy of performances, while others deliver a singular portrayal so exceptional that it deserves its own special recognition,” it added.

Other notable recipients at 74th FAMAS include McCoy De Leon, who took home Best Actor for “In Thy Name,” while Karylle and Mon Confiado won Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, for the biopic “Quezon.”