50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Actor Dennis Trillo continues to prove that his heart is as golden as his on-screen performances. The actor, who won the prestigious award for his role in Green Bones, chose to give back in a meaningful way by donating his P100,000 cash prize to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
The act of generosity was shared by Trillo’s road manager, Jan Enriquez, who posted about the donation on social media. According to Enriquez, it was Trillo’s wife, actress Jennylyn Mercado, who suggested the idea.
Enriquez recounted that after Trillo received the award, a staff member approached him to claim the prize. Initially intending to hand it over to Mercado, Enriquez was soon swayed by Mercado’s suggestion to donate the funds instead.
“After Dennis accepted his award, a staff member handed me the P100,000 prize from sponsor Playtime. I was about to give it to Jen when my best friend suggested, ‘Bessie, let’s donate this to the PDLs,” Enriquez wrote.
The donation was quickly arranged, with Enriquez handing the cash to JC Rubio, who is connected with a group that works with PDLs. The funds are set to benefit a facility inspired by the Tree of Hope (in reference to a tree in Green Bones where inmates make simple yet heartfelt requests).
Enriquez shared that this gesture aligns with the core message of Green Bones, which highlights compassion and the hope that transcends personal struggles.
“Thanks for your kindness, Dennis! You truly embody our movie’s main message,” Enriquez wrote in his post.
Meanwhile, celebrity entrepreneur Rhea Tan also made her mark during MMFF 2024 with a heartfelt gesture of her own. Tan, known for her work with Beautéderm, organized a block screening of Green Bones at SM Telebastagan in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Tan, moved by the film’s powerful performances, was seen wiping away tears in an emotional Instagram video. “This is one of the most beautiful films I have seen in years,” Tan shared, praising the actors for their stellar performances. “This is the type of movie that the entire family should watch.”
For Tan, hosting block screenings has become an annual tradition during MMFF, supporting her endorsers and the film industry at large.
“Every MMFF, I commit to hosting a block screening of my endorsers’ film entries. It’s also my way of supporting the film industry, and it allows the entire Beautéderm team to bond over movies,” she explained.
Tan also revealed that she will be sponsoring block screenings for MMFF entries, including The Kingdom, Espantaho, Topakk, and Hold Me Close, in support of Beautéderm endorsers Piolo Pascual, Lorna Tolentino, Arjo Atayde, Sylvia Sanchez, and Carlo Aquino.
