The historical film which revolves around the forbidden love between a Mestizo soldier and a Filipina played by Jericho Rosales and Anne Curtis, respectively garnered the most number of awards at the awarding ceremonies of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2008 held at Sofitel Hotel in Manila on December 27, 2008. The film bagged ten awards which included Best Picture, Best Director (Mark Meily), Best Actress (Anne Curtis) and Best Supporting Actor (Philip Salvador).
Baler is a film set in 1898 which retells the story of the ‘Siege of Baler’, a battle between a band of Spanish soldiers and Filipino forces which lasted for 337 days. The film directed by Mark Meily was graded “A” by MTRCB. (Click here for the trailer.)
Meanwhile, the animated film, “Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia” received four awards and the sexy-comedy film “One Night Only” one of the two filmfest entries directed by Jose Javier Reyes (the other being “Magkaibigan”) got two awards. Magkaibigan, Desperadas 2, and Shake, Rattle & Roll X went home with an award each.
The following is the complete list of winners for Metro Manila Film Festival 2008:
- Best Picture:
- Baler
- Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat
- Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After
- Best Director: Mark Meily - Baler
- Best Actor: Christopher De Leon - Magkaibigan
- Best Actress: Anne Curtis - Baler
- Best Supporting Actor: Philip Salvador - Baler
- Best Supporting Actress: Manilyn Reynes - One Night Only
- Best Sceenplay: Roy Iglesias - Baler
- Best Story: Jose Javier Reyes - One Night Only
- Best Cinematography: Lee Meily - Baler
- Best Sound: Albert Idioma and Whannie Dellosa - Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia
- Best Visual Effects: Robert Quilao - Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia
- Best Production Design: Aped Santos - Baler
- Best Editing: Danny Anonuevo - Baler
- Best Make-Up: Noli Villalobos - Desperadas 2
- Best Musical Score: Jessie Lazatin - Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia
- Best Theme Song: Lipad by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr., performed by Lea Salonga - Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia
- Best Child Performer: Robert “Buboy” Villar - Shake, Rattle & Roll X
Special Awards
- Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: Baler
- Most Gender Sensitive Film: Baler
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Edit: My thanks to Mr. Whannie Dellosa himself for pointing out the error. Congratulations! 
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