Veteran actress Eva Darren at Sunday's FAMAS Awards Night. Photo from the Facebook page of Fernando de la Pena
MANILA -- The 72nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards Night took an unexpected turn as veteran actress Eva Darren, a revered icon in the Philippine movie industry, was unable to present special citations alongside actor Tirso Cruz III as scheduled.
The incident prompted FAMAS to issue a public apology to Darren, acknowledging the oversight and inconvenience caused.
The apology came in response to a post by Darren's son, Fernando de la Pena, who shared his mother's excitement and preparation for the event.
De la Pena revealed that Darren had eagerly anticipated the invitation, invested in a new outfit, hair and makeup, and even brought along her grandchildren to share in the special occasion. Despite the cost and effort involved, Darren was determined to attend and had memorized her script, braving adverse weather conditions to make it to the Manila Hotel for the event.
However, Darren's efforts were in vain as she was unable to appear on stage during the awards ceremony.
FAMAS attributed her absence to the challenges of the live broadcast and the bustling atmosphere of the event, which hindered the production team from locating her for the scheduled presentation.
In a statement addressing the incident, FAMAS expressed deep regret and acknowledged the unintended nature of Darren's absence. The organization emphasized that the oversight was not intentional but rather a result of the exigencies of a live show that required immediate resolution.
“Rest assured that this was not intentional and purely a misjudgment. The show is being streamed live and needed to be remedied right away. Hence, a replacement for Miss Darren was done last minute,” it said.
FAMAS extended its sincerest apologies to Darren and her family, reaffirming its commitment to upholding professionalism, respect, and integrity in all its endeavors.
“We truly value Miss Darren and the rest of the veteran stars present last night true to the Homecoming Concept of the show. But as there were brilliant moments to the most star-studded awards night in recent memory, there were also hitches and unfortunate developments in a live show such as this one,” FAMAS said.