The Senate, voting unanimously, passed Resolution 490 Tuesday, congratulating and commending Filipino actor Romeo “John” Gonzales Arcilla for winning the coveted Volpi Cup for Best Actor in the 78th Annual Venice International Film Festival.
Senate Resolution 490 was introduced by Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid, an actor himself before he entered politics, with fellow senators as co-authors of the resolution.
In his resolution, Lapid lauded Arcilla’s win, calling it a “truly outstanding feat that deserves all the recognition and praise.” He said Arcilla is truly one of a select few who won the Volpi Cup which included Brad Pitt, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Joaquin Pheonix, Javier Bardem, Ben Affleck and Sean Penn.
He said the success of Arcilla is a testament to the world-class talent, skill, and passion of the Filipino, which brings inspiration to aspiring artists and creative individuals in the country.
“Recognizing the achievement of John Arcilla is in accord with the Constitution’s acknowledgment of the importance of arts and culture in fostering patriotism and nationalism and in promoting total human liberation and development,” Lapid said.
Arcilla portrayed the character of Sisoy Salas in Erik Matti’s “On The Job: The Missing 8,” which was included in the 78th Venice International Film Festival held from September 1 to 11 last year. Arcilla bagged the Volpi Cup for best actor out of 92 films from all over the world. He was the first Filipino to win such prestigious recognition.
Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said Arcilla has not only showcased his acting ability to the world stage but also raised the Filipino flag and brought great pride and honor to the country.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., another actor turned politician, said the Philippines has once again been catapulted to the world stage with Arcilla’s win. He said being recognized by the Venice International Film Festival, considered as the world’s oldest film fest, was truly an honor. He extolled Arcilla’s acting talent, saying that the Volpi Cup is another Oscar.
Sen. Robin Padilla, also a former actor, said it would be hard to emulate Arcilla’s achievement. He urged fellow senators to support the local film industry in light of Arcilla’s feat.
For his part, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said that the recent win of accomplished actor Romeo “John” Arcilla of Volpi Cup award in the 78th Annual Venice International Film Festival is a resounding testament that Filipino talent and artistry is an absolute world-class and par excellence.
Estrada has filed Senate Bill No. 1032 or the proposed “World-Class Filmmakers’ Incentives Act” which seeks to provide incentives to filmmakers and actors who have received critical acclaim and recognition from prestigious international film festivals, just like the award bestowed upon Arcilla in September 2021.
Estrada added that Arcilla’s achievement exemplifies the remarkable artistic talent and skill of Filipinos, on par with the world’s best, which deserve to be encouraged and commended.
Image credits: Rey Javelosa/Office of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada