NEWSFLASH

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FILM ACADEMY HONORS THREE CINEMA GREATS

Quezon City, April 18, 1998 - The Film Academy of the Philippines honors three cinema giants on April 25, the night of the 16th annual Academy Awards at the UP University Theater.

The late dramatic actress Charito Solis will be honored with a posthumous special recognition award, the same one given previously to Carmen Rosales, Pugo and Tugo and Rita Gomez.

The Lamberto V. Avellana Memorial Award will go to Ben Pinga, founder of the Film Institute of the Philippines and the First National Short Film Festival. Pinga is the acknowledged father of the documentary film movement in the Philippines. Past awardees were Lino Brocka, Eddie Romero, Nick Deocampo and Rosa Rosal.

Actor-director Eddie Garcia will be handed the Lifetime Achievement Award. Prior recipients were Gerry de Leon, Richard Abelardo, Mary Walter, Pancho Magalona, Tita Duran, Leopoldo Salcedo, Levi Celerio, Joseph Estrada, Rogelio de la Rosa, Manny de Leon, Fernando Poe Jr., Anita Linda, Vilma Santos, Dolphy and Nora Aunor.