BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Filipino excellence shone brightly at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards (ACAA) as the Philippines clinched multiple national victories across acting, directing, journalism, entertainment, and documentary categories. This year’s lineup proved especially triumphant for Philippine storytelling, with both established and rising talents demonstrating the power and depth of local creativity on the regional stage.

Leading the charge was Dennis Trillo, who secured the Philippines’ national win for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Green Bones (GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs, Brightburn Entertainment). Trillo’s nuanced portrayal added yet another milestone to his acclaimed career, reaffirming his position as one of the country’s most versatile dramatic actors. In the supporting category, Piolo Pascual earned the national title for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his gripping turn in The Kingdom, produced by MQuest Ventures, APT Entertainment, and M-Zet Productions.

Filipina actresses also dominated their categories. Jodi Sta. Maria captured the Best Actress in a Leading Role national win for her work in Untold (Regal Entertainment), showcasing her consistent ability to anchor emotionally charged narratives. Meanwhile, Dimples Romana won the Philippines’ Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Caretakers (Rein Entertainment Productions), further highlighting her strength in bringing layered characters to life.

In the younger-skewing categories, the Philippines claimed more victories. The Knowledge Channel Foundation’s Ready, Set, Read! emerged as the national winner for Best Children’s Program, reinforcing the country’s commitment to educational entertainment. For comedy, long-running favorite Pepito Manaloto – The Story Continues secured the national win for Best Comedy Program, proving its continued cultural resonance among Filipino audiences.

Behind the camera, Filipino creatives also earned significant recognition. Jay Abello won the national award for Best Cinematography (Fiction) for his work on Beauty Empire (Viu, GMA Network, Creazion Studios), a testament to the evolving visual aesthetic of Philippine productions. Director Jose Lorenzo Diokno took home the national honor for Best Direction (Fiction) for Isang Himala (A Miracle)—a title that also won the national trophy for Best Feature Film, cementing the project as one of the year’s standout achievements.

Investigative and documentary storytelling likewise made a strong showing. GMA Network’s Lost Sabungeros (Missing Cockfighters) earned the Philippines’ national win for Best Documentary Program (One-Off), while I Juander: History for Sale won Best Documentary History, showcasing the country’s journalistic rigor and cultural introspection. Reporter’s Notebook: Asia’s Scam Cities added another victory by securing the national spot for Best Documentary Series.

Additional national winners included Family Feud Philippines with Dingdong Dantes as Best Entertainment Host, Gretchen Ho for Best Factual Presenter for Morning Matters, Money Talks with Cathy Yang for Best News Program, and One at Heart, Jessica Soho: Inside the Crocodile Cage for Best Infotainment Program. The Philippines also took home national wins for Best Lifestyle Program (Biyahe ni Drew: YOLO sa Antique), Best Music or Dance Program (Stars On The Floor), Best Non-Scripted Entertainment (Sing Galing Season 3), Best Original Production by a Streamer (Fiction) (How to Spot a Red Flag), Best Promo or Trailer (JSM Travel and Tours), Best Screenplay (Ricky Lee & Anj Atienza for Green Bones), Best Short Form Non-Scripted (DigiDokyu: The Rice God of the Cordillera), and Best Short Form Scripted (Eleksyonaryo: The Dapat Totoo Digital Exclusives).

With this sweeping showcase of victories, the Philippines has once again proven its creative force—confident, compelling, and ready to compete on the global stage.

Watch these videos to see what happened at the event!

*All Photos from Buzz Beat Media