A sweet victory for Martin del Rosario at Asian TV Awards

The new year is looking more like a good year for actor Martin Del Rosario. On Saturday night, the 27-year-old GMA Network star walked home bagged the trophy for Best Leading Male Performance-Digital at the 24th Asian Television Awards for his stellar performance in the series, Born Beautiful.

Held at Resorts World Manila, Pasay City, Martin expressed his gratitude to his management GMA Network, the producer of the digital series, its director, and his family who witnessed him accepting the award.

“I would like to thank the Asian TV Awards for this recognition and to all the people behind our series, Born Beautiful, to Cignal Entertainment and to my director, Percy Intalan, and direk Jun Lana. Thank you for the big break, thank you for this opportunity,” he told the crowd.

‘‘I told myself that to be nominated is already enough...to be recognized all around Asia along with these beautiful and brilliant actors. But the biggest blessing for me is to be able to represent my country, the Philippines. So, Mabuhay,” he ended his speech.

In an interview with Manila Standard shortly after bagging the coveted trophy, the actor said he did not expect to win as it was the first time he got nominated at ATA, or in an international awards show, for that matter.

“It’s a sweet victory for me. Born Beautiful is one of my most challenging projects. It’s 12 episodes so it’s like you’re filming 12 films. Not to mention the physical transformation that I had to go through from shaving off my entire body to wearing big gowns and high heels,” he shared. 

While winning an acting award can be a great source of inspiration to improve someone’s skills, according to Martin, awards should serve as a motivation to constantly seek improvement and not an ultimate goal for all actors.

“Awards are not really a validation that you’re good at what you’re doing, but they serve as a motivation, an inspiration to improve my craft. There are times that you’re not sure whether or not you’re doing okay. This kind of award serves a reminder that you’re still doing great,” he expressed. 

Meanwhile, Karylle and Diana Zubiri represented Mystified when it won in the Best Single Drama or Telemovie category. The digital series that streams on iflix also stars Iza Calzado and Sunshine Dizon.  

GMA-7’s Barangay 143 was another entry from the Philippines that won in its category. The animated series won in the Best Theme Song category for “Alanganin,” performed by Kris Lawrence and Krizza Neri.

Actor Mark Neumann served as one of the hosts along with ANC’s Cathy Yang as well as Thai actress Ase Wang and Singapore media personality Wallace Ang.

Businessman Manny V. Pangilinan was the recipient of the Award For Outstanding Contribution to Asian Television during the Asian Television Awards 2020.

The performers include Indonesia-born recording artist and Asia’s Got Talent judge Anggun, K-pop girl group Cherry Bullet, and Vietnamese singer Hoang Yen Chibi. Filipino artists included in the lineup are Martin Nievera, Gab and Kiana Valenciano, Jona, Morisette, Kris Lawrence, and 4th Impact.

Here are the winners of the 24th Asian TV Awards:

Best Actor in a Leading Role: William Hsieh for First Love

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Tisanart Sornsuek of True Life of a Drama Queen

Best Direction (Fiction): Jeevan Nathan of Avenue 14

Cable/Satellite Network of the Year: Line Company Thailand

Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year: China Global Television

Best Host/Presenter—Digital: Panirin Tumwattana of Little Nirin

Best Entertainment Presenter/Host: Alana Nichols of Follow Alana

Award For Outstanding Contribution to Asian Television: Manny Pangilinan

Best Adaption of an Existing Format: Masterchef Junior Thailand Season 1

Best Reality Show: My Kitchen Rules Australia

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Asian Television Performing Arts: Anggun

Best Original Digital Drama Series: The Deadline

Best Digital Fiction Programme/Series: Social Syndrome

Best Leading Male Performance—Digital: Martin del Rosario for Born Beautiful

Best Leading Female Performance—Digital: Chanya McClory for The Deadline

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Athaphan Poonsawat of The Gifted

Best Actress in Supporting Role: Anyarin Terethananpat of Loop of Vengeance

Best Single Drama or Telemovie: Mystified

Best Drama Series: Skycastle

Best Theme Song: “Alanganin” by Kris Lawrence and Krizza Neri for Barangay 143