‘Mono No Aware’ Dominates Puregold CinePanalo 2026 With Nine Awards
Last Updated on October 1, 2026 by Over Here Toronto
“Mono No Aware” emerged as the biggest winner at the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026, taking home nine awards during the September 30 awards night at Gateway Cineplex 18 in Quezon City.
The Japan-set drama won the festival’s top full-length prize, Pinakapanalong Pelikula. Director BC Amparado also received Panalong Direktor, while Juan Karlos Labajo won Panalong Aktor for his lead role.
The film also earned awards for supporting actress, ensemble, cinematography, editing, sound design, and the International Jury prize.
Puregold CinePanalo continues through October 4, giving moviegoers a few more days to see the winning films at selected cinemas across Metro Manila.
Fans can follow festival updates through the official Puregold CinePanalo Facebook page.
‘Mono No Aware’ Takes Nine Awards
“Mono No Aware” finished the ceremony with the most awards among the seven competing full-length films.
Its nine wins were:
- Pinakapanalong Pelikula
- Panalo sa International Jury
- Panalong Direktor: BC Amparado
- Panalong Aktor: Juan Karlos Labajo
- Panalong Pangalawang Aktres: Momoko Kobayashi
- Best Ensemble
- Panalo sa Cinematography: TM Malones
- Panalo sa Editing: Edmund Telmo
- Panalo sa Sound Design: Willie Apa Jr.
The top film award also came with a ₱250,000 cash prize.
Amparado used his acceptance speech to explain the film’s slow pace and its focus on everyday life.
“This film may be long for some but it forces us to stay in the moment.”
He also spoke about appreciating life while it lasts, an idea closely tied to the film’s title and story.
Juan Karlos Wins Panalong Aktor
Juan Karlos Labajo, also known as JK, won Panalong Aktor for his role in “Mono No Aware.”
He plays Ichiro, a Filipino living in Japan who works as a kodokushi cleaner. Kodokushi is a Japanese term linked to people who die alone, often without anyone noticing for some time.
Ichiro cleans homes after these deaths.
His work brings him into the life of George, an elderly Filipino widower played by Perry Dizon. George asks Ichiro for one final favor before he dies.
Their meeting grows into a story about grief, family, loneliness, and accepting that life does not last forever.
Momoko Kobayashi also won Panalong Pangalawang Aktres for her work in the film.
The ensemble award recognized the wider cast for its work together.
Xyriel Manabat Wins Panalong Aktres
“Mono No Aware” led the night, but other films also received major awards.
Xyriel Manabat won Panalong Aktres for her performance in “Stuck on You.”
The romantic comedy follows a hopeless romantic who works as a manicurist and gets pulled into an unusual assassination job.
The film also won Panalong Awitin for “Reyna ng Quezon City” by Juana.
Meanwhile, Zanjoe Marudo won Panalong Pangalawang Aktor for “Apol of My Ai.”
Young actor Zion Cruz received the Panalong Child Performer award for the same film.
“Apol of My Ai” also earned the Panalong Karangalan mula sa Hurado prize and the award for musical scoring.
‘Multwoh’ and ‘Patay Gutom’ Take Four Awards Each
Two other full-length films also had strong results.
“Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)” won the audience award, called Panalo sa mga Manonood.
It also shared the Puregold Always Panalo Film award with “Patay Gutom.”
Rodrigo Ricio won for production design for “Multwoh,” while the film also received the Brand Introduction award.
“Patay Gutom,” directed by Carl Joseph Papa and Ian Pangilinan, won Panalong Kuwento for Papa and Yvonne Garcia.
Its animation team also received the visual effects award.
Both films finished with four honors each.
‘Limlim’ Leads the Student Shorts
The Puregold CinePanalo awards also recognized student filmmakers.
“Limlim” won Pinakapanalong Maikling Pelikula, making it the top student short of the festival.
The film earned four awards in total.
Director Samantha Palaje shared the Panalong Direktor award with Jomarie Corro-Reyes of “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”
“Kun Hain, Bisan Diin” also finished with four awards.
Other student winners included “Alumahan,” “The Sound of K,” “12 Shots,” “Starfish,” “Miss Intrams,” and “Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan.”
The student competition remains a major part of CinePanalo, giving young filmmakers a chance to screen their work beside established directors and actors.
CinePanalo 2026 Has Seven Full-Length Films
This year’s festival includes seven full-length entries:
- “Apol of My Ai”
- “Beast”
- “Mono No Aware”
- “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”
- “Patay Gutom”
- “Stuck on You”
- “Wantawsan”
The festival also has 19 student short films.
Each full-length film received a ₱5 million production grant before filming, the largest full-length grant in Puregold CinePanalo history.
Festival organizers gave filmmakers freedom to work across different genres and subjects instead of requiring one theme for every entry.
The result includes drama, comedy, romance, fantasy, queer stories, and films about family and loss.
CinePanalo Runs Until October 4
The awards are over, but the festival screenings are not.
Puregold CinePanalo continues until October 4, 2026, at several cinemas:
- Gateway Cineplex 18
- TriNoma
- Fairview Terraces
- Ayala Malls Feliz
- Ayala Malls Circuit
- Ayala Malls Manila Bay
- Market! Market!
Regular tickets cost ₱250.
A discounted ₱200 ticket is available for students, senior citizens, PWDs, national athletes, Puregold Perks cardholders, and Aling Puring members.
A ₱2,000 festival pass covers all seven full-length films and four student short film sets. Festival passes are sold at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.
People who still want to watch “Mono No Aware” or the other CinePanalo entries should check cinema schedules before October 4. Screening times can differ by mall, and seats may fill up for popular films.
With only a few festival days left, now is the time to check the schedule and catch this year’s Filipino films on the big screen.
