Dennis Trillo donates 50th MMFF Best Actor winnings to PDLs

Dennis Trillo has decided to donate his winnings from being named Best Actor at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), who served as the inspiration for the prison drama "Green Bones."

- By NATHALIE TOMADA

The Kapuso star received a silver statuette designed by Filipino-American visual artist Jefre Manuel Figueras, along with a P100,000 cash prize. In addition to Dennis' recognition, "Green Bones" won multiple awards, including the top honor of Best Picture, at the Gabi ng Parangal on Friday.

In the film produced by GMA Pictures in collaboration with Brightburn Entertainment (Dennis and wife Jennylyn Mercado's own production outfit), Dennis portrays a PDL on the verge of release. However, a determined prison guard, played by Ruru Madrid, is hell-bent on keeping him locked inside the prison.

When sought for comment about his decision to donate the cash prize, Dennis shared, "Isa sa pinaka-mensahe ng pelikula ay patungkol sa kabutihan ng tao o pagiging mabuti. Kung tayo ay may kakayahang makatulong, piliin natin na tumulong kaya naman wala ng pagdadalawang isip pa."

(One of the key messages of the film is about the goodness of people and being kind. If we have the ability to help, let us choose to help, so there's no hesitation.)

"Pareho kami ni Jen na gustong ibigay ang halagang napanalunan ko para sa mga PDL at para matupad ang kanilang mga munting hiling sa kanilang Tree of Hope."

(Both Jen and I want to give the money I won to the PDLs, so they can fulfill their small wishes through their Tree of Hope.)

He added that it's their way of giving back to them because their stories made "Green Bones" possible. He hopes that with this amount, they can somehow "make them happy and give them hope that indeed, simple wishes can come true if goodness is in our hearts."