Actor Martin del Rosario made a powerful statement on breaking stereotypes around sex and sensuality in Filipino cinema after winning Best Actor at the 1st CineSilip Film Festival for his role in ‘Haplos sa Hangin’.
The Sparkle artist earned praise not only for his performance but also for his thoughtful acceptance speech, where he called for a more progressive and nuanced view of sex in art and society.
“Gusto kong magpasalamat sa CineSilip dahil binigyan ninyo ng opportunity ang mga filmmakers, kaming mga actors, na maging parte ng mga mas daring saka mas matapang na mga pelikula,” Martin said onstage.
He went on to challenge the stigma surrounding erotic films, often dismissed as shallow or purely sexual.
“Sana, after this festival, mawala na ‘yung stigma sa mga erotic movies na pino-forward-forward mo lang sa sex scenes dahil walang kuwento. Dahil hindi naman talaga gano’n. Kaya naman nating gumawa ng sexy na may kuwento din,” he said.
Martin added that sex and sexuality are natural parts of life and deserve to be explored with maturity and honesty on screen.
“Siyempre sana, maging bukas pa ‘yung isip nating lahat, or ng mga institusyon, sa usaping sex. Kasi parte naman ‘yan ng katotohanan sa buhay. Sana mas maging progresibo ang pag-iisip natin sa sex, seksuwalidad, even gender identity,” he emphasized.
His award-winning film ‘Haplos sa Hangin’ also bagged 3rd Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Musical Score at the festival.
@lionheartv Martin del Rosario @Martin Del Rosario may pakiusap pagkatapos manalo ng Best Actor: “Sana, after this festival, mawala na ‘yung stigma sa mga erotic movies na pino-forward-forward mo lang sa sex scenes dahil walang kuwento. Dahil hindi naman talaga gano’n. Kaya naman nating gumawa ng sexy na may kuwento din.” #MartinDelRosario #HaplosSaHangin #CineSilip2025 #EntertainmentNewsPH #TiktokTainmentPH
Meanwhile, Migs Almendras won Best Supporting Actor for ‘Dreamboi’, which also took home the Best Film and Best Director awards for Rodina Singh.
The complete list of major winners includes:
- Best Film: Dreamboi
- 2nd Best Film: Pagdaong
- 3rd Best Film: Haplos sa Hangin
- Best Actor: Martin del Rosario (Haplos sa Hangin)
- Best Actress: Angela Morena (Pagdaong)
- Best Supporting Actor: Migs Almendras (Dreamboi)
- Best Supporting Actress: Chloe Jenna (Maria Azama Best Prn Star)
- Best Screenplay: Sonny Calvento and Mikko Baldoza (Haplos sa Hangin)
- Best Director: Rodina Singh (Dreamboi)
- Best Cinematography: Malay Javier (Dreamboi)
- Best Editing: Arnex Nicolas (Dreamboi)
- Best Production Design: Chips Day Abando (Dreamboi)
- Best Sound: Immanuel Verona and John Buquid (Dreamboi)
- Best Musical Score: Paulo Almaden (Haplos sa Hangin)
- Audience Prize: Dreamboi
CineSilip, which aims to highlight bold, thought-provoking films that tackle desire, identity, and freedom, has quickly become a space for artistic risk-taking.
Martin’s closing message resonated with the festival’s spirit: that sensuality and storytelling can co-exist meaningfully.
“Sex is part of life’s truth,” he said. “And it’s time we treat it with openness, depth, and respect.”
