FAMAS social media manager says Eva Darren not in final program, calls out their own public relations officer
The social media manager of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) said Eva Darren was already missing from the lineup of presenters days before the awards night on May 26, so the production staff was not looking for her at all when she thought it was time for her to go on stage.
This came a few days after Darren's son, Fernando De La Peña, aired his frustration over the FAMAS 2024 organizers on Facebook as the veteran actress was dropped last minute as presenter alongside Tirso Cruz III. He said the public relations officer of the production staff, who had been in constant communication with Darren before the event, "had absolutely no explanations to offer, just a thousand apologies." Later in the day, FAMAS issued an official statement expressing their "sincerest apologies" to Darren as they explained the production team "was not able to locate" her that night. Darren and her family have accepted the apology.
Darren not in final script
In a lengthy Facebook post on his account on May 30, Johnrey Rivas said Darren was in the program's first script on May 17, with FAMAS Public Relations Officer Renz Spangler inviting her to be a presenter after selling tickets to her for the show.
The director, Vince Tañada, even checked in on their group chat to see if the program still had missing names. "Walang nasabi si Renz na wala doon si Mam Eva Darren," Rivas said.
But on May 24, when they talked about the final list of confirmed presenters, Rivas claimed Spangler didn't say whether Darren was in the program as the latter didn't attend the final coordination meeting and rehearsal day, which all of the organizers attended.
"[P]ero ang hindi ko magets bakit hindi nakarating sa kanya (Spangler) na wala na si Eva Darren sa programa Biyernes pa lang?" he said.
Without a confirmation on Darren, Rivas said they called Glaiza De Castro as backup. He noted that Darren wasn't the only missing name on the list but also other stars like Gloria Diaz, LA Santos, Alfred Vargas, and Ken Chan.
Diaz, Castro, and Chan eventually canceled their attendance. "Nagkaroon ng major revamp ng presenters dahil hindi nga masigurado ang pagdalo ng mga ito," Rivas said. "In summary, walang nagvouch sa attendance ng mga tinanggal na presenters."
"Kami ay kumikilos lamang sa ibibigay sa aming listahan ng presenters na galing mismo sa FAMAS," he added.
Later on, the art card showing the list of presenters was sent to their group chat, and Rivas approved its posting at 7:45 p.m. since there were no objections.
"Batay yan sa pinapakalat niyo rin na screenshot, kaya mayroon pang tatlong araw para macheck at makita ito ng P.R.O o ng kampo ni Ms.Eva," he said, adding that Spangler's non-reaction meant he approved the post.
During the rehearsal at the Manila Hotel, they used a new script that didn't contain the names of presenters who didn't confirm their attendance.
Rehearsals
On the day of the show, May 26, Rivas said they were doing rehearsals in the afternoon and noted they didn't get any instruction about the changes in the program.
"Sa panahong ito ay wala na talaga sa script si Eva Darren," he said, adding that the one she memorized and "rehearsed to perfection," according to Dela Peña, was the one that Spangler sent on May 23.
"Hindi rin kami nasabihan na pinadalhan niya ng script si Maam Eva o kumpirmado itong makakarating. Wala kaming alam sa transaction nila o mga promises nila sa isa't isa."
Artists started arriving in the venue at 7 p.m., and they didn't know whether Darren was coming. Even if she did, Rivas said she and several others were no longer in the program. "Dumating man ang ilan sa kanila, hindi na namin inalam dahil focused lang kami sa mga part ng program na Biyernes lang nakumpirma lahat," he said.
As the show started at 8 p.m., Rivas said presenters were asked to stand by in the back. Their goal was to make it as smooth as possible, especially since it was on livestream.
"Nagawa naman namin na matapos ito ng mabilis kahit mayroong almost 60 awards ang pinamigay," he said.
'Young singer' as last-minute presenter
At 9:30 p.m., Rivas said the FAMAS Citation Award was about to be presented by Cruz and De Castro based on the script. That was when De Castro already backed out, and with time running out, they were scrambling for options.
Rivas said they tapped Nova Villa upon seeing her, though the latter expressed concern about her poor eyesight. In any case, they wrote her name in the cue card and teleprompter.
They looked for another artist who could present at the last minute.
"[P]arang tanga ang mga prod na para bang nanlilimos kung sino ang magpre-present," he said. "Hindi hinanap ng prod si Ms. Eva Darren dahil Biyernes pa lang ay wala na ito sa programa at script. Katulad din ng hindi na hinanap si Alfred, si LA Santos, at ang iba pa," said Rivas.
Since they saw singer Sheena Palad who was about to perform, Rivas said the stage manager asked her to remain on stage afterward so she can present the award alongside Cruz.
"[A]yaw naming magka dead air, pinalitan agad ang spiel ng host sa prompter at ginawang si Ms. Sheena," he said, "mabait siyang pumayag to save the show, because the show must go on."
Rivas also cleared Palad's name from the issue and dismissed allegations that there was hocus pocus and that she was paid to replace Darren.
Rivas then asked where Spangler was during those moments that they were struggling. "Bakit hindi ininform ang Stage Manager ng mga oras na nagkakagulo sa hanapan kung alam niya na ready si Mam Eva bakit hindi niya inilapit sa likod?" he said, adding that Spangler escorted Darren to her seat.
Palad presented the award with Cruz, and Rivas said they didn't get negative feedback. There was still also no update on Darren.
Rivas said if they knew Darren was there, they would've still included her in the program even in other segments. "[P]ero wala ngang nakarating, ang chismis may sinabihan 'daw' ang apo ni Mam Eva pero walang nakarating sa likuran o sa tech booth," he said.
'Sacrificial lamb'
Rivas also criticized the FAMAS's official statement, alleging that it was used to save Spangler "to protect his emotional and mental issues."
"Mas pinili ng FAMAS na maging sacrificial lamb ang production outfit na nagmamanage to protect the emotional and mental challenges ni Renz," Rivas said, noting that Spangler's grandmother recently died when the official statement was released.
Rivas lamented that Tañada, who he said is an advocate of mental illness, agreed to be the "sacrificial lamb" to protect Spangler, who's now "off the hook" as Dela Peña said.
He also defended Tañada amid the criticisms, saying the director was only acting based on the list that FAMAS gave in the first place.
He noted that Tañada accepted the gig for free, as he's giving back to FAMAS. His martial law movie Katips won big at the 2022 FAMAS Awards, including best picture, best actor, and best director. "Lagi kasi tayong nakikinig sa mga kwento kwento lang. Hindi pa nga natin nakikilala ang bawat isa may judgement agad," he said.
Rivas also commended FAMAS President Francia Conrado for her efforts in sustaining the organization and advocating for Philippine cinema as he said the latter's kindness is perhaps what prompted the organization to protect Spangler. "Kasi kapag sinabi niya na hindi talaga nasabihan ng PRO at naging negligent ito, baka maapektuhan ang PRO na mayroon ngang mental challenges at nagdadalamhati ngayon dahil namatayan," he said.
Still, he noted that FAMAS officials may still be in talks with Darren after dropping her last minute.
"Babayaran ang danyos at personal na hihingi ng tawad. Pribado at hindi magpapa picture lang para sa press release ng mamatay ang issue. Hindi po kami FAMAS Board para saklawan ang desisyon nila na magsalita," he said. "Uulitin ko, ang Awards Night lamang noong May 26 ang trabaho namin sa kanila."
Accountability
In ending his post, Rivas told Spangler that despite his personal struggles at the moment, he had to write the post so that the public may know the truth.
"Sana hindi ka mabash dahil alam namin ang panic attacks mo," he said. "'Yun din ang dahilan kaya sinalo ni Direk ang sisi at pumayag sa 'cannot locate Eva Darren.'"
"Kasi kapag inamin niyang wala na sa program si Eva Darren sa coordination meeting at run through pa lamang dahil sa negligence mong i-vouch ang presence niya, alam niyang ikaw ang madidiin dahil account mo si Mam Eva Darren," he noted. "Ayaw niyang lumala ang mental and emotional challenges mo, at sinabi nga niya pinagdaanan niya ito, at ayaw niya itong ranasin ninoman."
Still, he called on Spangler to take accountability over the incident.
Rivas said he's also tendering his resignation as FAMAS social media manager after what happened. He told Conrado that he'll surrender all the accounts he's handling soon.
"Maraming salamat at mabuhay ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino. Mabuhay ang FAMAS!" he said.
PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to FAMAS for comment, but has yet to receive a reply.