The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino announced the nominees for the 42nd Gawad Urian on May 8, 2019. One of the nominees is Igorot actor Maribeth “Mai” Fanglayan.
For playing the title role in “Tanabata’s Wife,” Fanglayan is nominated as Best Actress in the 2019 Gawad Urian. She will be competing against “Oda sa Wala” actress Marietta “Pokwang” Subong, “Meet Me in St. Gallen” actress Bela Padilla, “Mamu: And a Mother Too” actress Iyah Mina, “Never Not Love You” actress Nadine Lustre, “Mamang” actress Celeste Legaspi, “Liway” actress Glaiza de Castro, “Sid and Aya” and “Buy Bust” actress Anne Curtis, “Kung Paano Hinihintay and Dapithapon” actress Perla Bautista and “School Service” actress Ai-Ai de las Alas.
“I was literally shocked and almost dropped my phone when someone called and congratulated me for being nominated as Best Actress in URIAN!” Fanglayan said in a statement exclusively released to CONAN Daily. “I never believed it myself when I saw my name in the list of nominees. Never did I expect this to happen and it’s an honor not just for me and my family but for the whole Cordillera and I thank God for the talent He had given me.”
This is not the first time Fanglayan and Pokwang were pitted against each other in the Best Actress category. On September 16, 2018, the Igorot actor won the Best Actress award at the 2018 ToFarm Film Festival for her “Tanabata’s Wife” role, beating Pokwang and Katrina Halili, who starred in “Sol Searching” and “Mga Anak Ng Kamote,” respectively.
Directed by Charlson Ong, Lito Casaje and Choy Pangilinan and written by Ong, “Tanabata’s Wife” bagged the Best Film recognition at the 2018 ToFarm Film Festival. Including Best Actress, the film received five 2019 Gawad Urian nominations.
Fanglayan’s “Tanabata’s Wife” co-actor Miyuki Kamimura is nominated as Best Actor. For the same film, Nap Jamir and May-i Guia Padilla are nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Editing, respectively, while Padilla, Mark Tan and Kurt Alalag are nominated for Best Music.
Both of Fanglayan’s parents are from Mountain Province. She earned her Mass Communication degree from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, the home city of Sinai Hamada, the author of the classic short story of the same name where “Tanabata’s Wife” was based on.
Filmed in Buguias, Benguet, “Tanabata’s Wife” used Japanese, Kankanaey and Ilocano. Here is a short interview with Fanglayan:
CONAN Daily 
Go go go mai Fanglayan….
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Go for it Fanglayan. God bless yuo. God bless Cordillera
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June June Ubaldo
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June June Ubaldo
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June June Ubaldo basahin mo to
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MARK GO and DICK GORDON. This is us IGOROT going down to Manila to do Palimos? I dont think you both, have even made noteworthy legislation that embodies the value of our culture and development as well. Have you watch this film? The film is just among the short stories handed down by our forefathers.
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Go go Mai Fanglayan
.. Congrats and God bless you all the time
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