The Pioneer Filipino Animation Awards Night

 Some 30 Filipino cartoon writers, directors, producers, voice actors, networks and technical staff will be honored December 4 during "The Pioneer Filipino Animation Awards Night."

The three-hour show will be held at Hotel InterContinental in Makati, east of Manila. New York-based Unitel Animation, Inc. is holding the tribute in cooperation with United Staffing Registry, Inc., United Home Care and the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund).

Leading the award recipients will be InterContinental in Makati. Heading the list of awardees are "Comedy King" Dolphy, Mars Ravelo's model for "Captain Barbell," and "Star of All Seasons" Vilma Santos, the model for "Darna."

Others to get awards include Fernando Poe, Jr., (for Ang Panday, 1986) and Ogie Alcasid (for Isko, Adventures in Animasia, 1995).

Honorees also include the talents in Ibong Adarna, which used the voices of Regine Velasquez, Jolina Magdangal, Boots Anson-Roa, Marvin Agustin and Martin Nievera, as well as the vocal talents of Ang Panday. Other than Fernando Poe, Jr., these include Helen Vela, Max Alvarado, Lito Anzures, Perry Fajardo and Bentot, Jr.

Poe, Jr. was the model for the title character of Ang Panday. Created by Carlo J. Caparas (who also will be honored in September), it was the first Filipino animated TV series.

Ang Panday was first broadcast on RPN 9 on November 21, 1986. According to the Manila Bulletin, despite consistent high ratings, the show ran for only six months due to high production costs. Only Poe, Jr. and Bentot, Jr. remain alive from the series.

The awards night will also recognize Mars Ravelo (Darna and Captain Barbell), Nonoy Marcelo (Biag ni LamAng), Orly Ilacad (Isko, Adventures in Animasia), Ramon Chuaying (Ibong Adarna), Lav Diaz (Ibong Adarna), Simon Iam (Ibong Adarna), Mario Uligan (Ang Panday, Darna and Captain Barbell), Rose Flaminiano (Ibong Adarna), and networks ABS-CBN (Ibong Adarna), GMA 7 (Darna and Captain Barbell) and RPN 9 (Ang Panday).

Willie Nepomuceno, Boots AnsonRoa, Rey Langit will be among the hosts of the awards night. The 30 animation pioneers will receive individual trophies designed by Unitel creative director Gag Servant.

Animation in the Philippines dates back to 1953, when cartoonist Larry Alcala made a "black�and�white exercise in movement" on 8mm film of a girl jumping rope and a boy playing yo-yo.