FAMAS issues apology to veteran actress Eva Darren after alleged snub

The 72nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) has apologized to Eva Darren after Sunday's alleged snub.

On Facebook Monday afternoon, the award-giving body issued an apology to Darren saying, “FAMAS would like to express its sincerest apologies to Miss Eva Darren, an icon in Philippine Movie Industry and a professional actress whose career is indubitably worthy of emulation.”

FAMAS revealed Darren's participation that evening: She was supposed to present Special Citations with Tirso Cruz III, but they were not able to “locate” her because they were “running a live show with myriads of people.” 

They also acknowledged that what happened was “indeed a setback in the live show and negligence on the part of the team.”

According to FAMAS, "this was not intentional and purely a misjudgment."

"The show is being streamed live and needed to be remedied right away. Hence, a replacement for Miss Darren was done last minute,” it added.

“We are writing this with a heavy heart especially after hearing that Miss Darren and her family were terribly hurt by this unintentional disregard to her presence and stature.”

FAMAS also said that they “truly value” Darren and the rest of veteran stars present at the awarding shows, and admitted that there were “also hitches” and unfortunate developments in the live show. 

Ending their post, they said that they are committed to make amends to the veteran star.

“We understand that an apology alone cannot undo the damage this might have caused Miss Darren but we are committed to make amends and rebuild her trust by a personal visit of the FAMAS Board to honor her stature, if she allows it,” they ended.

FAMAS' apology came after Darren’s son, Fernando de la Pena, called them out on Facebook and complained about his mother's experience at the ceremony.

According to de la Pena, the public relations officer with whom Darren had been in contact, could offer no explanation "just a thousand apologies."

Speaking to GMA News Online, Francia Conrado, the president of FAMAS, said the mishap was “nothing deliberate.” 

"I feel so sad about it," Conrado continued. "Kung ako 'yon, ganun din ang mararamdaman ko. Pero hindi siya sinasadya. There was nothing deliberate."

This is the 72nd edition of the FAMAS Awards. Among the winners are Piolo Pascual and Alfred Vargas, Kathryn Bernardo, Gloria Diaz, and Kapuso couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.  

— Jade Veronique Yap/LA, GMA Integrated News