Box Office Entertainment Awards

Ferdie Syquia Villar, the person who launched the "Miss Republic of the Philippines" contest, came up with the "Box Office King and Queen Awards" in 1960s, and formally launched his idea in 1970. By the late '70s, after then President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972,[3] he turned the responsibility over to Corazon Samaniego before leaving for abroad.[4]

Corazon Samaniego, a former businesswoman in Bulacan, continued the presentation and officially inaugurated the "Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Inc." in 1971. The organization is named after a former Bulacan town mayor and philanthropist and her late father, Guillermo Mendoza. It became an annual event, recognizing the most popular people and their works in the Philippine entertainment industry. At the end of the day, the proceeds from the television rights and gate receipts are used to send underprivileged Bulacan students to school.[5]

¹The yearly event is supposed to be the 39th year, but they believe that it is an unlucky number. Thus they skipped the 39th and consider this event the 40th instead.

The following are the controversies of the award ceremonies:

• 2003: Many questioned Aga Muhlach's win as the "Box Office King" after the official list of winners were released. In particular, the fans of the late Rico Yan contested, saying that his last film Got 2 Believe was the highest-grossing film of the year. Although they were not personally against Muhlach, they believed that the award-giving body should give an explanation.[26]
• 2006: Questions from the readers arose after the organization chose Kristine Hermosa for the "Box Office Queen" title. They argued that there were more deserving actresses to receive the title over Hermosa, who only had one film that year. Furthermore, they believed that her one and only film, Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka Fairy Ko: The Legend Continues, was actually successful because of her leading man, Vic Sotto, who was the "Box Office King" of 2005. Thus, most, if not all, the credit goes to Sotto, not hers.[27]
• 2008: There was speculation that Judy Ann Santos would not win any of the awards from the award-giving body anymore. Although her 2006 films Don't Give Up on Us and Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, and the latter's sequel Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo in 2007 were all box office hits, top-grossing films in fact, she did not win any of the awards. Furthermore, not even Ryan Agoncillo, her leading man and real life partner, nor the director of the two films Joey Reyes won an award. They believed that it all started during the awards night of the 30th award ceremony in 2000 wherein "Box Office King and Queen" winners Fernando Poe Jr. and Judy Ann Santos of Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko were not able to attend. Santos had a taping at that time, while FPJ does not want to be crowned without his queen.[28] The next year, and until now, they were not able to receive any of the awards anymore, not even nominees nor special mentions despite them having box office films. They believe that the award-giving body disqualified Santos as they took her (and FPJ's) absence personally.[29]
• 2011: There were reports that Bea Alonzo was a snob to Gerald Anderson during the awards night as he was linked to her before. Alonzo denied the issue, however, explaining that her seat is far from him. Since she was already a latecomer, she does not want to make a scene by going there just to get his attention.[30]

It was also believed that there was a leakage of the winners list, saying that the "Box Office Queen" title would be given to Toni Gonzaga for her film My Amnesia Girl. However, many even speculated that Ai-Ai delas Alas would receive the title for her box office movie Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!). In the end, the latter received the award.[31]

• 2013: There were rumors that the organization was disappointed with John Lloyd Cruz for not attending the awards night. Cruz, as the report says, promised to attend the event to receive the "Box Office King" award personally. However, he was not seen throughout the event, saying that he was sick. In contrast, the speculations point out that Cruz attended another event, instead.[32]

• List of Asian television awards