Actress Ara Mina has clarified the reason behind her half-sister Cristine Reyes’ emotional departure from the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal, revealing that their mother had been rushed to the hospital.
Reyes drew attention after being seen crying while leaving the Solaire Grand Ballroom in Parañaque last Friday, December 27. A TikTok clip posted by user @el.mere03 sparked speculation about her abrupt exit.
Family Emergency
Ara Mina addressed the rumors on Instagram, explaining that Reyes left the event due to their mother’s hospitalization. Mina shared a photo of Reyes attending to their mother in the hospital’s emergency room.
“I took this picture around 2:39 a.m. while we were in the [emergency room]. Our mom is in the hospital, which is why she left the MMFF Awards Night crying,” Mina wrote.
A Sister’s Support
Earlier that evening, Mina also shared a photo of Reyes sitting by their mother’s bedside. “Earlier, I was with my sister Cristine as we waited for our mom to be transferred from the [emergency room] to her room,” she captioned.
Reyes’ Nomination at the MMFF
Reyes was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Dayang Matimyas Nandula in the MMFF 2024 entry The Kingdom. She was among esteemed nominees such as Chanda Romero, Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Padilla, Nadine Lustre, and eventual winner Kakki Teodoro.
No Official Statement Yet
As of this writing, Cristine Reyes has yet to comment on the viral video or the incident at the MMFF Awards Night.
While speculation initially surrounded her emotional exit, the clarification from Ara Mina highlights the actress’s focus on family during a critical time.