The Igorot model and singer is now an award-winning actor too.
Jeyric Sigmaton, once popularly known as “Carrot Man,” has transcended his local Internet fame to impress an international audience after bringing home the Best Actor award for the Short Film category at the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) Autumn 2021 in New York held last October 14 to 17.
Sigmaton was nominated for his performance in Dayas. Written, directed, and executive-produced by Jianlin Floresca through Be Unrivaled Productions, the short feature film tells the story of small-scale gold miners in Itogon, Benguet, and features an all-Igorot cast. Dayas refers to the process of separating and filtering gold from other raw materials.
“We’re very thankful to have the best actor award for Jeyrick Sigmaton. In behalf of my actor and the entire cast of Sine Cordillera Dayas, and also in behalf of all Igorots all over the world, bagi tayo daytoy [this recognition is ours],” Floresca said in a congratulatory video.
Floresca also thanked the panel, helmed by the IFFM chairman Luis Pedron, for allowing the film to compete in the film festival.
For the award, Sigmaton was up against another Filipino talent in Angelo Reyes, an actor of Filipino and Italian heritage based in the US.
The event also recognized other Filipino talents, including Janice de Belen, who shared the Best Actress award for the Short Film category with Hollywood actress Jessica Chastain, and Elizabeth Oropesa, who took home the Independent Achievement Award in Acting for her performance in ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas), a film that also bagged the Best Screenplay Award.
Sigmaton first reaped popularity back in 2016 when candid photos of him carrying carrots from their farm in Monamon Sur in Benguet surfaced on social media. He would later land a modeling gig, and would also become a singer, becoming a part of a boy band called FAB4Z.
Art Daniella Sison
