ABS-CBN’s Film Restoration Group, in partnership with Ayala Cinemas, formally opened its special exhibition of digitally restored and remastered classic Filipino Films in UP Town Center dubbed as “Cinema Classics” last Tuesday (Jan 10) via the premiere of the full high definition (HD) copy of the hit 90s romantic comedy flick “Labs Kita…Okey Ka Lang?”
Screaming fans filled UP Town Center’s Cinema 2 and 3 as lead stars Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal graced the premiere alongside director Jerry Lopez Sineneng and scriptwriter Ricky Lee.
“We are happy and thankful for ABS-CBN for doing this. Dahil sa ganitong paraan, mas maraming tao ang makakapanood hindi lang ng magandang pelikula, kung hindi magandang copy ng pelikula,” said Marvin in a short program before the movie started.
Jolina also expressed her gratitude for the people behind the Film Restoration Group and hope the new and younger generation will get to appreciate their work.
“Noong nakikita ko yung mga pelikulang nirerestore sabi ko talaga sana marestore yung “Labs Kita..” kaya naman sobrang saya ko na eto na na-restore na. Maraming salamat po talaga. Sa mga first time manonood nito, yung hindi inabutan dati, sana main-love kayo at kiligin kayo kahit na eto yung way naming na magpakilig noong 90s,” shared Jolina.
Meanwhile, composer Nonong Buencamino, dubbing supervisor Lucy Quinto, as well as celebrities Jeffrey Hidalgo, Rap Fernandez, Mika Dela Cruz, Jay-r, KZ Tandingan, Jason Dy, and Kyla also attended the premiere to show their support.
“Cinema Classics” is part of ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project’s advocacy dubbed as “Sagip Pelikula,” which aims to preserve Philippine cinematic legacy by locally restoring classic Filipino films and make it available to the general public via different platforms.
“We are lucky that our Sagip Pelikula advocacy has strong support from the Ayala management and it is very critical for us that our partners are just as passionate and committed to making this effort viable and sustainable. We have restored more than 120 titles already but unless people get to see them, we can’t really say we have succeeded in preserving our legacy. We are hopeful that the partnership with UPTC is the start of more tie-ups with Ayala Malls,” said Leo Katigbak, head of ABS-CBN Film Restoration Group.
Because of the very successful premiere and high demand from the viewing public, “Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang?” will have another screening this Tuesday (Jan 17), 7PM at the UP Town Center Cinema 3.
Meanwhile, other digitally restored and remastered films to be featured in the special cinema exhibition include Peque Gallaga’s “Magic Temple” and “Oro Plata Mata,” Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala,” Chito Rono’s “Dekada’70” and “Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara,” Jose Javier Reyes’ “Batang PX,” Laurice Guillen’s “Kasal?” and Mike De Leon’s “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising,” “Hindi Nahahati ag Langit,” and “Kakaba Ka Ba?”
“Hopefully, the audiences show up to support these films. That’s what will it make it viable for cinema chains to consider having classics or even indie movies running on a regular and continuing basis. Maybe, we will have a new generation rediscovering and falling in love again with the works of Bernal, Brocka, De Leon, Romero just as audiences have remained in one with “Star Wars,” “Sound of Music,” “Gone with the Wind,” and all the other classics,” Katigbak added.
Watch these digitally restored and remastered films in “Cinema Classics’ from Wednesday (Jan 11) to Sunday (Jan 15) at the UP Town Center. Tickets cost P220, with a discounted rate of P180 for students. For the full schedule, visit www.facebook.com/filmrestorationabscbn on Facebook.
Since 2011, ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project has been restoring classic films to help preserve Philippine cinematic history. Together with Central Digital Lab, it has become the first restoration effort to be done within the country.
To date, ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project has already restored over 120 films, some of which were already screened internationally via film fests, screened locally via red carpet premieres, aired on free-to-air and cable television, viewed via pay-per-view and video-on-demand, distributed on DVD, and downloadable even on iTunes.
