MANILA, PHILIPPINES — This February, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) celebrates the month of love with “Sine Sinta: Pag-ibig at Pelikula,” a showcase of Filipino classic and contemporary romance films from February 16-23, 2024 at Ayala Malls Trinoma, The Metropolitan Theater (MET) and FDCP Cinematheque Centres, along with a curated lineup of films that will be available on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel at the end of the month.

Through Sine Sinta, the FDCP aims to showcase the best of Philippine romantic films by making them available to the general public for free. Moreover, the national film council aims to encourage audiences to enjoy the communal experience of watching timeless Filipino films on the big screen.

“Sana po ay makapagbigay ng saya at buhay muli sa inyong mga puso ang mga pelikulang inihanda namin,” Chairman and CEO Tirso Cruz III said in a statement. “Ito rin ay para anyayaan tayong lahat na magbigay ng pag-ibig sa mga kapwa nating Pilipino, upang matandaan natin na ang pag-ibig ay para sa lahat.”

February 16: Special Screening of “One More Chance” at Trinoma

Sine Sinta 2024 will officially commence with a special screening of the digitally restored and remastered film “One More Chance” on February 16, 4:30PM at Trinoma Cinema 6. 

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana and top-billed by Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, “One More Chance” tells the story of two former lovers who try to move on with their lives while constantly being reminded of their past relationship.

February 18: “Kita Kita” Screening at the MET

In partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Sine Sinta presents a screening of Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s critically acclaimed film “Kita Kita” on February 18, 2:00PM at The Metropolitan Theatre. This screening will be followed by a talkback session entitled “From Script to Screen: The Journey of Kita Kita” with Sigrid Bernardo and Seymour Sanchez.

“Kita Kita” follows the friendship and burgeoning romance between a blind Filipina tour guide and her neighbor in Japan. Starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez, this film premiered at the 12th Osaka Asian Film Festival in Japan and became one of the highest-grossing films in the Philippines.

February 17 & 20-23: Sine Sinta screenings at FDCP Cinematheque Centres

FDCP Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Iloilo, Davao, Nabunturan, and Negros will screen classic and contemporary Filipino films on February 17 & 20-23 in celebration of Sine Sinta.

• “Giliw Ko” (1939)

Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa and produced by LVN Pictures, Filipino musical romance film “Giliw Ko” tells the tale of a country girl named Guia who is captivated by Hollywood and the attention of a wealthy suitor named Antonio. 

This film is also included in the program “Classic Saturdays,” held every third Saturday of the month at Cinematheque Centres. 

• “Radio Romance” (1996)

Top-billed by Claudine Baretto and Rico Yan, Jose Javier Reyes’ film “Radio Romance” tells the story of a disc jockey who receives a love letter from one of her listeners, professing his desire to meet her in person. 

• “Hey Babe!” (1999)

Directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal, “Hey Babe!” follows a superstitious teenager who thinks she found the man of her dreams after receiving advice from a sketchy fortune teller.

• “One More Chance” (2007)

Cathy Garcia-Sampana’s “One More Chance” revolves around a long-time couple who seems destined for each other, but frictions and differing ambitions break them apart.

• “Never Not Love You” (2018)

A film by Antoinette Jadaone, “Never Not Love You” tells the story of young lovers who try to build a life together until career opportunities send them to a different country, where their relationship will be tested.

• Sine Sinta Shorts

• “Living Things” (2020) by Martika Escobar

A woman wakes up and discovers that her decade-long lover has turned into a cardboard standee of himself.

• “Pusong Bato” (2014) by Martika Escobar

A middle-aged faded actress named Cinta Dela Cruz tries to relive and remember her glorious days as a movie star in the 1970s. She does this by watching films at home everyday until one day, during an earthquake, something breaks into her window and wakes her up from her Hollywood dream.

• “Hiraya” (2022) by Kaloy Cabarrubias

A couple celebrates their anniversary in a Discord call. They begin daydreaming about their plans and ambitions before one of them unfolds an unexpected truth.

• “If I Could Give You the Moon” (2022) by Francis Tavas

A longing teenage boy is engulfed by sadness as he realizes the absence of his beloved moon in the vast night sky. Would reality give way to this fantastical tale?

• “Within Frames: Us in Different Worlds” (2023) by Jasper Tan

A young couple named Vince and Elle face an inevitable challenge in their relationship.

• “Please, Remember This Night” (2023) by Joshua de Vera

After failing to catch the last train ride, a bond grows between two strangers when they decide to walk towards an alternate route.

• “Two-Part Ways” (2022) by Aldrin de la Paz

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mara gives her best shot to rekindle her relationship with her husband after reminiscing their time together living in an apartment, 

• “Love in the Ungodly Hour” (2021) by Bradley Jason Pantajo

This short film tells the story between two young men, separated after one of them contracted a highly stigmatized disease. Years later, the guy who abandoned his former lover comes back in need of love and acceptance, which he failed to provide in their previous relationship.

February 17 & 20-23: Screenings at Cinematheque Centre Manila

The Cinematheque Centre Manila will host screenings of Filipino contemporary romantic films in line with this year’s celebration of Sine Sinta. 

• “That Thing Called Tadhana” (2014)

Antoinette Jadaone’s critically acclaimed film “That Thing Called Tadhana” returns to the big screen this February for Sine Sinta. The film revolves around two strangers who form an unexpected friendship that would take them out of a crowded airport and into the secluded city of Sagada, where they would try to mend each other’s hearts.

• “Love You to the Stars and Back” (2017)

“Love You to the Stars and Back,” also directed by Antoinette Jadaone, tells the story of a young eccentric woman who bonds with a terminally ill man while on the road.

• “Isa Pa, With Feelings” (2019)

Prime Cruz’s “Isa Pa, With Feelings” is about a frustrated architect who finds solace from her deaf neighbor, but their relationship gets complicated as miscommunication kicks in.

• “I’m Drunk, I Love You” (2017)

Directed by JP Habac, “I’m Drunk, I Love You” tells the story of two college best friends who go on a last road trip where they settle how they really feel for each other.

February 23: FDCP Film Talks on Sine Sinta at Cinematheque Centre Manila 

The Cinematheque Centre Manila will host a Film Talk entitled “From Classic Kilig to Modern Love: Filipino Romantic Movies Revisited” with critically acclaimed Filipino filmmakers Antoinette Jadaone and JP Habac as panelists.

This Film Talk will be a retrospective on classic and contemporary Filipino romantic films and their contribution to Philippine cinema and popular culture. 

February 23: Sine Sinta films on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel

Sine Sinta offers a curated lineup of films on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel, ranging from classics that made a lasting impact on Philippine cinema to contemporary films that capture the complexities of romance in the present milieu.

• “Ikaw Ay Akin” (1978)

Directed by National Artist for Film Ishmael Bernal and top-billed by veteran actors Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, and Christopher De Leon, “Ikaw Ay Akin” tells the story of a man’s conflicting feelings between his long-time partner and a woman he just met.

• “Haplos” (1982)

Butch Perez’s “Haplos” follows a man who becomes involved with two women: one he has known since childhood and a mysterious woman he met in the town cemetery while visiting the grave of his departed mother.

• “Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit” (1991) 

Loosely adapted from Emily Brontë’s literary classic Wuthering Heights, Carlos Siguion Reyna’s “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit” revolves around the love affair between a young woman and a street urchin whom her father adopted, but they are forced to part ways when the woman decides to marry her wealthy suitor.

• “Got 2 Believe” (2002) 

In Olivia Lamasan’s romantic comedy film “Got 2 Believe,” a wedding planner who is desperate to get married before the age of 25 enlists the help of a cynical wedding photographer, who agrees to find her a partner.

• “Changing Partners” (2017)

Dan Villegas’ musical drama “Changing Partners” is told through the perspective of different genders. The film explores the disintegrating relationship between a couple with a 15-year age gap, whose differences become more evident after six years together.

• “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus” (2018)

Directed by Dwein Baltazar, “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus” follows the lives of four men living in Avenida who find their deepest desires personified by a woman named Aileen.

These titles are available on JuanFlix via subscription, which starts at PHP 99.00/month or PHP 499.00/year. Visit www.juanflix.com.ph to learn more about JuanFlix’s collection of Filipino classic and contemporary films and World Cinema titles.

Sine Sinta: Pag-ibig at Pelikula is in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), The Metropolitan Theater, Ayala Malls Cinema and Trinoma, and is supported by ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Film Restoration (Sagip Pelikula), ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. (Star Cinema), JuanFlix, and Cinematheque Centres.

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