MANILA, PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 — Newly-restored film Atsay by Eddie Garcia and Gumapang Ka sa Lusak by Mario O’Hara, starring new National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor, were screened for free at the opening of the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) banner program Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) last September 9 at Cinema 6 of TriNoma Malls in Quezon City.

The 6th edition of PPP this year, under the PPP Classics section, featured films of the new National Artists for Film starting with the back-to-back screenings of Nora Aunor’s notable films. Present at the event were veteran actor Bembol Roco, filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr., ABS-CBN Film Restoration or Sagip Pelikula Head Leo Katigbak and his team, and the “Noranians,” fans of Superstar Nora Aunor.

President of Noranian fan club “D’ Solid Group Forever Noranians,” Lita Muñez, showed her delight for being able to see her favorite actress on the big screen on the restored classic films: “Masaya kami kasi mapapanood namin ‘yung pelikula ni National Artist Nora Aunor na parang ginawang (mukhang) bago.” Grand Alliance for Nora Aunor Philippines (GANAP) President Rosita Salazar, who has been a fan of Nora since 1967, shared that it was a big deal for her and their club to see the films of her idol being restored and shown in theaters again. 

The Philippine Film Archive of the FDCP digitally restored Garcia’s Atsay that bagged the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Film award in 1978, while Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos by Mario O’Hara, restored by Sagip Pelikula, National Artist Aunor won the Gawad Urian Best Actress awards in 1977. 

FDCP Chairman and CEO Tirso Cruz III acknowledged the special guests and gave an introduction on this year’s PPP Classics during his opening remarks, “minabuti namin na ipokus ang PPP sa mga minahal nating Pilipino classics na nagpayaman sa industriya natin noong araw. Ang mga pelikulang tampok ng PPP ngayon ay bahagi ng kasaysayan ng ating cinema at pawang mga ginintuang alaala ng mga kuwentong nagdaan na minahal natin hanggang sa ngayon.” 

Before the screening of the films, special guests for the event gave anecdotes about the films: Solar Entertainment President Wilson Teng, rights holder to the film Atsay and a self-proclaimed ‘Noranian,’ gave a short message; ABS-CBN Film Restoration Head Leo Katigbak gave a brief background how they ended up restoring the film Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos; versatile actor Bembol Roco, who starred in the film Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, expressed his gratitude for restoring classic films and for the support of audiences; and filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr represented Nora Aunor and played her audio message for the event.

To honor and celebrate the legacy of the new National Artists for Film, under PPP Classics, notable films written by award-winning screenwriter Ricky Lee, Cain at Abel and Gumapang Ka sa Lusak (directed by Lino Brocka), will be screened on September 14 at Cinema 6 of TriNoma Malls in Quezon City. Cain at Abel received the FAMAS Awards Best Picture in 1983, while Gumapang Ka sa Lusak bagged the Best Picture award in Gawad Urian in the same year. 

On September 15, Brutal and Karnal from the “trilogy” of multi-awarded director Marilou Diaz-Abaya will have their public screening at Cinema 6 of TriNoma Malls in Quezon City. Diaz-Abaya bagged the MMFF Best Director award for her film Brutal in 1980 and the MMFF Best Picture prize for Karnal in 1983. 

The six classic restored films under the PPP Classics sections will also have free screenings in all Cinematheques Centres nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao, and Nabunturan) until September 23. 

The PPP opening featuring PPP Classics: Nora Aunor is made possible through the support of ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula, Solar Entertainment, and TriNoma Mall Cinema. 

The PPP Classics section of PPP 6 is part of the month-long celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month this September. 

For more information and updates on PPP 6, follow their official page on Facebook. 

Schedule of screenings for PPP Classics