Sagip Pelikula Brings the Restored Version of “Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin” at the MET

IN celebration of National Women’s Month, ‘Sagip Pelikula’ brought one of its restored titles featuring two of the premier actresses today, Maricel Soriano and Snooky Serna, with their 1995 family-drama classic “Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin” in the latest installment of Mga Hiyas ng Sineng Filipino, co-organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP), at the Manila Metropolitan Theater (MET) last March 19.

The Reyna Films classic screened for free at the re-opened Metropolitan Theater, which also featured a talk-back session with its lead stars Maricel and Snooky alongside the film’s screenwriter Bibeth Orteza, director Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Central Digital Lab’s CEO Manet Dayrit, plus co-stars Jess Evardone and FDCP chairperson Tirso Cruz III.

Its cast, writer, and director recounted the challenges of making the film and were overwhelmed with its overall restoration and the continuous massive audience reception years after its initial theatrical release.

Meanwhile, Central Digital Lab’s Manet Dayrit expressed gratitude for its partnership with Sagip Pelikula in its goal to preserve Filipino cinematic classics for many years to come.

“We first started with ABS-CBN Film Restoration, and we want to restore as many films as possible to preserve our heritage… Digital restoration locally was really started through ABS-CBN. Since we started this project, there’s a new generation of filmgoers appreciating these titles, and we are happy to see these in theaters again, plus on various streaming platforms,” Manet addressed.

“Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin” recounts how the intense sibling rivalry between Jacinta (Maricel) and Clarita (Snooky) brewed following the latter’s return to their humble provincial home years after leaving for the city in search of a better life.

After catching up with lost time alongside their ailing mother, a rift suddenly separates them upon uncovering the secret behind Jacinta’s plan to sabotage her husband’s past relationship with her sister and a scandalous affair involving their deceased father.

The film’s restoration was made possible alongside Central Digital Lab and first made its digital premiere in 2020 via KTX.ph after its theatrical release in 1995.

Prior to its screening at the Metropolitan Theater, other restored titles from Sagip Pelikula were also featured in the Mga Hiyas ng Sineng Filipino event, including “Sana Maulit Muli” and “Himala.”

Mga Hiyas ng Sineng Filipino, co-organized by MET, FDCP, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Philippine Film Archives (PFA), and Sagip Pelikula, aims to bring back timeless Filipino classics to the big screen in its restored and remastered fashion.

Apart from supporting the event’s various iterations, Sagip Pelikula explores more collaborative efforts with FDCP to promote Filipino cinema to today’s audiences, most recently with the Sine Sinta festival last February.

ABS-CBN Film Restoration continues to restore and remaster films from directors and writers of note for today’s viewers to appreciate through its Sagip Pelikula initiative.

These efforts have earned multiple recognitions from award-giving bodies worldwide, including the prestigious Gold Quill Award given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Gawad Pedro Bucaneg from Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL), and most recently the Gawad PASADO sa Pagsisinop ng mga De Kalibreng Pelikula distinction from the 23rd Gawad PASADO organized by Pampelikulang Samahan ng mga Dalubguro (PASADO).

For more details on its upcoming film showings, follow ABS-CBN Film Restoration on Facebook (facebook.com/filmrestorationabscbn), Twitter (@ABS_Restoration), and Instagram (@abscbnfilmrestoration).

(ROHN ROMULO)