AS a fan of Charo Santos-Concio, I am glad to learn that this formidable media personality, known by many as “Ma’am Charo,” too, is a fan. Well, not of myself but a movie fan in general. It is in fact her being a fan that drove her passion for restoring and archiving classic Filipino films she is a fan of.
In an interview with ABS-CBN Films Restoration head Leo Katigbak, she said, “It’s coming from the fact that I am a movie fan. I grew up watching [classic] films and saw the need to fix and restore these for future generations because it reflects our culture and the changes within our society. That is where you have the idea of who we are as people.”
Thus, it is very apt that ABS-CBN Films Restoration would pay tribute to this passionate woman and her countless contributions to Philippine cinema in Sagip Pelikula Spotlight, featuring the online screenings of her restored classics, including the comedy classic My Juan En Only.
The latest installment of its Spotlight series recognizes Ma’am Charo’s work as an actress with her performances in Kisapmata, Itim and Brutal, among others; and also as a producer of some of the country’s most seminal films, including Himala, Soltero and Oro, Plata, Mata.
Kicking off the Spotlight series for Charo, Sagip Pelikula brings viewers the restored version of her 1982 comedy classic My Juan En Only, costarring alongside Comedy King Dolphy, with Panchito, Babalu, Paquito Diaz, Bibeth Orteza and more.
The family-romance comedy tells the story of Juan (Dolphy), a beloved businessman in his provincial town known for his countless acts of generosity to others. His heart of gold also catches the attention of the town’s seamstress, Akang (Charo). He becomes her secret admirer constantly giving her gifts to show his affection which always ends up in silly mishaps.
But their happy love story turns topsy-turvy when Juan’s siblings from the city enter the picture to spend time with him by imposing their urban preoccupations on his humble lifestyle. Little does he know that some of his siblings are conspiring with their uncle to ruin his relationship with Akang in fear of losing much of Juan’s supposed inheritance for them.
The digitally-restored My Juan En Only, featuring a pre-show interview with Charo herself, is now streaming on KTX. Passes are available at bit.ly/MyJuanOnKTX for only P150.
Netflix, meanwhile, has added Himala and Oro Plata Mata to its library of Filipino film titles. They are just the first two films that ABS-CBN Film Restoration has digitally restored and remastered to be available on demand via the streaming giant. One of Dolphy’s most iconic films of all time, Markova: Comfort Gay, is also now among its film offers.
Audiences can also watch the restored versions of Star Cinema’s all-time romantic hits, such as One More Chance, Now That I Have You, Dubai and Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit.