Archivists group screens vintage youth films at CCP

LILY Monteverde at the Sofia event with Snooky Serna, who was nervous about meeting her again after many years photo by BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR

Archivists figured the best way to welcome the new school year and promote the cause of film preservation among the young was to present two vintage youth films back-to-back at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The Society of Filipino Archivists for Film (Sofia) paired up Dindo Angeles’ 1976 musical “Sinta” with Elwood Perez’s 1981 teen romp “Summer Love” in a double bill
recently.

Angeles was nervous. “I might fall asleep during the screening,” he told the Inquirer. “I told my wife to nudge me, just in case.”

Based on the long-running Filipino stage play by Onofre Pagsanghan, the musical “was a true indie effort,” Angeles related. “We had primitive equipment and no big-name stars. The producer, Rolly Quintos (of Sine Pilipino), didn’t mind losing his shirt for as long as we gave justice to the material.” (Sofia found “Sinta” among the films in IBC 13’s collection.)

The film won as Best Musical in that year’s Famas, but “Sinta” was the only musical film that year, Angeles said.

Jan Gabriel Castañeda, son of lead star Catherine Melendrez (who was at work that day), was clueless about the film. “I know my mom was a singer (for Music Making Company), but I had no idea she was an actress.”

Joel Trinidad, son of Melendrez’s costar Noel Trinidad (who was vacationing in China), said his father “encouraged” him to watch. “Dad said it was historic, the first time he shared the screen with his ‘Champoy’ partner, Subas Herrero.” (“Champoy” was a groundbreaking gag show in the 1980s.)
‘Tears of joy’
At the “Summer Love” screening, Snooky Serna, who was the first to arrive, confided to pals, “I’m scared about meeting with Mother Lily again.”

SNOOKY and Mother Lily reunite with “Summer Love” writer Iskho Lopez, left, and director Elwood Perez. Bayani San Diego Jr.

The actress was referring to Regal producer Lily Monteverde, who quickly doused her fears when they saw each other. “Mother Lily has always been patient with me,” Snooky said.

After the screening, Mother Lily emerged from the theater weeping. “Tears of joy,” she explained. “I feel so happy, and humbled by the tribute given to me by Sofia.”

She is the first mainstream producer to adopt Sofia as a pet cause, and she made a significant donation to the group.

Sofia presented Mother Lily and daughter Roselle Monteverde with a “restored” copy of the “lost” film.

At the CCP event, Snooky also got to reunite with director Perez and “Summer” scriptwriter Iskho Lopez and character actress Vangie Labalan.

Mother Lily hopes to screen the movie in Taal, Batangas (where it was shot), next summer.

In July, Sofia will show films directed by National Artist Fernando Poe Jr.

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