ABS-CBN Film Restoration bids farewell after 14 years
Leo Katigbak, the head of ABS-CBN Film Restoration, revealed that the network's film restoration initiative had ceased operations in March this year and is set to officially shut down in the days ahead.
On his Facebook page, Katigbak detailed that the project ended its 14-year run on March 31, with April being mostly a turnover as they have been sampling the last works they completed as the final day loomed.
"Sadly, it is still a casualty of the efforts to close down the company in 2020 by a man who wrought havoc and killed dreams as well," he wrote, seemingly referring to the time when ABS-CBN was denied a renewal of their franchise that caused the company to shut down broadcast operations.
"For the last few months, we barreled through as much as we can with what meager resources were available to us and until our very last day, we gave it our all," he said.
Katigbak described the initiative as an "amazing journey" as they managed to scan, enhance, restore, remaster, reintroduce to new audiences over 240 classic movies.
"While that facet of the business is gone, many aspects of what we used to do will be handled by other ABS departments, including the SAGIP PELIKULA advocacy, jointly by Star Cinema and Cinemo beginning May 2025," he noted.
He went on to express his gratitude to his fellow ABS-CBN executives Eugenio López III, Charo Santos-Concio, Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes, and Freddie Garcia for their contributions to the project as well as for his own personal growth.
"Special mention to Piolo Pascual who was with us since day one, promoting the initiative, and National Artist for Film Ricky Lee who lent his voice and shared our passion, providing the soul that sent our spirits soaring," Katigbak highlighted.
According to him, it was "rather poetic and fitting" that ABS-CBN Film Restoration began with the release of Himala and ended with the premiere of Tatlong ina, isang anak—both films starring the late National Artist for Film Nora Aunor.
"Preserving the past to inspire the future is a never-ending quest and we hope we were able to encourage many including a new generation to take up the challenge. Sa mga tumangkilik, naniwala, nanaginip… maraming salamat po," Katigbak ended.
Since its launch in 2011, ABS-CBN Film Restoration has digitized, restored, and remastered valuable films such as Oro, Plata, Mata, Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi, Sara, Ang Munting Prinsesa, Shake, Rattle & Roll, and more.
These films have been released through a wide array of platforms including limited theatrical runs, film festivals, free-to-air and cable television, DVDs, pay per view, over-the-top content platforms such as iTunes, and video sharing platform YouTube.