Kakabakaba Ka Ba?

Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
The poster of the restored version
Directed by	Mike De Leon
Written by	Clodualdo Del Mundo Raquel Villavicencio Mike De Leon
Produced by	Manuel De Leon Encarnacion De Leon
Starring	Christopher De Leon Charo Santos-Concio Jay Ilagan Sandy Andolong
Cinematography	Rody Lacap
Edited by	Ike Jarlego, Jr.
Music by	Lorrie Ilustre
Distributed by	LVN Pictures Paramount Pictures (US)
Release date	1980
Running time	104 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English Japanese

Kakabakaba Ka Ba? (lit. Does Your Heart Beat Faster?) is a 1980 musical-romantic comedy film produced by LVN Pictures (in its last offering) in 1980, with Mike De Leon as director.

The film revolves on two couples who found themselves in conflict with the foreign commercial giants that control the Philippine economy, the Japanese and the Chinese. Moreover, it involved the Catholic Church which has a stranglehold on the Philippine society itself. The film reflects on the Philippine economy and society being primarily controlled by other forces for their own benefits and become instruments in performing illegal activities. Actors Christopher de Leon, Sandy Andolong, Jay Ilagan and Charo Santos starred as main cast in the film, while Johnny Delgado and APO Hiking Society's Boboy Garovillo portrayed as main villains.

Plot

As he arrives home from Japan, Johnny (Christopher de Leon) unknowingly smuggles in high-grade opium via an unassuming audio cassette. Japanese gangsters go after him and his friends to take back their goods. Johnny's group takes refuge in a church in Baguio, but there they discover that the priests and nuns there are fakes and actually in league with the Japanese. Adding to the mayhem is the Chinese mafia, which have agenda of their own that pits them against the Japanese. Appropriately, hijinks ensue in a battle cum musical extravaganza.

Cast

Actor	Character
Christopher De Leon	Johnny
Charo Santos	Melanie
Jay Ilagan	Nonong
Sandy Andolong	Nancy
Boboy Garovillo	Onota
Johnny Delgado	Pinoy Master
Armida Siguion-Reyna	Madame Lily
Leo Martinez	Padre Blanco
Nanette Inventor	Mother Superior
Joe Jardi	Wagner
Moody Diaz	Melody / Virgie
Danny Javier	Santacruzan
George Javier	Grand Master
UP Concert Chorus	fake priests and nuns

The APO Hiking Society made a contribution in this film. While Buboy Garovillo and Danny Javier portrayed the characters of Onota (main villain) and Santacruzan (supporting role) respectively, Jim Paredes made a cameo appearance as the conductor for the New Minstrels Band in the finale.

Accolades

File:Kakabakaba Ka Ba 1980 poster.jpeg

The original poster of the film, released in 1980 by LVN Pictures

FAMAS Awards

Year	Result	Category/Recipient(s)
1981	Nominated	Best Director Mike De Leon Best Supporting Actor Johnny Delgado Best Picture

Urian Awards

Year	Result	Category/Recipient(s)
1981	Won	Best Direction Mike De Leon Best Editing Ike Jarlego, Jr. Best Music Lorrie Ilustre Best Sound Ramon Reyes Best Supporting Actor Johnny Delgado
	Nominated	Best Supporting Actor Boboy Garovillo Best Supporting Actress Nanette Inventor PBest Supporting Actress Armida Siguion-Reyna Best Screenplay Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. Mike De Leon Raquel Villavicencio Best Production Design Raquel Villavicencio Best Cinematography Rody Lacap Best Picture

2015 digital restoration

The film was commissioned by ABS-CBN Corporation to be digitally restored and remastered by L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy and was supervised by Davide Pozzi. This is the first film in the ABS-CBN Film Archives entirely done abroad. The film was re-released with in select cinemas on December 9, 2015.

See also

• Mike De Leon
• Christopher De Leon
• Charo Santos
• Jay Ilagan
• Sandy Andolong
• Johnny Delgado
• APO Hiking Society

External links

• Kakabakaba Ka Ba? at IMDb