ABS-CBN restores T-Bird at Ako

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN Film Archives brings back to life the ’80s film T-Bird at Ako, topbilled by Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos, as its digitally restored and re-mastered version hits cinemas this month.

The red carpet premiere was held yesterday at the University of the Philippines Film Institute Cine Adarna where Nora graced the event and showed her support for ABS-CBN’s film restoration project. Noranians and Vilmanians also flocked to the venue.

T-Bird at Ako is the sixth film that is 30 years or older restored by ABS-CBN, joining other timeless titles such as Himala, Oro Plata Mata and Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon.

When asked about ABS-CBN’s selection process of classic titles to restore, Film Archives head Leo Katigbak explained, “The definition of classic really evolves over time. It’s not just the old critically-acclaimed award-winning movies per se but films that have taken on an iconic status due to director, stars, representation of an era and the like. Here in the Philippines, our classics tend to be more modern.”

He added, “The restoration campaign focuses on directors primarily. In the case of the 33-year-old T-Bird at Ako, it’s vintage Danny Zialcita with his snappy dialogue and witty repartee. It’s also the last time that Nora and Vilma co-starred in a movie and with such a daring theme for its time.”

T-Bird at Ako tells the story of a sexy dancer (Santos) accused of homicide. She is defended by a female lawyer (Aunor) who tries to keep their relationship professional as the latter struggles with confusion as to her sexual preference.

T-Bird at Ako is among the 75 films restored by ABS-CBN Film Archives, in collaboration with Central Digital Labs, since it started its restoration project in 2011. Some of these restored films were already screened internationally via film fests, screened locally via red carpet premieres, aired on free-to-air and cable television, viewed via pay-per-view and video-on-demand, distributed on DVD and downloadable even on iTunes.