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Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
Directed by	Mike De Leon
Written by	Mike de Leon Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. Raquel Villavicencio
Produced by	Encarnacion de Leon Manuel de Leon Narcisa de Leon
Starring	Christopher de Leon Charo Santos Jay Ilagan Sandy Andolong Boboy Garovillo
Cinematography	Rody Lacap
Edited by	Ike Jarlego, Jr.
Music by	Lorrie Ilustre
Production company	LVN Pictures
Distributed by	D'Wonder Films ABS-CBN Film Productions (restored version)
Release date	August 8, 1980 (1980-08-08)
Running time	106 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English Philippine Hokkien Japanese

Kakabakaba Ka Ba? (English: Does Your Heart Beat Faster?) is a 1980 Filipino musical comedy film directed by Mike de Leon, with a screenplay written by de Leon, Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., and Raquel Villavicencio. It stars Christopher de Leon, Charo Santos, Jay Ilagan, and Sandy Andolong as two pairs of lovers who accidentally find themselves in the middle of a conflict between rivaling Japanese and Chinese drug syndicates. The film also features APO Hiking Society members Boboy Garovillo, Danny Javier, and Jim Paredes, Johnny Delgado, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Leo Martinez, and Nanette Inventor.

Produced by LVN Pictures and distributed by D'Wonder Films, the film has been viewed as a satirical commentary on foreign control of the Philippine economy.

In 2015, the film was digitally restored by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project.

Plot

Cold open

The cold open features several attempts by Onota (Boboy Garovillo), a member of the Japanese yakuza, to smuggle contraband into the Philippines. In 1964, he arrives at Manila International Airport but is denied entry into the Philippines after customs discovers that he is smuggling diamonds hidden inside a Japanese doll. Five years later, Onota, disguised as a hippie, attempts to smuggle money hidden in his guitar, but is caught once again. In 1976, another failed attempt sees Onota disguised as a kimono-wearing Japanese woman who is caught smuggling opium inside his kimono sash.

Main plot

In the present, Onota is given one more chance by his boss, Japanese Master (George Javier). His mission is to once again fly to Manila, this time with a cassette tape that carries some contraband. On his flight, Onota slips the cassette tape into the pocket of Johnny (Christopher de Leon), an unassuming Filipino returning home. The contraband is finally able to go through Philippine customs, but Onota has to retrieve it back from Johnny.

Soon, Johnny, his long interest Melanie (Charo Santos), and their friends Nonong (Jay Ilagan) and Nancy (Sandy Andolong), find themselves continuously harassed by various groups who are interested in getting the cassette tape. Aside from Onota, there is Madame Lily (Armida Siguion-Reyna), who heads a Chinese crime syndicate, as well as the mysterious Fr. Blanco (Leo Martinez).

A series of hijinks ensue. Johnny and his friends meet with Santacruzan (Danny Javier). They discover that the cassette tape contains opium, which Nonong, Nancy, and Santacruzan take.

Eventually, the foursome of Johnny, Melanie, Nonong, and Nancy travel to Baguio in disguise as priests and nuns. They uncover a plot by the Japanese syndicate, led locally by Pinoy Master (Johnny Delgado), for the large-scale distribution of opium through communion wafers so as to control the Filipino population. The group are able to foil the scheme in a musical extravaganza. The film ends with the two couples marrying in a joint ceremony.

Cast

• Christopher de Leon as Johnny
• Charo Santos as Melanie
• Jay Ilagan as Nonong
• Sandy Andolong as Nancy
• Boboy Garovillo as Onota
• Johnny Delgado as Pinoy Master
• Armida Siguion-Reyna as Madame Lily
• Leo Martinez as Fr. Blanco
• Moody Diaz as Aling Melody / Virgie
• Joe Jardi as Wagner
• Danny Javier as Santacruzan
• George Javier as Japanese Master
• Nanette Inventor as Mother Superior
• Jim Paredes as Conductor
• New Minstrels as Band

Release

Restoration

In 2015, the film was digitally restored and remastered by the ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project in cooperation with L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy. The restored version premiered on December 9, 2015, at Trinoma mall to close the 10th Cinema One Originals festival. The theme of the Cinema One Originals festival that year was "Kakaiba ka ba?" a play on the title of de Leon's film.

The digitally restored version of the film was screened at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2017 as part of the Cross Cut Asia program. Program director Kenji Ishizaka first saw the film in 1991and explained his decision in choosing to include the film in the line-up: "First of all, it's a high-quality musical. To look at your own country, through an outsider's point of view, is always interesting. The Yakuza character is depicted in a caricaturish manner, but that's good for us to see. It's a comedy." Ishizaka added that he thought the film should be watched by younger generations.

Reception

Accolades

See also

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

References

1. Tajan, Menchie (1994). "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?". Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art.
2. Kinoc, Princess (November 19, 2015). "Mike de Leon's "Kakabakaba Ka Ba?" gets its well-deserved restoration, premieres Dec 9". Film Police Reviews.
3. Red, Isah (December 16, 2015). "Vice, Coco, Jadine spread love and laughter at the MMFF". Manila Standard.
4. Cruz, Marinel (November 8, 2015). "Cinema One Original finalists, showcased films unveiled". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
5. San Diego, Bayani (November 14, 2017). "'Kakabakaba' returns to Japan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021.

External links

• Kakabakaba Ka Ba? at IMDb

• 1980 films
• 1980s musical comedy films
• Philippine musical comedy films
• Philippine multilingual films
• Star Cinema films
• Films directed by Mike De Leon
• Films with screenplays by Raquel Villavicencio
• Films about organized crime in the Philippines
• Philippine satirical films
• 1980 musical films