May Minamahal (English: Loving Someone) is a 1993 Filipino romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes. Starring Aga Muhlach and Aiko Melendez in their first film together in leading roles, the film revolves around the romance between a young man, the only son of an all-female family, and a young girl, the only daughter of an all-male family. It also stars Boots Anson-Roa, Ronaldo Valdez, Claudine Barretto, Agot Isidro, Nikka Valencia, John Estrada, Aljon Jimenez, and Ogie Diaz.
A first romantic drama film and third film overall produced by Star Cinema, it was theatrically released on December 25, 1993, as one of the entries for the 19th Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won nine awards out of 19 nominations, including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay. The film became a box office hit and received acclaim from critics and various award-giving organizations.
In 2007, it was adapted into a television series of the same name by ABS-CBN as the third installment of Sineserye Presents. In 2018, the film was digitally restored and remastered in 4K high definition by ABS-CBN Film Restoration and L'Immagine Ritrovata.
Contents
Plot
With the death of Ronald, who suffered a heart attack while preparing for their family picnic, Carlitos, the only son, was informed by his aunt Gloria that he is now the family patriarch. He then consoles his mother, Becky, and siblings about his passing. As the man of the house, he takes care of all the responsibilities, particularly the finances and properties. The following day, at the company, when Carlitos is invited by his workmates to eat lunch at the cafeteria, he meets Monica, but she becomes offended when he stares at her and teases her.
Back at home, the whole Tagle family gathered to discuss their finances and assets, including the vehicles, and decided to sell their family van despite the complaints from Mandy. Soon after, Carlitos begins a short conversation with Monica, who is working on her assignments. Later, Carlitos became pressured by the problems involving criticisms from his sister, Trina, and her boyfriend about the van being sold at a lower price, as well as his verbal confrontation with his younger sister, Mandy, for staying out late with her boyfriend. Becky reminds her son that as long as he is the patriarch, she is still his mother.
At the supermarket, Carlitos and Monica meet again, with the former inviting her to eat merienda. Monica agrees to join, where they will eat and exchange stories, particularly talking about their interests like sports and movies. At night, Carlitos returns home from Monica's car and promises to call her later on the telephone. As Monica returns home, she is scolded by her older brother Bombit due to her use of his car, and she handles the cooking for dinner instead. A few moments later, Carlitos and Monica resume their exchange of stories via telephone, with the former being witnessed by his sisters. On the following sunny day, the whole Tagle family is bonded together, and Carlitos assures his mother that he will take care of all their family obligations.
To see Monica, Carlitos pays a visit to her household, and he meets her family consisting of her father Cenon, older brothers Bombit and Jun, and cousin Didoy. He, along with Monica's whole family, began bonding together while eating lunch. On the night of their first date, Carlitos and Monica are at the fancy restaurant, but they go to the delicious carinderia that serves delicious mami noodles instead, as insisted by the latter. After a few days, his mother and three sisters began noticing Carlitos' new lifestyle, including the use of cologne, suspecting that he had a girlfriend. At the family reunion of their relatives returning from overseas, Carlitos introduces Monica to his family. A few meetings later, Monica seriously asked Carlitos if he wanted to be her boyfriend, and he agreed, and the two became a couple.
Cast
Also starring
George Lim as Tito Momoy
Ernie Zarate as Tito Felix, one of the uncles of Carlitos and his sisters, and Gloria's husband
Teri Baylosis as Tito Manolo, one of the uncles of Carlitos and his sisters
Fina Peralejo as Sandra, one of Carlitos and his workmates' co-workers
Angie Roy as Atty. Caroline Pedrosa, the lawyer of the Tagle family
Alma Lerma as Manang Belen, one of the Tagle family's house helpers
Paolo Zobel as Sammy
Melvin Viceral as Spanky
Leilani Terrobias as Susan, a co-worker of Carlitos and his workmates
Ed Murillo as Mr. Capili, the man who is negotiating the price of buying the van from Carlitos
Production and development
May Minamahal began its development in early 1993 when Star Cinema, the film's producer and distributor, began its existence as a joint venture between ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation and Regal Films on May 8, 1993.
Casting
Aga Muhlach and Aiko Melendez previously appeared in the 1992 film, Sinungaling Mong Puso, before they were cast in the film. Muhlach previously worked with writer-director Jose Javier Reyes through the MMFF entry from the previous year, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, where the latter served as the director and the former as one of the film's three lead stars, alongside Ariel Rivera and Lea Salonga.
May Minamahal is also the first Star Cinema project for Agot Isidro, Nikka Valencia, Boots Anson-Roa (it served as her comeback film after living overseas), and Claudine Barretto as well as the two cast members of ABS-CBN's then-youth variety show Ang TV: Fina Peralejo and Lailani Terrobias. Then-newcomer Isko Moreno, who began his prominence in the entertainment landscape in 1993, was cast as the high school-aged Carlitos and it served as his major break, alongside his hosting performances at GMA Network's variety show That's Entertainment.
Filming
A few of the film's personnel and resources were from Regal Films, as well as the filming unit itself. The film was shot around Metro Manila, particularly in the city of San Juan, where they shot scenes set in the Fernandez family household.
Music
The film's theme song, May Minamahal, originally sung by Hajji Alejandro in 1977, was performed by Agot Isidro and composed by Willy Cruz.
Release
Theatrical
Star Cinema theatrically released the film on December 25, 1993, as one of the entries for the 19th Metro Manila Film Festival. It was first opened to 42 movie theaters in the whole Metro Manila region and its neighboring provinces. This was Aga Muhlach's last Metro Manila Film Festival participation before he made his comeback in 2019 through the Philippine adaptation of Miracle in Cell No. 7.
May Minamahal was also premiered in Japan on September 15, 1996, as part of the 6th Fukuoka International Film Festival, screened with Japanese and English subtitles. The film's Japanese title is Crazy About You (Japanese: あなたに夢中で, Hepburn: Anatanimuchū de). It was re-released again for exhibition on March 5, 1997, as part of the showing of Filipino films sponsored by The Japan Foundation in Tokyo.
Home media
May Minamahal was released on home video by Regal Home Video in Philippine markets in 1994 and overseas markets in 2002.
Digital restoration
The film's restored version premiered on February 21, 2018, at Power Plant Mall - Cinema 1 in Makati, Metro Manila, as part of the annual "Reelive the Classics" exhibition. The premiere was attended by the film's writer-director Joey Javier Reyes; cast members Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, Aiko Melendez, Aga Muhlach, Agot Isidro, Nikka Valencia, Ogie Diaz, Bimbo Bautista, and Malou Crisologo; line producer JoAnn Cabalda Bañaga; production assistant Gay Ace Domingo; and the family of producer Simon C. Ongpin.
Reception
Critical response
Jullie Y. Daza, a columnist writing for Manila Standard, described the film as a "fresh new moment in Philippine cinema" and gave praise towards its dialogue, performances of the cast (particularly Muhlach and Valdez), and the appeal to the movie-going audience.
Legacy
May Minamahal is one of the Filipino films whose 35mm film prints are currently stored and preserved at the Fukuoka City Public Library Archives in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
Television adaptation
In 2007, May Minamahal was remade into a TV series by ABS-CBN as the third installment for Sineserye Presents. The lead characters were played by Anne Curtis and Oyo Boy Sotto.