12 classic Filipino movies saved by ABS-CBN Film Restoration you can stream for free

After a dedicated 14-year journey that saw over 200 classic Filipino films brought back to life, the ABS-CBN Film Restoration project, known as Sagip Pelikula, has officially come to an end.

Project chairman Leo Katigbak announced that operations ceased in March, with April allocated for the transition and final handling of completed work. This closure, he noted, is a direct consequence of the network's significant downsizing that followed the government-ordered shutdown in 2020, leading to severe resource limitations that impacted the project's ability to operate.

Despite these hurdles, Katigbak shared that the team pushed forward with "meager resources" in their final months, emphasizing that "until our very last day, we gave it our all."

Beyond preserving cinematic heritage, the ABS-CBN Film Restoration project played a crucial role in reintroducing these films to modern audiences through organized screenings and film festivals. Katigbak expressed hope that their mission to "preserv[e] the past to inspire the future" has encouraged a new generation to champion film preservation.

Interestingly, the project's first restoration, Ishmael Bernal's "Himala," and its final one, Mario O'Hara's "Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak," both starred National Artist for Film Nora Aunor, adding a poignant symmetry, especially following her passing.

The good news for film enthusiasts is that the project's legacy endures online. Many of the restored classics are available to stream for free, allowing a new wave of viewers to discover these cultural treasures.

Here is a curated selection of 12 notable Filipino classics restored by the project that you can currently watch online for free:

Nunal Sa Tubig (1976): A powerful film by Ishmael Bernal set in a declining fishing village, exploring a complex love triangle amidst ecological and economic changes. It features Elizabeth Oropesa, Daria Ramirez, and George Estregan.

Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon? (1976): Directed by Eddie Romero with writing by Roy Iglesias, this film follows a naive peasant boy named Kulas (Christopher de Leon) during a turbulent period of Philippine history, as he navigates his identity during the transition from Spanish to American rule.

Captain Barbell (1973): Jose “‘Pepe” Wenceslao's take on the iconic superhero sees a despondent Tenteng (Dolphy) granted the chance to become Captain Barbell after contemplating taking his own life.

Mga Bilanggong Birhen (1977): Directed by Mario O’Hara, this film is set during the Filipino revolutionary period against American colonizers, where the patriarch Señor Juan (Leroy Salvador) keeps his two daughters, Celina (Alma Moreno) and Milagros (Trixia Gomez), confined amid the fight for agrarian justice.

Kakabakaba Ka Ba? (1980): Mike de Leon directed this unique musical comedy about four friends – Johnny (Christopher de Leon), Melanie (Charo Santos), Nonong (Jay De Leon), and Nancy (Sandy Andolong) – who accidentally get involved with foreign syndicates after finding a cassette tape containing illegal substances.

Oro, Plata, Mata (1982): Peque Gallaga's epic wartime drama tells the story of two wealthy families who escape to the countryside during World War II but are forced to confront the harsh realities and brutalities of the conflict.

Moral (1982): Following the lives of four interconnected UP Diliman students – a drug user (Lorna Tolentino), a singer (Gina Alajar), a liberated woman (Sandy Andolong), and a mother (Ana Marin) – this film explores their individual struggles and attempts to overcome personal challenges.

My Juan en Only (1982): Starring the King of Comedy Dolphy and the esteemed Charo Santos-Concio in their first on-screen pairing, this romantic comedy by Frank Gray Jr. (written by Bibeth Orteza) depicts the challenged romance between a provincial bachelor and a dressmaker.

Misteryo sa Tuwa (1984): Abbo Dela Cruz's masterpiece follows three impoverished men – Ponsoy (Tony Santos), Mesiong (Johnny Delgado), and Jamin (Ronnie Lazaro) – who become rich overnight after finding a suitcase from a plane crash, only for the local mayor to plot to claim the money.

Soltero (1984): This film directed by Pio de Castro III and written by Bienvenido Noriega Jr. centers on Crispin (Jay Ilagan), a 29-year-old assistant bank manager living alone, as he searches for love. Rio Locsin and Chanda Romero also star.

Ikaw Pa Lang Ang Minahal (1992): Directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna with a screenplay by Raquel Villavicencio, this FAMAS Award-winning film stars Maricel Soriano and Richard Gomez in a story where a wealthy doctor father offers money to break up his daughter Adela's romance with David.

Home Along da Riles (1993): Johnny Manahan's film features Dolphy as Kevin Cosme, a man who becomes a target for a mob boss after his son unknowingly receives crucial evidence from a government agent.