Star Cinema marks 17th year with 'biggest family drama of 2010'

MANILA, Philippines - Ten years ago, Star Cinema made history in the 2000 Metro Manila Filmfest with a family drama that not only finished the top-grosser but also romped off with the most number of awards, including Best Picture.

That touching drama was Tanging Yaman, directed by Laurice Guillen. It featured an all-star cast led by Gloria Romero as the matriarch of a troubled clan, suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Among the other stars were Hilda Koronel, Edu Manzano, Dina Bonnevie, Joel Torre, Marvin Agustin, Jericho Rosales, Janet McBride and the late Johnny Delgado.

History will repeat itself as Star Cinema marks its 17th anniversary with what may be “the biggest family drama of 2010,” opening nationwide on Sept. 1.

Because it’s again directed by Guillen, Sa’yo Lamang is expected not only to equal but surpass the record of Tanging Yaman whose theme song is the same one sung in churches during Mass.

Among the talents involved in Sa’yo Lamang, only Guillen is from Tanging Yaman. Sa’yo Lamang is her first direction after the death of her husband Johnny before Christmas last year. At that time, Guillen, encouraged by Johnny, continued working on I Love You, Goodbye, starring Derek Ramsay and Angelica Panganiban, which was Star Cinema’s entry in last year’s Metro Manila Filmfest, never mind if Guillen with an impending tragedy.

Sa’yo Lamang boasts of an new set of stars led by Lorna Tolentino and Christopher de Leon, and also including Bea Alonzo, Diether Ocampo, Coco Martin, Zanjoe Marudo, Shaina Magdayao, Enchong Dee, Empress Schuck, Miles Ocampo and Lauren Young.

Sa’yo Lamang delves into the lives of a family which is, like any family anywhere in the world, laden with issues and problems that threaten its very foundation but in the end emerges triumphant, with the ties binding the members stronger than ever.

Once again, Sa’yo Lamang firms up the reputation of Star Cinema as the home of wholesome entertainment, the only company that hasn’t succumbed to the bold trend but instead concentrated on producing movies for every member of the family, whatever the genre is (action, drama, musical, romance, comedy).