May Minamahal (film)

May Minamahal (English: 'Loving Someone') is a 1993 Filipino romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes. It is the first romantic drama film produced by Star Cinema, and its third film overall. Starring Aga Muhlach and Aiko Melendez in their first film together in leading roles, the film revolves around the romance between a young man who is the only son of an all-female family and a young girl who is 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.

Produced and distributed by Star Cinema, the film 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. It was released on February 21, 2018, on cinema and December 1, 2019, on free-to-air television through the Restored Classics banner of ABS-CBN's Sunday late-night special presentation block Sunday's Best.

Synopsis
May Minamahal tells the story of a romance between Carlitos Tagle, the only son of an all-female family, and Monica Fernandez, the only daughter of an all-male family as they faced many challenges during their relationships like the rift between Carlitos and his family for a girl, an argument regarding disapproval of Monica's influence over Carlitos by his family, and the responsibilities and obligations of Carlitos from both home and work where he has no allotted time for himself. The film highlights the romantic relationship faced with numerous problems to solve.

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 from his passing. As the man of the house, he takes care of all the responsibilities, particularly the finances and properties. On the following day at the company, when Carlitos is invited by his workmates to eat lunch at the cafeteria, he meets Monica but she gets offended when he stares 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 the criticisms from his sister Trina and her boyfriend on the van being sold at a smaller price and his verbal confrontation with his younger sister Mandy for going home late from 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 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 exchanging 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 the obligations that their family has.

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 has 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.

As days pass, the relations between Carlitos and his family go sour when he begins focusing on Monica and office work rather than on the obligations that their family needs to pay as well as time for bonding. While Carlitos and Monica spent their time in San Pablo, Becky was sent to the hospital but he almost made an argument with his sister Mandy about his time with his girlfriend. After several missed calls, Monica becomes disappointed and when Carlitos shows up, the two begin a heated argument between each other.

In the end, Carlitos and Monica were finally married with their respective families being present to witness their ceremony.

Also starring

 * Alma Lerma as Geronilla
 * George Lim as Tito Momoy
 * Ernie Zarate as Tito Felix
 * Teri Baylosis as Tito Manolo
 * Fina Peralejo as Sandra, a half-American co-worker of Carlitos and his workmates
 * Angie Roy as Atty. Caroline Pedrosa
 * Alma Lerma as Manang Belen
 * Paolo Zobel as Sammy
 * Melvin Viceral as Spanky
 * Leilani Terrobias as Susan, a co-worker of Carlitos and his workmates of Chinese descent
 * 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 1992 MMFF entry 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
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 filmed scenes that set in the household of Monica and her family.

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.

Production credits

 * Writer and Director: Jose Javier Reyes
 * Producers: Charo Santos-Concio, Lily Y. Monteverde, Simon C. Ongpin
 * Studio Manager and Post-Production In-Charge (Regal Films): Warlito M. Teodoro
 * Line Producer: Joann Cabalda-Bañaga
 * Associate Producer: Grace Bersamin Beleno
 * Production Managers: Ed Castillo and Joel Apuyan
 * Music: Nonong Buencamino
 * Theme Song Composer: Willy Cruz
 * Theme Song Performer: Agot Isidro
 * Cinematography: Jun Pereira and Arnold Alvaro
 * Editor: George Jarlego
 * Sound Effects: Rodel Capule
 * Assistant Director: Crisanto Andrew Moreno
 * Production Designer: Benjie De Guzman
 * Dubbing Director: Lucy Quinto
 * Film Unit: Regal Films - Unit No. 3
 * Post-Production Facilities: Regal Films Inc.
 * Post-Production Coordinators: Mo-Dean Riggs, Edna Pacardo, Alie Sajorda, and Nora Reyes
 * Color Processing: LVN Pictures
 * Stills: Roper's Studio
 * Title Design: Cinemagic Inc.

Theatrical
The film was released by Star Cinema on December 25, 1993, as one of the entries for the 19th Metro Manila Film Festival. It was 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, which is produced and distributed by Viva Films.

May Minamahal was also premiered in Japan on September 15, 1996, as part of the 6th Fukuoka International Film Festival with Japanese and English subtitles. The film's Japanese title is Crazy About You (あなたに夢中で). 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 releases by Regal Home Video in Philippine markets in 1994 and overseas markets in 2002.

Digital restoration
The film's restored version was 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.

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.

Critical reception
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 that are currently stored and preserved at the Fukuoka City Public Library Archives in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.