''Kakabakaba Ka Ba?'' (English: ''Does Your Heart Beat Faster?'') is a 1980 Filipino

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

film directed by Mike de Leon from a screenplay he co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo Jr., and Raquel Villavicencio. It stars

Christopher de Leon Christopher Strauss de León (born October 31, 1956), also known as Boyet, is a Filipino actor, filmmaker and politician. Often referred to as the "King of Philippine Drama", he gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous film and te ...

Charo Santos María Rosario "Charo" Navarro Santos-Concio (; born October 27, 1955) is a Filipino actress and former media executive. She is the host of , the longest running television drama anthology in the Philippines. From 2012 to 2016, she was the ch ...

Jay Ilagan Julius Angel Abad Ilagan (January 20, 1955 – February 4, 1992) was a Filipino actor. He hosted ''Stop, Look and Listen'' and starred in ''My Son, My Son'' and '' Goin' Bananas'', and starred and participated in a number of movies. Born Juliu ...

, and

Sandy Andolong Alexandra "Sandy" Andolong-de Leon (born Alexandra Pinga Andolong; January 16, 1959) is a Filipino actress and producer. She is mostly seen on the TV programs made by GMA Network and ABS-CBN, especially on dramas and sitcoms. Career Ando ...

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 Daniel Morales Javier (August 6, 1947 – October 31, 2022), better known simply as Danny Javier (), was a Filipino singer, songwriter, actor, television host and businessman. He was known as one of the members and lead vocalist of the musical ...

, and

Jim Paredes Jaime Ramon Misa Paredes (born August 30, 1951), better known simply as Jim Paredes, is a Filipino singer, songwriter, television host, writer and actor. He is known as one of the members of popular musical trio APO Hiking Society along with ...

Johnny Delgado Juan Marasigan Feleo (February 28, 1948 – November 19, 2009), known professionally as Johnny Delgado, was a Filipino television and movie actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his television work on the TV gag show ''Goin' Banana ...

Armida Siguion-Reyna Armida P. de Siguion-Reyna (born Armida Ponce-Enrile; November 4, 1930February 11, 2019) was a Filipina singer, film and stage actress, producer and television show host. She was the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classificati ...

Leo Martinez Leo Martinez (born March 7, 1945) is a Filipino actor, comedian and director. Martinez also served as Director General of the Film Academy of the Philippines. Personal life He is married to Gina Valenciano (sister of Gary Valenciano), and has chi ...

, and Nanette Inventor. Produced by

LVN Pictures LVN Pictures, Inc. was a Filipino film studio that was considered one of the biggest in the history of Philippine cinema and its foremost establishment in motion picture post-production until 2005. In its heyday of motion picture production, LV ...

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 ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project, also known as Sagip Pelikula, was a digital film restoration project of ABS-CBN Corporation in partnership with Central Digital Lab. Launched in 2011, the project was headed by Leo Katigbak of ABS-CBN Film Arc ...

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 Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA ; ; ), also known as Manila International Airport (MIA), is the main international airport serving Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about south of ...

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 The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn Garment collars in hanfu#Youren (right lapel), left side wrapped over ri ...

-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, the Japanese Master (George Javier). His mission is to once again fly to Manila, this time with a

cassette tape The Compact Cassette, also commonly called a cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog audio, analog magnetic tape recording format for Sound recording and reproduction, audio recording and playback. Invented by L ...

that carries some contraband. On his flight, Onota slips the cassette tape into the pocket of Johnny (

), 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 (

), who heads a Chinese crime syndicate, as well as the mysterious Fr. Blanco (

). 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 wafer Sacramental bread, also called Communion bread, Communion wafer, Sacred host, Eucharistic bread, the Lamb or simply the host (), is the bread used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. Along with sacramental wine, it is one of two elements ...

s so as to control the Filipino population. The group can foil the scheme in a musical extravaganza. The film ends with the two couples marrying in a joint ceremony.

Cast

Release

Restoration

In 2015, the film was digitally restored and remastered by the

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 1991 and 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

References

External links

* {{Mike de Leon, state=expanded 1980 films 1980s musical comedy films Philippine musical comedy films Philippine multilingual films Star Cinema films Films directed by Mike De Leon Films produced by Narcisa de León Films with screenplays by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. Films with screenplays by Raquel Villavicencio Films scored by Lorrie Ilustre Films about organized crime in the Philippines Philippine satirical films 1980 musical films