MAYNILA — Sa isang pambihirang pagkakataon, nagkasundo ang ABS-CBN at GMA 7 para maipalabas ang mga pelikula ng ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. sa Kapuso network.

Hudyat na rin ito ng potensyal ng mas malawak pang partnership ng dalawang network. Makasaysayan ang bansag ng GMA sa nabuong bagong partnership para maipalabas ang mga pelikula ng Star Cinema mula Abril.

Nag-virtual signing ngayong Martes ng umaga ang pamunuan ng GMA at ABS-CBN.

Dumalo mula sa GMA Network sina President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong; GMA Network Films, Inc. President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes; First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan; Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier-Cruz; Assistant Vice President For Program Management Department Mitzi Garcia; at Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Jojo Aquio.

Mula naman sa ABS-CBN, dumalo sina Chairman Mark Lopez; President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo L. Katigbak; Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory V. Vidanes; Group Chief Financial Officer Ricardo B. Tan, Jr.; Managing Director of ABS-CBN Films Productions Olivia Lamasan; Head of International Sales and Distribution Pia Laurel; Vice President for Corporate Communications Kane Errol C. Choa; PR Director Christelle Belmonte; and PR Manager Tonichi Tataro.

All smiles at palakpakan ang lahat sa anunsyo ng virtual host na si Patricia Tumulak: “There you have it. Mga Kapuso, Kapamilya, it’s official: Star Cinema movies will soon air on GMA’s local channels!”

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Isa pang mahalagang milestone ito kay Katigbak.

Aniya, “Every storyteller’s dream is to have as many people as possible experience their creations. Now, because of the kindness of our friends at GMA, we have the special opportunity to bring our Kapamilya stories to a new audience.

“We hope the Kapusos find joy and inspiration in viewing our Star Cinema movies. And we also look forward to a new era of friendship and cooperation within our small industry. Maraming salamat kay chairman Gozon, Jimmy, Philip, Joel, Annette and all our friends at GMA for making this partnership happen."

Tinukoy din ng GMA ang paglagpas ng kasunduan sa dating tinuring na imposibleng bagay sa tindi ng kumpetisyon sa TV industry.

Ayon kay Duavit, historic ang partnership. “To us, we are very pleased because the significance of our partnership today ushers in possibility of a far broader set of conversations, potential partnerships and cooperation that will have the benefit not only mutually to GMA and ABS-CBN but as importantly, if not perhaps more importantly, to the benefit of the public we both serve – the Filipino viewer.

“Looking forward, since we have as they say, broken the ice, there is great optimism that these conversations will start and continue. And we look forward to the possibility of this type of an opportunity again moving forward. Maraming salamat sa inyo. This is a significant day, maging Kapuso o Kapamilya man!” aniya.

Nagpahayag din ng galak si Abacan: “Sa tagal ko pong nagpo-programming ng network at sa pagbili ng pelikula, tuwang-tuwa po ako na after having a lot of relationships with other majors ay madadagdagan na naman po tayo ng isang grupo na tinitingala ko magmula pa nung una. Maraming salamat, Star Cinema at ABS-CBN. And I am inviting everyone to witness this momentous affair.”

Ilan sa mga pelikula ng Star Cinema na mapapanood sa GMA simula ngayong Abril ay:

• Alone/Together
• How to Be Yours
• Till My Heartaches End
• Ang Babae sa Septic Tank
• Ang Cute ng Ina Mo!
• It Takes a Man and a Woman
• Just The Way You Are
• Fantastica
• Can We Still Be Friends?
• Finally Found Someone
• No Other Woman
• Won’t Last A Day Without You
• Must Be…Love
• The Panti Sisters
• Isa Pa With Feelings
• James & Pat & Dave
• Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay
• Feng Shui
• Suddenly It’s Magic
• I Love You, Hater

Bagong kabanata din ito sa ABS-CBN Films na itinatag nung 1993, at hawak ang isa sa pinakamayamang movie library sa bansa, tampok ang mga obra na nagpasaya at nagbigay inspirasyon sa maraming Kapamilya.