The Gold Quill Award of ExcellenceABS-CBN Corporation’s campaign to restore and reintroduce classic Filipino films to current audiences proved to be world-class after it won an Award of Excellence at the international Gold Quill Awards 2014 that honor communication excellence worldwide.

ABS-CBN head of Content Management Group, Film Archives & Special Projects Leo Katigbak received the prestigious award from the International Association of Business Communicators during the IABC Gold Quill Awards Gala held in Toronto, Canada.

“It’s a totally new level of excellence. We are very proud to be part of the winning roster of outstanding global campaigns and represent the country alongside other Filipino winners,” he said.

ABS-CBN Film Archives advocates the restoration of Philippine classic films and the showcasing of these films to the current generation of Filipinos with the intention to raise appreciation and support for Philippine cinematic masterpieces. It first ventured into restoring films in October 2011, in partnership with Central Digital Labs, for the Ishmael Bernal masterpiece “Himala.”

After the successful restoration of the classic film, “Himala” was then promoted to the general public using a 360-degree marketing communication campaign where it aired on free-to-air television and on cable, had a red carpet cinema premiere, was screened at the prestigious 69th Venice Film Festival, was released internationally on pay-per-view via Global TV, and was distributed commercially on DVD.

Leo Katigbak accepting the Gold Quill Award of Excellence for ABS-CBN Film Restoration campaignThe same marketing campaign was applied on the other films restored by ABS-CBN Film Archives namely “Oro, Plata, Mata” and “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?”

"These three films capture the country's social milieu at certain periods of our history. It is not only imperative for us to preserve them, but also to restore them in digital format for a wider appreciation by audiences today and tomorrow," he said.

According to Katigbak, the restoration project will go a long way as it targets to restore more Filipino classic films in the coming years such as “Virgin People,” "Hindi Nahahati Ang Langit," and "Karnal.”

Prior to winning the Gold Quill, ABS-CBN’s film restoration of “Himala” also won a Philippine Quill Award, the international award’s local counterpart given by the IABC Philippines, and the Anvil Awards given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

ABS-CBN is the only Philippine media network to be recognized in this year’s Gold Quill amongst other entries coming from different countries. (Story/photos by Kane Choa)