SINASAMBA KITA (1982)

“For godsake, Nora! Magkaroon ka nga ng sarili mong identity!” – Divina Ferrer

“Imposible namang lumaki ang tingin ko sa taong tinutulungan ko lang!..kungsabagay magkaiba tayo ng ina…bakit kaya pinatulan ni papa ang iyong inay?...hindi ko siya iniinsulto sinasabi ko lang sayo ang totoo…magkaiba tayong dalawa…hindi mo ako matutularan at hindi kita tutularan. Nora, ang hindi mo maabot huwag mong pagplitan abutin, wala ka pang pakpak kaya huwag ka pang lumipad ng ubod ng taas!” – Divina Ferrer

Basic Information: Direction: Eddie Garcia; Adapted screenplay: Orlando Nadres; Original screenplay: Gilda Olvidado; Cast: Vilma Santos, Christopher Deleon, Lorna Tolentino, Philip Salvador, Ramil Rodriguez, Irene Celebre, Loleta Abesamis, Norma Blancaflor, Danny De Cordova, Moody Diaz, Luz Fernandez, Larry Leviste, Kristina Paner, Fanny Serrano, Yvonne; Sinasamba Kita Theme Song Arrange by Armando Triviño, Sung by: Sharon Cuneta; Sinasamba Kita Theme Song Arrange by Danny Favis, Sung by Rey Valera; Words and Music: George Canseco; Cinematography: Romeo Vitug; Editing: Ike Jarlego; Sound: Demet Valsquez; Producer: Vic Del Rosario Jr, Viva Films; Additional Info: Original story serialized in Tagalog Klasiks comics published Atlas Publication; the original film became a TV movie in 2007 by GMA Network, directed by Joel Lamangan, starring Sheryl Cruz as Divina and Valerie Concepcion as Nora.

Plot Description: They are half-sisters, connected by blood. But to Divina (Vilma Santos), Nora (Lorna Tolentino) is just her late father’s illegitimate daughter. Yet, despite the harsh treatments she gets, Nora remains awestruck and continues to adulate her strong-willed older sister. But even the meekest of people can only bear so much. Nora leaves the confort of home to hid her own place under the sun, and in due time, she and Divina are to meet again to settle the score once and for all… - Viva Films’ VCD cover package

They are half-sisters, connected by blood. But to Divina, Nora is just her late father's illegitimate daughter. Yet, despite the harsh treatment she gets, Nora remains awestruck and continues to adulate her strong-willed older sister. But even the meekest of people can only bear so much. Nora leaves the comfort of home to find her own place under the sun, and in due time, she and Divina are to meet again to settle the score once and for all. But will the scars of yesterday prevail or will they forget the wounds especially now that they direly need each other. – Wikepedia

Film Achievements: FAMAS Best Director - Eddie Garcia; FAP Best Cinematography - Romeo Vitug, Best Original Song - George Canseco; 1982 Top Box Office Record Breaker

"1982 was a banner year for Vilma Santos. Aside from the acting gem, "Relasyon," she also established her bankable status, thanks to Viva film's "Sinasamba Kita". This film grossed 6.2 million in just 6 days, a box office record! Directed by Eddie Garcia, the film featured Vilma as the "bitchy-rich" anti-heroine executive, Lorna Tolentino, Christopher DeLeon and Philip Salvador. The intertwined love quadrangle between the four characters enhanced by crisp dialogue, glossy production design and catchy theme song made this movie effective and very commercial. Two scenes stands out, both involved Vi and Lorna. (By the way, Lorna's name in this film was Nora and Vilma was Divina, which made us wonder if this is supposed to be a Nora-Vilma film.) In one scene, Vilma was waiting for her younger sibling Lorna, when she finally arrived, she accused the younger sister of wearing her perfume, the accusation made Lorna defensive and replied: "...bumili ako para sa sarili ko nagustuhan ko kasi ang amoy!" In which Vilma countered: "...for godsake, Nora, bakit hindi ka magkaroon ng sarili mong identity!..Hindi kita anino!" Another scene, Vilma caught Lorna wearing the same designer clothes: Vilma: "Iniinsulto mo ba ako? Anong gusto mong palabasin bakit ginagaya mo ang damit ko?" Lorna: "Ate naman ano naman ang masama kung gayahin kita?" Vilma: "Alamin mo muna ang iyong limitasyon...baka nakakalimutan mo kung saan kita pinulot...kinikilala kitang kapatid pero hindi tayo magkapantay!" Lorna: "Napakaliit naman pala ng pagtingin mo sa akin..." Vilma: "Imposible naman lumaki ang pagtingin ko sa taong tinutulungan ko lang?...kung sabagay magkaiba tayo ng ina...bakit kaya pinatulan ng papa ang iyong ina?" Lorna: "huwag mo naming insultuhin ang inay, patay na siya..." Vilma: "Hindi ko siya iniinsulto sinasabi ko lang sayo ang totoo! Magkaiba tayong dalawa, hindi mo ako matutularan at hindi kita tutularan! Nora, ang hindi mo maabot huwag mog pagpilitang abutin, wala kang pang pakpak k'ya huwag lumipad ng pagkataas-taas!" - RV (READ MORE)

Film Reviews: Napanood namin ang “Sinasamba Kita” at hindi nga pala kayang iarte ni Lampel Luis ang role na napunta kay Lorna Tolentino. Parang komiks talaga ang istorya ng pelikulang hanggo nga sa nobelang komiks. Melodramatiko at kung minsan ay mahirap paniwalaan ang mga sitwasyon. Pero mapupuri na rin ang iskrip ni Orlando Nadres dahil nagawa niyang credible ang mga tauhan sa istorya. At talagang mahuhusay ang acting ng mga artista. Napakagaling ni Vilma Santos sa papel ng mataray na business executive. Para talagang alam niya ang bawat kilos at hakbang na ginagawa niya. Very sympathetic namang tunay si Lorna sa kanyang role bilang inaaping kapatid. At for once, hindi nasapawan si Christopher de Leon ng kanyang co-star. Kontroladong-kontrolado ang acting niya rito. Si Phillip Salvador nga ang nagmukhang dehado, iba pati ang hitsura niya sa pelikula. Mukha siyang tumandang hindi mawari. Maganda rin ang theme song ng pelikula. At dito kami naniwalang totoo ang kasabihang it’s the singer not the song. Sinulat ni Mario E Bautista, Puna at Puri, 1982

Rewind: "Sinasamba Kita" - 1982 was a banner year for Vilma Santos. Aside from the acting gem, "Relasyon," she also established her bankable status, thanks to Viva film?s ?Sinasamba Kita?. This film grossed 6.2 million in just 6 days, a box office record! Directed by Eddie Garcia, the film featured Vilma as the "bitchyrich" anti-heroine executive, Lorna Tolentino, Christopher DeLeon and Philip Salvador. The intertwined love quadrangle between the four characters enhanced by crisp dialogue, glossy production design and catchy theme song made this movie effective and very commercial. Two scenes stands out, both involved Vi and Lorna. (By the way, Lorna's name in this film was Nora and Vilma was Divina, which made us wonder if this is supposed to be a Nora-Vilma film.) In one scene, Vilma was waiting for her younger sibling Lorna, when she finally arrived, she accused the younger sister of wearing her perfume, the accusation made Lorna defensive and replied: "...bumili ako para sa sarili ko nagustuhan ko kasi ang amoy!?" In which Vilma countered: "For godsake, Nora, bakit hindi ka magkaroon ng sarili mong identity!..Hindi kita anino!"

Another scene, Vilma caught Lorna wearing the same designer clothes:

Vilma: "Iniinsulto mo ba ako? Anong gusto mong palabasin bakit ginagaya mo ang damit ko?"

Lorna: "Ate naman ano naman ang masama kung gayahin kita?" Vilma: "Alamin mo muna ang iyong limitasyon...baka nakakalimutan mo kung saan kita pinulot...kinikilala kitang kapatid pero hindi tayo magkapantay!" Lorna: "napakaliit naman pala ng pagtingin mo sa akin?"

Vilma: "Imposible naman lumaki ang pagtingin ko sa taong tinutulungan ko lang?...kung sabagay magkaiba tayo ng ina...bakit kaya pinatulan ng papa ang iyong ina?"

Lorna: "huwag mo naming insultuhin ang inay, patay na siya?"

Vilma: "Hindi ko siya iniinsulto sinasabi ko lang sayo ang totoo! Magkaiba tayong dalawa, hindi mo ako matutularan at hindi kita tutularan! Nora, ang hindi mo maabot huwag mog pagpilitang abutin, wala kang pang pakpak kya huwag lumipad ng pagkataas-taas!?" - RV

Other comments about Sinasamba Kita: "Muli na namang ipinakita ni Vilma Santos ang kanyang husay sa pagganap sa pelikulang “Sinasamba Kita”. Consistent ang characterization ni Vilma sa naturang pelikula, at nagmukhang supporting na lahat ang kasama niyang may malalaki din namang pangalan." - Arthur Quinto

"Sobra pala ang lakas ng “Sinasamba Kita.” Tuwang tuwa sina Vic at Mina del Rosario. They started with 38 theatres, by the weekend, 41 theatres na ang nagpapalabas ng pelikula. After 6 days, kumita na ito ng P5,207,416.00. After a week’s time, almost P6 million na ito." - Billy Balbastro

What happened to Kristina Paner? (the young actress who played Nora) - Kristina Paner (born August 1, 1971 in Manila, Philippines) is a Filipina actress and singer. She is also an adoptive sister of Danita Paner, who is also a singer. At a very young age, her parents noticed her interest in music. Her adoptive parents were prominent celebrities as well. Her father Manny Paner was a well known basketball player while her mother Daisy Romualdez was an actress way back in the 1960s. It was her parents who convinced her to try singing at the age of 9 and the song "Sana" was popularized by her. She tried acting too at age of 10 when she starred in the movie "Sinasamba Kita" as the young Lorna Tolentino whom she played the character role of Nora. By that time her mother, having seen her acting potential, presented Kristina, then only 12, to Regal Films owner and producer Mother Lily. She was soon offered a contract. She became a regular in television shows like "Musmos Pa Si Boss", "Ora Engkantada", and "Wanbol High". She also became a cast of the very popular youth-oriented variety show That's Entertainment. In 2003, she married a Spaniard and together they now live in Spain with their daughter. Wikepedia

Sinasamba Kita
(song lyrics)

Sinasamba kita
Higit sa'yong akalang iniibig lang kita
Paggalang ko sa'yo'y higit sabuhay kong taglay
Wala na yatang papantay
Ang buhay ma'y ibibigay ko pa
Sinasamba kita

(Chorus)
Kung anumang dahila'y hindi mahalaga
Basta't sinasamba kita
'di lang pagmamahal ang siyang nadarama
Pa'no maipipinta, kulang ang kulay nila
Para mailarawan ka, sinta

Sinasamba kita
Kasalanan man sa diyos ang sambahin kita
Marahil ay mauunawaan niya ang katulad ko
Na labis nagmahal sa 'yo,
Masisisi niya ba ako sinta ?
Sinasamba kita

Kung anumang dahila'y hindi mahalaga
Basta't sinasamba kita
Di lang pagmamahal ang siyang nadarama
Basta'y sinasamba kita

"...The movie showed Garcia's strengths as a director—able to motivate his actors, frame sequences and scenes, and efficiently tell a story.  Those qualities would be very evident in the 1980's when Eddie Garcia directed the biggest blockbusters of Viva Films...But his best movies were domestic dramas that gripped audiences for their complex take on relationships and their tendencies toward tortured, twisted operations. Hallmarks of this genre were "Sinasamba Kita" in 1982 (Vilma Santos cruelly treating her half-sister), "Paano Ba ang Mangarap?" in 1983 (cruel mom-in-law seizing her grandkid from his mom, played by Santos), and "Magdusa Ka" in 1986 (an illegitimate daughter claims her birthright but finds life in her rich dad's mansion a cruel torture).  His last most significant movie as a director was obviously "Abakada Ina" (2001). In telling the story of an illiterate mother struggling for her children's attention against her mother-in-law who's a schoolteacher, Garcia seemed to go back to the standard traits of his best domestic dramas, with their take on the meanness and cruelty that seem to underlie filial relationships..." - Lito B. Zulueta (READ MORE)

"Dahil Father’s Day ngayon, nais nating bigyan ng magandang tribute ang nakilala nang ama ng maraming­ artista ng iba’t ibang henerasyon na si Eddie Garcia. Hindi lang mahusay na bida at kontrabida si Eddie kundi mahusay rin siya bilang isang film director. Taong 1961 nang idirek ni Eddie ang kanyang unang pelikula titled “Karugtong Ng Kahapon” kunsaan bida sina Mario Montenegro, Rita Gomez, Ric Rodrigo at Marlene Dauden. Higit na 36 movies pa ang dinirek ni Eddie na iba-iba ang tema...Sinasamba Kita (1982), Kuwento ng magkapatid sa ama na sina Divina (Vilma Santos) at Nora (Lorna Tolentino). Hindi buo ang pagtanggap ni Divina kay Nora at trato niya rito ay hindi parang kadugo. Pero iniidolo ni Nora si Divina. Hanggang sa pumagitna sa kanila si Jerry (Christopher de Leon) na lalong magpapalalim sa hidwaan ng magkapatid at galit naman sa manliligaw ni Divina na si Oscar (Phillip Salvador). Nanalo rito si ­Eddie bilang Best Director sa FAMAS Awards..." - Ruel Mendoza, Abante, 15 June 2019 (READ MORE)

"...Lorna the illegitimate daughter of a business tycoon was left in the care of her half-sister Vilma upon the death of their father. Though she took care of all her material needs she refused to show the girl any kind of affection. In contrast Lorna absolutely adored her and wanted to be like her older sister in every way. She was hoping that someday Vilma would learn to love her too like a real sister. What Lorna did not know was that it was now become very difficult for Vilma to do so because the man she loved was in love with Lorna and the older sister was determined to win him at all costs..." - Mav Shack (READ MORE)