(From left) Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Vice Ganda and Jun Robles Lana. Images: Screengrab from Facebook/Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Official, X/@StarCinema

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio questioned the originality of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2024 entry “And the Breadwinner Is…,” claiming its plot is an “exact duplicate” of the film “Higit sa Lahat” while noting he’s a “movie buff” who watches “at least two movies a day.”

During the question-and-answer portion of the MMFF 2024 launch on Tuesday, July 16, Topacio introduced himself as a representative of Borracho Film Production before claiming that the storyline of the Vice Ganda-starrer was “plagiarized.”

“Isa lang po ang request ko, Sir. Based on the synopses I’ve heard, ‘yung pelikula ni Vice Ganda, the plot appears to be an exact duplicate of the plot of the 1955 film ‘Higit sa Lahat’ starring Rogelio Dela Rosa and Emma Alegre. Could you please look into that? And if there are possible consequences as to copyright,” he said.

(I only have one request, Sir. Based on the synopses I’ve heard, the movie of Vice Ganda, the plot appears to be an exact duplicate of the 1955 film “Higit sa Lahat” starring Rogelio de la Rosa and Emma Alegre. Could you please look into that? And if there are possible consequences of copyright?)

Topacio then said that he’s a “movie buff” who watches “at least two movies a day” while reiterating his case.

“Kasi I’m a movie buff, I watch at least two movies a day, even old movies. Pakitingin po ‘yung pelikulang ‘Higit sa Lahat” with Rogelio de la Rosa and Emma Alegre, gan’un din ang po storya. Pakitingin lang po if this is a case of plagiarism,” he said.

(Because I’m a movie buff, I watch at least two movies a day, even old movies. Please look at the film “Higit Sa Lahat” with Rogelio de la Rosa and Emma Alegre, the story is the same. Please look if this is a case of plagiarism.)

The panel, consisting of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) chair Boots Anson-Rodrigo and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Don Artes, had a brief response to Topacio’s claim.

“Sige po (Alright), we’ll take note of your comment or observation. We’ll discuss it with the executive committee. We’ll decide on the matter,” said Artes.

This is not the first time Topacio criticized Vice Ganda. In September 2023, the lawyer called out the significance of the host-comedian’s movies in a press conference.

“Dominated kasi ‘yung local industry ng foreign films. ‘Yun ang number one… ‘yung mga movies na walang katuturan. Katulad ng mga movies ni Vice Ganda. ‘Yun ang namamayagpag eh,” he was quoted as saying.

(The industry is dominated by foreign films. That’s number one. Second are the films that have no significance, like the movies of Vice Ganda. Those are the top performers in the industry.)

The “It’s Showtime” host is the lead of the MMFF 2024 entry “And the Breadwinner Is…” directed by Jun Robles Lana, while Daisy Cayanan and Jonathan Albano are the screenwriters.