MMFF 2024 REVIEW: The Kingdom - Alternative World, Same Problems

Finally, there is the concept of an alternative Philippines used as plot for a movie, though seems ambitious, is a promising way to diversify the stories we do with our films. Cinema is a great way to express these theories and make them into a good entertainment material, that is why I would say that The Kingdom starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual is groundbreaking and my most anticipated film for the Metro Manila Film Festival.

With the premise of having an alternative Philippines that was never colonized and continued up to the modern day really is an interesting thought. Though that there will still be some influences but not as integrated by being under the colonial powers.

The Kingdom brings me to love our rich culture which we can tell in a new light. It has the best in production value even down to the smallest details, and if you are a history and culture nerd, you will definitely geek out. One of the most interesting "what if" stories of the country yet will also face similar conflicts and struggles. The Kingdom of Kalayaan prevails but deceit and an unjust system remains.

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: And the Breadwinner Is... All Of Us

Vice Ganda is back for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival with And the Breadwinner Is... directed by Jun Lana and features an ensemble of great actors from the Kapamilya network showing their impact and importance to the Philippine entertainment industry. And it was one of the most talked about movie before the festival with the combination of Vice Ganda as the unkabogable star and groundbreaking movie direction of Jun Lana.

The first half of the film feels more of a fan service which caters to fans of Vice Ganda's comedy which I do enjoy pero it pulls away the moment to let the movie shine on its own.

Pero they have their own shining moment with the family drama especially that family confrontation scene. It was a Pinoy family reality. Masakit ang sumbatan, and at some point we all had that moment with our own families.

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Espantaho - Old School But Not That Cool

We grew up with Chito S. Roño horror films which has defined cinematic experience and culture through the years, and for the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival, he does deserve a spot for the 50th edition of the festival. Howver with this film Espantaho starring Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino and Chanda Romero, we might have expected too much because of the hype and the number of cinemas it got overall.

Espantaho translates to scarecrow which would be the mysterious entity that will haunt the characters with its mystical ways. The plot actually follows more on the tradition of the Pasiyam (nine-day novena for the dead) which what brought the characters together. The pinoy grieving and funeral culture did stand out as many traditions and customs were observed which can relate to the viewers. However, the plot got lost with the mix of the horror elements and the Pasiyam timeline. 

You can observe that Chito S. Roño signature for his horror films, which I loved and made me look for easter eggs hidden, but being too familiar will also make you bored because of the predictability of the movie. The lore of the pestilence had potential to strike fear but felt short and it was also confusing that there is a lack of sadness and grief when the characters lost her children then shifts emotions like nothing happened. The movie screams Feng Shui and The Healing which I both love but feels like a copycat of those films.

News Buzz: Score a FREE Rolex Watch when you Pre-order HONOR X9c 5G? Promo Leaks!

Win a Rolex Watch when you Pre-order HONOR X9c 5G from Jan 10 to 24, 2025!

Excitement is building as posters spotted in several HONOR Experience Stores hint at a potential game-changing pre-order deal for the highly durable HONOR

 X9c 5G. Could this be your chance to snag a FREE Rolex watch with your pre-order? If true, this is a deal that’s bound to turn heads. 

The buzz around the HONOR X9c 5G has been unrelenting since its unveiling earlier this year, coinciding with New Year celebrations. Since then, the device

 has captured the internet’s attention, sparking viral content from media outlets and influencers nationwide, including Cong TV, Viy Cortez, Kamangyan Vlogs, Malupiton, Jomar Yee, and The Aguinaldos!

Adding to the hype, a circulating ad suggests that once pre-orders for the HONOR X9c 5G commence, customers could secure a shot at owning a brand-new Rolex watch. Dubbed the #TheToughestPhone of the Year, the HONOR X9c 5G will officially launch on

January 10 at 6 PM. Don’t miss out—join the event to learn all about this exciting promo and be part of the buzz! 

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital - The best Pinoy found footage to date

MMFF Horror is either a hit or miss for me, but was pleasantly surprised with this film which I believe maybe the longest title for a MMFF horror (ever?) So lets abbreviate this into TKH for this post. 

Set in Taiwan, where a group of celebrities and content creators goes on a ghost hunting in an abandoned hospital where numerous explorers are found dead and cursed. I like they go by their real names which I find kinda meta though I hope it will not also affect them in real life.

The plot may not be new, but the direction and effects were really good. Something that I really wanted to see in a Pinoy horror flick. It may not go full all-out blood and gore but went hard with the suspense and horror quality.

This is what I would recommend if people would ask for a great Pinoy horror movie that does not feel underbugeted. As the cast are also playing themselves, they are too and their works are used as a reference in some of the scenes capitalizing on the fans and haters to build up their own characters for TKH.

We Checked What’s Inside the HONOR X9c 5G and Here's Why It's The Toughest Phone of 2025

Find out more on January 10 as we officially unveil the HONOR X9c 5G! 

Leading smart devices provider HONOR Philippines has done it again with its viral and elevated durability challenge for the most awaited toughest phone of the year, the HONOR X9c 5G. To prove durability claims, HONOR has shared the secrets of how HONOR X9c 5G became highly durable. 

“HONOR X9c 5G has an All-Angle Triple Defense now. It is not just drop-resistant anymore where HONOR X9a and X9b 5G were known for. It is now water and heat-resistant that made this smartphone the toughest phone to hit the market yet,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng. 

MMFF 2024 REVIEW: Topakk - Solid action from start to end

I miss this kind of action where you can feel the pain of every punch, kick, and blow. And the action and tension is evenly distributed throughout the film and they don't feel like a stageplay action but solid performance that should make me feel if it was real or not. Yet I do believe that they worked hard for those scenes.

Topakk is the only 2024 MMFF entry to have two ratings of R-16 and R-18 depending on the cinema, though the one I watched was the R-18 version but if I would rate it, it can pass as R-16 because it was not too gory unlike films of the same action genre. I guess the rating might be about the mental health problems of Miguel (Arjo) which would be his PTSD.

Though the story is anchored on the Drug trade  and the usual stories, they did make an effort to build up Miguel's story now as a security guard and his encounter with the siblings Weng (Julia) and Bogs (Kokoy). The action was chaotic yet good, though a little dark because of the location and time, still works and also add some thrill for those scenes.