5 Stranger Things moments that hit close to home

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Stream the final season (or rewatch the entire saga) this holiday season only with PLDT Home Fiber Netflix Plan 1599

When you think of Stranger Things, you probably picture Demogorgons, epic 80s fashion, and Kate Bush saving the day. But every real Stranger Things fan knows that at its core, without the monsters and the mayhem, the hit series is a story about love.

From the first flicker of the Byer’s iconic Christmas lights back in 2016 to the most recent heart-stopping moments in its top-trending fifth season, the Duffer Bros’ entire masterpiece is a testament to the power of family, friendship, and sheer courage combined. Here’s a recap of the best moments that truly stick – the ones that remind us why we root for our band of everyday heroes and why they always find a way to survive.

Spoiler alert!

1. Finding the light (Season 1, Episode 3: “Holly, Jolly”)

One of the show’s first iconic moments goes all the way back to its premiere run. After days of grieving and being told she’s delusional, Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) finally connects with her missing son Will (Noah Schnapp) from the Upside Down. Using a wall covered in painted letters and tangled Christmas lights, she realizes the terrifying, beautiful truth: Will is alive.

This scene is the genesis of the show’s central theme: family ties transcend dimensions. Joyce refuses to accept the world's logic, relying purely on a mother’s intuition. Her fierce, protective love for Will turns a mundane suburban home into a supernatural Ouija board, and herself as the medium. It's this devil-may-care display of unconditional love that grounds the entire series in emotional reality.

2. Billy’s redemption (Season 3, Episode 8: “The Battle of Starcourt”)

Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) is introduced as a bully on campus and a volatile stepbrother at home. But possessed by the Mind Flayer, he finds himself face-to-face with Eleven (Millie Bonnie Bongiovi). When El reaches into his memories and reminds him of his loving mother, he breaks free of the Flayer’s control for a precious moment and sacrifices himself, taking the brunt of the monster’s attack to save El and the rest of the kids.

This unexpected act of heroism is a devastating lesson in compassion. It proves that even the most damaged person has a core of pure good that can be awakened by love – in this case, El’s empathy and his own lingering childhood memory. It’s a tragic, powerful conclusion to his character arc that reinforces that anyone, even a villain, can choose to be an everyday hero.

3. Max’s run to “Dear Billy” (Season 4, Episode 4: “Dear Billy”)

Trapped in Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) psychic prison, Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) is moments from death. As Vecna feasts on her grief, Max’s friends – Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Steve (Joe Keery) – race against time in the real world to play her favorite song, Kate Bush’s iconic “Running Up That Hill.” Hearing the music, a lifeline thrown by the power of friendship, she finds the strength to run, breaking Vecna’s hold and rocketing back to her body.

This scene is the ultimate affirmation of love as the driving force, on top of being a fantastic musical sequence. (It has become legendary in the real world, too, inspiring so many memes online!) Max is saved not by superpowers, but by the determined, loud, physical devotion of her friends. It showed that even when facing down ultimate trauma, you are never truly alone if you have your chosen family to pull you back.

4. Hopper’s letter to Eleven (Season 3, Episode 8: “The Battle of Starcourt”)

Following Chief Jim Hopper’s (David Harbour) presumed death in the Starcourt Mall explosion, Joyce finds the heartfelt speech he wrote for Eleven and Mike – a letter he planned to use to talk to them about navigating coming of age, setting boundaries, and growing up. The contents of the letter are read aloud in a tear-jerking voiceover.

Though he's gone, Hopper's voice echoes the difficulty of fatherhood and the universal truth of letting go. His message to El about keeping the door open three inches shows the complexity of their unique family ties and his struggle to protect her while allowing her to grow. It’s a bittersweet moment that defines their bond, only to be made sweeter when they finally reunite later in Season 4.

5. Will's new power and Mike's pep talk (Season 5, Part 1: "Sorcerer")

As the final confrontation begins in Part 1 of Season 5, Will struggles with the emotional weight of his lifelong connection to Vecna. Just before the group attempts a risky tunnel mission, Mike pulls Will aside to remind him that his power – his empathy, his ability to feel the danger – is an innate, sorcerer-like strength, not a weakness.

This pep talk, coupled with Robin's earlier advice to Will, unlocks a new ability in Will, allowing him to telepathically command Demogorgon-like entities during the subsequent battle. This scene is the ultimate payoff for Will's long journey of coming of age and the "chosen family" theme. Will had felt sidelined and traumatized, but Mike’s unconditional love and belief transformed his greatest fear – his connection to the Upside Down – into his greatest strength. It’s a powerful moment of emotional validation where friendship quite literally saves the day and turns a survivor into a champion.

Relive all of heartwrenching moments of love and friendship from Stranger Things, now on its fifth and final season. Stream Stranger Things on Netflix and enjoy more unli-entertainment only with PLDT Home Fiber Netflix, the most value-packed internet & entertainment plan with a complimentary Netflix Basic subscription. To learn more and apply for a PLDT Home Fiber Netflix Plan 1599, visit pldthome.com/fiber-netflix. 

Photo credits: Netflix

No Jump Scares Needed: These Thrillers Are Terrifying Because They Feel Real

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Halloween season usually comes with masked killers, angry spirits, and haunted basements. But sometimes, the most chilling horror doesn’t come from the supernatural. It comes from the very systems people live under every day. In these films and series, fear isn’t delivered through ghosts or demons, but through betrayal, cover-ups, negligence, and the terrifying consequences of unchecked power.

If you’re looking for a pre-Halloween watch list that hits harder because it feels disturbingly possible, here are seven titles on Lionsgate Play that expose the kind of horror that exists in boardrooms, back-alley deals, and everyday lives.

1.    Baghdad Central – A Father Against A Broken System

In post-invasion Iraq, a former police inspector searches for his missing daughter while navigating a city riddled with distrust, shifting alliances, and political manipulation. Every step forward feels dangerous not because of monsters in the night, but because of the uncertainty of who is truly in control. When justice is compromised, survival becomes a crime.

2.    Gaslit – The Cost of Exposing the Truth

Julia Roberts and Sean Penn headline this gripping take on the Watergate scandal, focusing on the individuals who tried to reveal the truth and paid the price. Power is used not just to hide wrongdoing but to erase those who challenge it. The story is proof that systems can erase you before the truth sets you free.

3.    Hightown – When Crime Becomes Part of the Landscape

Set against the deceptively calm backdrop of Cape Cod, a murder linked to the opioid trade exposes a network of drugs, corruption, and moral decay. As one investigator seeks justice, it becomes clear that rot is not just on the streets but within the institutions designed to protect people. When crime and power work together, real justice might not stand a chance.

4.    Dark Waters – Poison That Spreads Quietly

Mark Ruffalo stars in this legal thriller based on a true story of a lawyer uncovering a corporation’s deliberate poisoning of a town’s water supply. The fear here is quiet but suffocating as families unknowingly live through a slow, preventable tragedy.
Not all killers use weapons, some use negligence.

5.    A Very English Scandal – Charm as a Disguise for Cruelty

Hugh Grant plays a charismatic politician whose polished public persona hides manipulation, deception, and an attempted cover-up that spirals out of control. The story is a reminder that the most dangerous villains are often the ones who seem respectable.

6. Mr. Robot – A World Controlled from the Shadows

Rami Malek plays Elliot, a hacker who tries to take down a powerful corporation controlling society’s strings. As he digs deeper, the line between reality and manipulation blurs and the fear comes from realizing that people may already be living inside someone else’s design. Makes you wonder if the villains already own the world.

7.    Deepwater Horizon – Disaster Fueled by Greed

Based on the real 2010 oil rig explosion, this film starring Mark Wahlberg shows how cost-cutting decisions led to one of the worst environmental disasters in modern history. The chaos is explosive, but the true terror lies in knowing it could have been stopped before it even began and when profit matters more than people, tragedy becomes inevitable.

This Halloween, Consider a Different Kind of Scary

These stories don’t rely on supernatural jump scares. Instead, they haunt viewers by revealing worlds shaped by failure, greed, and injustice. They remind us that horror can exist in silence, in indifference, and in choices made behind closed doors.

Stream these powerful real-world thrillers now on Lionsgate Play, available via PLDT Home, Smart and Cignal.

Because sometimes the most frightening stories are the ones that could actually happen.

 

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About Lionsgate Play

Lionsgate Play, a premium streaming service from Lionsgate India and Starz, offers bespoke quality content to its users. It boasts premium and curated content including Premieres, billion-dollar Franchise Movies and binge-worthy Box Sets. Lionsgate Play is accessible to consumers in the Philippines via www.lionsgateplay.com for Php79 monthly with PLDT Home and Php199 quarterly plan with Smart.

A curated selection of Lionsgate Play titles is also available on Cignal Super, the Philippines'  first and only streaming aggregator app. With only One Login, One Subscription, users can watch content from multiple streaming apps for only P799/month (Premium+ Plan) or P499/month (Premium Plan).

For more information about Lionsgate Play Philippines, visit lionsgateplay.com and follow them on Facebook and Tiktok.

Black Mafia Family Season 4 Brings More of the Real-Life Drama of America's Biggest Drug Empire

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Discover how an ambitious dream of power and wealth built one of the most infamous crime empires in history.

You may have heard about hit shows inspired by real-life stories of crime and power, but the tale of the Black Mafia Family (BMF) is one you shouldn't miss—even if it's your first time learning about it.

The BMF story has captured headlines in the United States for decades, and now, the award-winning drama series based on their true events is streaming in the Philippines! Black Mafia Family Season 4 has landed on Lionsgate Play, with the finale arriving August 15.

So, why should Pinoys tune in? Let’s take a closer look.

Who Were the Black Mafia Family?

The Black Mafia Family was one of the most powerful drug empires in the United States during the late ‘80s to early 2000s. BMF was founded in Detroit, Michigan by two brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. The brothers came from humble beginnings, and in their search for a better life, they entered the world of the illegal drug trade.

What began as small-scale dealing quickly grew into a highly organized network. At its peak, BMF was distributing massive amounts of cocaine throughout the United States, with operations stretching to cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami. Police estimated that the organization had moved drugs worth millions of dollars and controlled a huge part of the illegal drug market.

But their activities weren’t just about crime. Unlike other crime groups, the Black Mafia Family gained an almost mythical status for maintaining a drug empire while having deep connections to the music industry. They launched BMF Entertainment, a legitimate record label, and mingled with top artists and celebrities, including Jay-Z, Diddy, and Young Jeezy.

However, beneath the glitz and glamor, tensions within the family began to rise. While Demetrius loved the spotlight, Terry was more discreet and wanted to focus on the logistics of their drug empire. This clash ultimately created cracks in their tight-knit operation.

BMF’s growing fame soon made them a target for police crackdowns, and eventually led to the arrests of Demetrius and Terry in 2005. Both were sentenced to 30 years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering, bringing one of America’s largest criminal empires to an end.

Even after their downfall, the story of BMF lives on, serving as a cautionary tale about the price of power and the importance of family.

Season 4 on Lionsgate Play: Why Filipinos Should Watch

If you love action-packed dramas and true crime stories, it's time to tune in to Black Mafia Family. Produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, the series cinematically shows not just the glitz and danger, but also the emotional struggles of the Flenory brothers.

Now's the perfect time to jump in, because Season 4 is being hailed as the series' most mature and emotional chapter yet. Expect dramatic confrontations, shocking twists, and moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Tune in to Lionsgate Play find out why the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Hiligaynon full-length film Salum and Mindanaoan short film Champ Green shine bright at the Puregold CinePanalo 2025 awards night

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Hiligaynon full-length film Salum directed by TM Malones and Mindanaoan short film Champ Green were honored the top prizes in their respective categories at the second edition of the wildly successful Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.

At the awarding ceremony, held on March 19 at The Elements, Eton Centris in Quezon City, Salum took home four Puregold CinePanalo trophies in the full-length category namely: Panalong Pelikula, Panalo sa Production Design, Panalo sa Sound Design, and Panalo sa Musical Scoring as well as a cash prize of PhP 250,000. Meanwhile, Champ Green received a PhP 100,000 cash prize and five trophies in the student shorts category including Panalong Maikling Pelikula, Panalong Pangalawang Aktor for Sol Eugenio, Panalo sa Kwento, Panalo sa Brand Intrusion, and Mowelfund Special Citation.

In addition, Champ Green, being the students shorts winner, also won film equipment including a Black Mist ⅛, a Dream Filter, a Blue Lightstreak Filter from MFP Rentals and Kase Philippines; a Nanlite FC 60B with Merch from MQ Group and Nanlite Philippines; and a Hollyland Lark C1 Wireless Microphone from Sieztech Enterprize and Hollyland Tech Philippines. Champ Green also won an extra PHP25,000 for winning the Panalo sa Brand Intrusion, as did fellow short film G! and full-length film Journeyman who won the same award; as well as Checkmate and Taympers, who similarly tied for Pinakapanalong Promosyon ng Pelikula. Each of these sponsors gladly awarded Champ Green with the equipment in order to support the development of young Filipino filmmakers such as Champ Green director Clyde Cuizon Gamale.

JP Habac was named Panalong Direktor (Best Director) for his work on Olsen’s Day at Puregold CinePanalo 2025.

The Panalong Aktor (Best Actor) for the full-length category was awarded to Khalil Ramos (Olsen’s Day). He shares this award with JP Larroder (Tigkiliwi).

The Mowelfund Special Citation was awarded to Olsen’s Day in the full-length category.

Talented actress Alexa Ilacad, who stars in Co-Love, at the Puregold CinePanalo 2025.

Tigkiliwi takes home the Panalong Karangalan mula sa Hurado for the full-length category. 

Director Tara Illenberger proudly receives the Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Hurado (Jury Prize) for Tigkiliwi at Puregold CinePanalo 2025.

In the full-length category, another Hiligaynon film Tigkiliwi nabbed seven trophies including Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Hurado and Panalo sa Kwento for its writer-director Tara Illenberger. The charming film about a community of misfits swept the acting awards categories including Panalong Aktres for Ruby Ruiz, and Panalong Pangalawang Aktor for Jeffrey Jiruma. 

In an interesting turn of events, two ties were declared during the awards night. The Panalong Aktor trophy was shared between JP Larroder as Tigkiliwi’s Tata, and Khalil Ramos as the titular Olsen in Olsen’s Day while both Journeyman and Olsen’s Day were declared the winners of the Panalo sa Cinematography category. Meanwhile, JP Habac of Olsen’s Day bagged the Panalong Direktor award.

Journeyman by the sibling-tandem of Christian Paolo and Dominic Lat took home a total of six trophies namely: Panalo Sa International Jury, Panalo sa Cinematography (tie with Olsen’s Day), Panalo sa Film Poster, the MTRCB Special Award for Responsableng Paglikha, Panalo sa Brand Intrusion, and the Puregold Always Panalo Film which it shared with the romantic-comedy film Fleeting by Catsi Catalan.

For the student shorts, Uwian, directed by Panalong Direktor winner Vhan Marco Molacruz of Colegio de San Juan de Letran crushed the competition, winning five different awards including Panalong Direktor, Panalo sa Musical Scoring, Panalo sa Production Design, Panalong Aktres for Geraldine Villamil, and Panalong Pangalawang Aktres for Uzziel Delamide.

Other notable entries to the student shorts category included Sean Rafael Verdejo’s absurdist dramedy Dela Cruz, Juan P., which took home Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Hurado; as well as Ira Corinne Esguerra’s coming-of-age sibling story SamPie, which took home the Puregold Always Panalo Film award.

Each award was deliberated upon by an impressive lineup of qualified judges, including Festival Director Christopher Cahilig, Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, and Republic Creative Creations, Inc. representative Sonny Bautista, each of whom sat on both the student shorts and full-length jury panels. Joining them on the students shorts panel were directors Emmanuel Dela Cruz and Victor Villanueva, as well as film critic Lito Zulueta. The full-length jury panel, on the other hand, consisted of Cahilig, Hayagan-Piedad, and Bautista, as well as directors Jeffrey Jeturian and Mae Cruz-Alviar, writer and producer Moira Lang, and Estonian filmmaker Tiina Lokk, the festival director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

This year’s CinePanalo saw increased grants for all entries, with PHP 3,000,000 grants for full-length entries, and P150,000 grants for student shorts. The festival was also supported in large part by its partner organizations ​​Terminal Six Post, CMB Film Services Inc., Gateway Cineplex 18, MFP Rentals, the MTRCB,  and the Mowelfund Film Institute.

Puregold Senior Marketing Manager and Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad and Festival Director Christopher Cahilig

“The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival will always be fueled by a deep love for the art of cinema, and an even deeper ambition to show what Philippine talent and passion has to offer,” said Festival Chair Ivy Hayagan-Piedad. “With the CinePanalo having reached a successful second edition, the possibilities are now endless. We can’t wait for all the wonderful films yet to grace the Puregold CinePanalo in all the years to come.”

Salum, Champ Green, and all the other full-length and student short films of the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2025 will continue to screen exclusively at the Gateway Cineplex 18, Cubao, Quezon City until the closing of the festival on March 25. Regular tickets are P250, with discounts available for students, PWDs, seniors, Tindahan ni Aling Puring, and Perks Card members for P200. Meanwhile, festival passes for the entire experience cost P2,000, granting holders entrance to all official movie entries.

Young filmmakers pose with Festival Director and award-winning filmmaker, Chris Cahilig.

 

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Pinakapanalong Pelikula

Full-Length: Salum (TM Malones)

Student Shorts: Champ Green (Clyde Cuizon Gamale)

 

Puregold Always Panalo Film

Full-Length: Journeyman (Christian Paolo Lat & Dominic Lat), Fleeting (Catsi Catalan)

Student Shorts: Sampie, (Ira Corinne Esquerra Malit)

 

Panalong Direktor

Full-Length: JP Habac, Olsen’s Day

Student Shorts: Vhan Marco B. Molacruz, Uwian

 

Panalong Aktres

Full-Length: Ruby Ruiz as Nay Pansay, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Geraldine Villamil as Remy, Uwian

 

Panalong Aktor

Full-Length:

Khalil Ramos as Olsen, Olsen’s Day

JP Larroder as Tata, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: 

Lucas Martin as Sam, SamPie

Jasper John as Juan Dela Cruz, Dela Cruz, Juan P.

 

Panalong Karangalan Mula sa Mga Hurado

Full-Length: Tigkiliwi (Tara Illenberger)

Student Shorts: Dela Cruz, Juan P. (Sean Rafael A. Verdejo)

 

Panalo Sa Mga Manonood

Full-Length: Co-Love (Jill Singson Urdaneta)

Student Shorts: Sisenta! (Mae Malaya)

 

Panalong Pangalawang Aktres

Full-Length: Gabby Padilla as Marlin, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Uzziel Delamide as Imang, Uwian

 

Panalong Pangalawang Aktor

Full-Length: Jeffrey Jiruma as Pol, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Sol Eugenio as Tekbong, Champ Green

 

Panalong Ensemble

Full-Length: Tigkiliwi (Tara Illenberger)

Student Shorts: Sine-Sine (Roniño Dolim)

 

Panalong Kwento

Full-Length: Tara Illenberger, Tigkiliwi

Student Shorts: Clyde Cuizon Gamale, Champ Green

 

Panalo sa Cinematography

Full-Length: 

Dominic Lat, Journeyman

Kara Moreno, Olsen’s Day

Student Shorts: Lance Lascano, Dan, En Pointe

 

Panalo sa Production Design

Full-Length: Kyle Fermindoza, Salum

Student Shorts: Andrea Jayne Perang, Uwian

 

Panalo sa Musical Scoring

Full-Length: Armor Rapista, Salum

Student Shorts: Len Calvo, Uwian

 

Panalo sa Editing

Full-Length: Vanessa Ubas de Leon, Co-Love

Student Shorts: Jose Andy Sales, G!

 

Panalo sa Sound Design

Full-Length: Fatima Nerikka Salim and Immanuel Verona, Salum

Student Shorts: Elian Idioma, Dela Cruz, Juan P.

 

Panalong Awitin

Full-Length: “DI KO PINILI” by Kiko Salazar, performed by KD Estrada, Co-Love

Student Shorts: “Suga, Camera, Saad” by Jonathan Rey Sartorio and Lloyd Martin Villacortes Arce, performed by Jonathan Rey “ROTT” Sartorio, Sine-Sine

 

Panalo sa Brand Intrusion

Full-Length: Journeyman (555 Sardines and Lucky Me!)

Student Shorts: Champ Green (Bear Brand), G! (Chuckie)

 

Panalo sa Film Poster

Full-Length: Journeyman by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat

Student Shorts: Checkmate by Alexie Nicole Pardo

 

Pinakapanalong Promosyon ng Pelikula

Student Shorts:

Checkmate by Alexie Nicole Pardo

Taympers by Naiah Nicole Mendoza

 

Responsableng Paglikha

Full-Length: Journeyman by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat

Student Shorts:

1. Dan, En Pointe by Adelbert Abrigonda
2. Sine-Sine by Roniño Dolim
3. 1… 2… Strike!!! by Kenneth Flores

 

Mowelfund Special Citation

Full-Length: Olsen’s Day

Student Shorts: Champ Green

 

Panalo sa International Jury

Journeyman by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat

Puregold CinePanalo 2025: Bigger Dreams, Bolder Visions

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Filmmakers who are set to participate at the upcoming 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival were recently presented in a press conference held at the Artson Events Place in Quezon City. With a fresh group of contenders and their entries riding on the momentum of last year’s hugely successful festival, Puregold CinePanalo is fast turning out to be a hotly anticipated event in the local film industry’s calendar.

The directors, stars, and crew behind the seven full-length films on the line up for the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo came out in force at the festival’s recent press conference.

Millions of pesos in production grants are a great part of the draw. In Puregold CinePanalo’s 2025 run, the bounty benefitted eight winning filmmakers who received P3,000,000 each, as well as twenty-four student filmmakers who received P150,000 each.

With Puregold CinePanalo once again raring to provide millions in production grants to select participants, aspiring new filmmakers were spurred to craft more uplifting stories with the theme, “Mga Kwentong Panalo ng Buhay”.

Festival director Christopher Cahilig (extreme left) and Puregold senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad (extreme right) together with representatives from Gateway Cineplex 18, the venue for the upcoming Puregold CinePanalo.

At the press conference, Puregold CinePanalo proudly presented these worthy participants to attendees that comprised festival organizers as well as representatives from the festival’s various partners such as the MTRCB, Gateway Cineplex 18, Mowelfund, Terminal Six, CMB Films, and MFP Rentals.

Representatives from the Mowelfund Film Institute came out to show their support for this year’s line up of filmmakers.

Puregold senior marketing manager Ivy Hayagan-Piedad

Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, senior marketing manager for Puregold, spoke enthusiastically about working with a fresh batch of filmmakers. “After an intensely competitive application period, these directors came out on top of the heap,” she said. “We know they will produce excellent, gripping work and we can’t wait to share these with the viewing public at the upcoming festival.”

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival will forthwith showcase directors and stars of varying experience and acclaim within the industry, with the star-studded 2025 edition highlighting the filmmaking domain’s rich reserves of talent.

Mes de Guzman directs Sepak Takraw, starring Enzo Osorio, Nicollo Castillo, Ruby Ruiz, and Acey Aguilar. JP Habac’s Olsen’s Day will feature Khalil Ramos, Romnick Sarmenta, and child actor Xander Nuda. Tara Illenberger helms the film Tigkiliwi starring Ruby Ruiz in her second Puregold CinePanalo feature, Gabby Padilla, and Julian Paul Larroder. Dynamic duo Christian Paolo Lat & Dominic Lat are directing Journeyman, starring JC Santos and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

TM Malones will be working on Salum with stars Allen Dizon and Christine Mary Dimaisip. Jill Singson Urdaneta’s Co-Love will showcase KD Estrada, Alexa Ilacad, Jameson Blake, and Kira Balinger.

Meanwhile, Baby Ruth Villarama’s Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea will mark the first-ever documentary to join the Puregold CinePanalo line up. Another historic first sees noted producer Catsi Catalan making her directorial debut with the film Fleeting, starring Janella Salvador and RK Bagatsing.

Also in attendance at the press event were twenty-four student filmmakers from universities across the country:

• Adelbert Abrigonda (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Dan, En Pointe”

• Allan M. Balance Jr. (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Cancer Din Ang Zodiac Sign Mo?”

• Angel Allizon Cruz (University of Santo Tomas) - “Dito, Dati”

• Roniño Dolim (University of Eastern Philippines) - “Sine-Sine"

• Kenneth Flores (Far Eastern University) - “1... 2... Strike!!!”

• Austine Rae R. Fresnido (FAITH Colleges) - “Sa Susunod Sisikat si Susan”

• Clyde Cuizon Gamale (University of the Philippines) - “Champ Green”

• Bjorn M. Herrera (Central Philippine University) - “Nanay's Frankenstein”

• Maria Eleanor P. Javier (University of the Philippines Visayas) - “Mother at Sixty”

• Producer Ivan Gentolizo representing Mae Malaya (University of the Philippines) - “Sisenta!”

• Ira Corinne Esquerra Malit (University of Caloocan City) - “SamPie”

• Naiah Nicole Mendoza (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Taympers”

• Vhan Marco B. Molacruz (Colegio de San Juan de Letran) - “Uwian”

• Jadrien Morales (University of the Philippines) - “Let's Go Somewhere Else”

• Regene Narciso (Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo) - “Papunta Ka Pa Lang, Naka-Bounce Na Ako”

• Alexie Nicole Pardo (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) – “Checkmate”

• Kieth Earl B. Rebaño (University of the Philippines Visayas) - “Daeaura”

• John Lester Rimorin (University of the Philippines) - “Japan Surplus”

• Jose Andy Sales (University of San Carlos) - “G!”

• Mark Joseph Sanchez (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Our One and Only Bab(o)y”

• Aubrey Soriano (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) - “Si Nadia at ang Kanyang mga Kuro-Kuro”

• Jasper Tan (Far Eastern University) - “Sa Pagbunga”

• Johannes Tejero (University of San Carlos) - “Daog, Pildi”

• Sean Rafael A. Verdejo (National University Laguna) - “Dela Cruz, Juan P.”

With such a diverse lineup of filmmakers, the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo is primed to be another can’t-miss event for Philippine cinema. The completed films will be screened at Gateway Cineplex 18 from March 14 to 25, 2025.

Stream unli entertainment from HBO, Warner Bros., the DC Universe, and more in Max – powered by PLDT Home

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A brand-new streaming experience coming to your home when you apply for PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1799!

Max – a brand-new streaming experience will now be available to more fans in the Philippines through PLDT Home. Fans can stream the latest blockbuster movies, groundbreaking series, iconic hits, real-life stories, and family favorites from beloved brands like HBO, Harry Potter, the DC Universe, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., Discovery, and beyond.

From December 10, 2024 to February 9, 2025, new customers of PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1799 will have two months access to the Max Standard plan included with their subscription. T&Cs apply.

Home of fan favorite content

Fans can access Hollywood blockbusters, culture-defining shows, best in class real-life stories across food, home, lifestyle, and documentary, family favorites, as well as recent premieres such as the HBO Original Dune: Prophecy, Max Original adult animation Creature Commandos and many more. Subscribers can also stream favorites like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon,The Last of Us,And Just Like That..., The White Lotus, True Detective, and much more.

Enjoy HBO Originals including Dune: Prophecy, The Last of Us, Creature Commandos, and Succession on Max, now available through PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1799!

From the best of Hollywood movies, including the complete Harry Potter movie collection, Dune: Part Two, Barbie, AquamanandThe Lost Kingdom, Wonka, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, fans of Warner Bros. Discovery’s beloved collections can also stream Friends, hits from the DC Universe, The Conjuring Universe, The Matrix, and Sex and the City. Fans in the Philippines can also enjoy Drag Race Philippines and local originals like On The Job on Max.

For the first time, real-life stories from Warner Bros. Discovery’s renowned unscripted programming from Discovery, TLC, AFN, Food Network, ID (Investigation Discovery), and HGTV will be available on one streaming destination, featuring hits including Deadliest Catch, Ghost Adventures, Property Brothers, Gold Rush, Dr. Pimple Popper, and Selena + Restaurant.

With Max, kids can also catch their favorite shows from Cartoon Network and CARTOONITO’s wide selection of content for kids and families from Adventure Time, We Bare Bears, and Tom and Jerry, to Looney Tunes and Teen Titans Go!

Better streaming experience

PLDT Home customers can enjoy an elevated streaming experience with Max on multiple devices (depending on their Max plan) with an easy-to-navigate interface including personalized recommendations, seamless search, genre rails, and brand hubs. Providing a more intuitive way of exploring Max, customers can create up to five unique profiles, each customizable with favorite characters as avatars, receive content picks based on viewing habits and customize profiles for kids, curated with age-appropriate content, and parental controls.

Catering to multiple types of households, Max’s subscription plans comprise the following:

Standard

● Stream on 2 devices at once

● Full HD video resolution

● Watch on more devices, including TVs

● 30 downloads to watch on the go

Ultimate

● Stream on 4 devices at once

● 4K UHD and Dolby Atmos as available

● Watch on more devices, including TVs

● 100 downloads to watch on the go (limits apply)

Iconic hits such as the Harry Potter movie collection, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Beetlejuice: Beetlejuice, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning can be streamed on Max seamlessly with your PLDT Home Fiber connection!

Unli entertainment guaranteed

Max is PLDT Home’s latest addition to its roster of global partners in entertainment. As the Philippines’ leading digital services provider, it is working on more content partnerships to further provide customers with the best entertainment experience at home.

“As Max launches across Southeast Asia, we are pleased to expand our partnership with PLDT to bring even more quality entertainment and iconic brands to Filipino audiences,” Tony Qiu, GM, Greater China and Southeast Asia at Warner Bros. Discovery, said.

Meanwhile, PLDT Home First Vice President of Acquistion Marketing Patrick S. Tang said, “Our new and exciting partnership with Max is PLDT Home’s way of delivering not just unli entertainment to our customers, but also a reinforcement of our commitment to making quality time for Filipino families at home as fun, fulfilling, and meaningful as possible with its endless variety of entertaining content.”

“As the Philippines’ leading digital services provider, we aim to bridge Filipino families to the world’s best content platforms and other lifestyle innovations to further better their life at home in more ways than one.”

Enjoy unli entertainment on Max when you apply for PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plan 1799, with two months of access to the Max Standard plan included with your subscription. For more information on PLDT Home’s partnership with Max, visit pldthome.com/max.

From Property Brothers and Selena + Restaurant to Drag Race Philippines and We Bare Bears, there’s more to binge for each member of the family on Max – powered by PLDT Home!