Kris Aquino, John Lloyd Cruz and Lea Salonga have been paving a path to the world's stage for Filipino stars for years.
Now, thanks to them and many more, there's plenty of entertainment from the Philippines to enjoy across the world, including here in the UAE on Netflix.
There's everything from action thrillers to romance dramas, featuring a new generation of stars, such as Anne Curtis, Sue Ramirez and Bea Alonzo.
Here are eight films and one TV drama to watch on the streaming platform:
'The Girl Allergic to Wifi' (2019)
The film stars Sue Ramirez, Jameson Blake and Markus Paterson. It follows what happens after an internet-obsessed teen develops a rare illness, which forces her to move to a remote town where she must learn to navigate her relationships without technology.
'Dead Kids' (2019)
The Netflix Original is based on a true story. The Filipino thriller tells the tale of a group of teenagers who plot to kidnap the school bully. However, inevitably, things go wrong in the process. It was directed by Mikhail Red and the film stars Kelvin Miranda and Vance Larena.
'Goyo: The Boy General' (2018)
The historical biopic stars Paulo Avelino in the title role of General Gregorio del Pilar, and focuses on the final months of the young general who died during the Battle of Tirad Pass in the Philippine-American War. It features an ensemble cast that includes Carlo Aquino, Mon Confiado, Epy Quizon, Gwen Zamora and Empress Schuck.
'Buy Bust' (2018)
The action-thriller stars Anne Curtis as a rookie police officer in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. She’s tasked with being part of a team that’s summoned to conduct a drug bust in a Manila slum, although her intuition tells her it may be a trap. When they realise the mission has been poorly executed, they must find a way out.
'Eerie' (2019)
This action-horror film was directed by Mikhail Red and stars Bea Alonzo and Charo Santos-Concio. It's set in the all-girls Catholic school, Sta. Lucia Academy, and shows a caring guidance counsellor investigating the suicide of Erica, one of the students, after many claim they are being haunted by her ghost.
'For the Broken Hearted' (2018)
The film tells three interwoven stories that tackle the pain of being heartbroken, moving on and finding the courage to love again. It is directed by Digo Ricio and features Yassi Pressman, Sam Concepcion, Marco Gumabao, Louise delos Reyes and Shy Carlos.
'Aurora' (2018)
This horror-thriller film from Yam Laranas, starring Anne Curtis, follows a woman named Leana who lives with her younger sister Rita on an island. After a passenger ship crashes nearby, they decide to find the missing dead for bounties. However, Leana soon starts to have strange visions of the corpses of the missing passengers.
'Maria' (2019)
Maria is a former cartel assassin who betrays her employers and fakes her own death in order to start a new life. When her former colleagues discover she’s alive and has a new identity, they try to find her and return her to her former self. Directed by Pedring Lopez, the film stars Cristine Reyes, Germaine De Leon and KC Montero.
'Amo' (2017)
The drama crime series focuses on the Philippine Drug War and high school student Joseph, who is looking to expand his drug operation. However, it turns out he isn’t the only family member involved in illegal activity, as his police officer uncle also profits from corruption. While leading a double life, Joseph runs into trouble and needs help from his family members to cover his tracks. Fun fact: this is Netflix’s first original series from the Philippines.
