It’s been a prolific year for Philippine cinema, with about 50 films released so far — but there is more to come: another 50 movies are due for release by the end of the year.
Here are 10 of the films, spanning a range of genres, that we are most looking forward to.
We’ve included UAE release dates where possible but bear in mind that the Philippine film industry is notorious for announcing them just a week or two in advance, so keep checking your movie listings for exact schedules.
1. Ma’ Rosa
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Starring: Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Felix Roco, Maria Isabel Lopez, Andi Eigenmann
The story: Veteran actress Jaclyn Jose plays Rosa, a woman who owns a convenience store in a poor neighbourhood in Manila. To make ends meet, she and her husband (Diaz) start selling illegal drugs in their store.
What to look out for: Brillante Mendoza's gritty take on the Philippine working class is shot in his signature hand-held style. It had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May and received with a standing ovation, and Jose won the Best Actress prize.
Release: August.
2. How to Be Yours
Director: Dan Villegas
Starring: Bea Alonzo, Gerald Anderson
The story: Anderson plays Nino, a customer at a restaurant in Manila's Chinatown who falls for a chef called Anj (Alonzo).
What to look out for: It's the real-life former couple's first film together. "It was exciting, awkward, surreal," Anderson told The National.
Release: The film opens in the Philippines on July 27, so expect it to open around that time or soon after.
3. Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli (The Ballad of Hermano Puli)
Director: Gil Portes
Starring: Aljur Abrenica, Alessandra de Rossi, Markki Stroem
The story: A biopic about a 27-year-old Filipino religious leader who led a revolt against the Spaniards in the early 19th century.
What to look out for: It's heart-throb Aljur Abrenica's first grown-up project after starring in several romantic comedies. "I assure you that an actor is born in this movie," director Portes says. The film also features Abrenica's brothers, Vin and Allen.
Release: Late September.
4. Tomodachi
Director: Joel Lamangan
Starring: Eddie Garcia, Jacky Woo, Pancho Magno, Bela Padilla
The story: A Japanese officer falls for a local lass in this drama set in the Philippines during World War II. The title comes from the Japanese word for "friend".
What to look out for: It's already making waves on the festival circuit — it won Best Foreign Language Film and Best Musical Score at this month's Madrid International Film Festival.
Release: Later this year.
5. Never Talk Back to A Gangster
Director: Andoy Ranay
Starring: James Reid, Nadine Lustre
The story: A teenage romcom/thriller starring Reid and Lustre, another popular on-screen couple. It's the sequel to their 2014 box-office hit, Talk Back and You're Dead.
What to look out for: Expect this film to do well in the UAE. When Reid and Lustre visited Dubai in March to perform a concert, their show was sell-out attended by thousands of fans. A horde of supporters even waited for the duo to arrive at Dubai International Airport at 3am.
Release: Later this year.
6. Insanely In Love
Director: Olivia Lamasan
Starring: Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla
The story: Bernardo and Padilla — Reid and Lustre's friendly rivals — star in their own romantic drama, their first project together since their top-rated TV series Pangako Sa 'Yo (This I Promise You) ended in February.
What to look out for: Shot in Barcelona, Spain, last month, this film could be the stars' most important project to date, thanks to their director, Olivia Lamasan, who is one of the country's most esteemed filmmakers.
Release: Later this year.
7. Darna
Director: Erik Matti
The story: A campy fantasy superhero film based on classic Filipino comic-book character, Darna — a deceased warrior from outer space who manifests herself through a poor, ordinary girl called Narda.
What to look out for: The story of Darna has been adapted for the big screen 14 times and three times on television. It's a coveted role that has boosted the careers of many stars including Vilma Santos and Angel Locsin. The director of the latest version, Erik Matti, has not yet revealed who he has chosen to play the title role, but he has posted teasers on social media. Fans are betting on Jessy Mendiola, Ritz Azul or Nadine Lustre.
Release: Later this year.
8. Manay Nelia
Director: Adolfo Alix Jr
Starring: Nora Aunor
The story: A social drama headlined by the grand dame of Philippine cinema, Nora Aunor. It's her follow-up project after the acclaimed Brilliant Mendoza feature, Taklub (Trap).
What to look out for: It's a first-rate pairing of renowned director and star. Independent filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr is one of the best of his generation. His previous film, Death March, screened at Cannes.
Release: Later this year, possibly in time for the Metro Manila Film Festival in December.
9. Mighty Yaya
Director: Jose Javier Reyes
Starring: Ai-Ai delas Alas, Megan Young, Zoren Legaspi, Sophia Andres
The story: This one is headlined by Ai-Ai delas Alas, known as the "Philippine Queen of Comedy", so prepare to be amused. It follows the adventures of a nanny, Yaya Virgie, and the family she works for.
What to look out for: Mighty Yaya marks Megan Young's first film project since winning the Miss World crown in 2013. She plays Yaya Virgie's employer.
Release: Later this year.
10. Lakambini (Muse)
Directors: Jeffrey Jeturian and Ellen Ongkeko Marfil
Starring: Lovi Poe, Rocco Nacino, Paulo Avelino
The story: Another historical biopic, this time about Gregoria "Oryang" de Jesus (played by Poe), the widow of revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio (Nacino). De Jesus, fondly known as "Lakambini", was the founder of the women's chapter of the Katipunan, an underground society that protested against Spanish colonisation.
What to look out for: It's the first Philippine biopic about a female historical figure. "When we talk about Filipino heroes, only the men get mentioned," Poe said. "Oryang went through so much hardships yet no monument has ever been built for her."
Release: Later this year.
artslife@thenational.ae
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
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Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
