Top 12 Best Performances from "Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018"

The annual Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino has finally concluded. Even so, we still can't get over the entries of this year's Pista. Eight original, proudly-Filipino films were shown in all cinemas nationwide from August 15-21, 2018 (though not that exclusively unlike last year). This festival which started last year is a week-long celebration that screens Filipino films exclusively for one (1) week in August in line with the Buwan ng Wika. Organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with all theaters nationwide, the first festival back in 2017 was such a success that it led to another Pista this year.

And after watching all eight entries of this year's Pista, we decided to countdown the Top 12 Best Performances From 'Pista Ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018'.

12. Edgar Allan Guzman in "Pinay Beauty".

Edgar Allan Guzman is Migs in Jay Abello's comedy drama, who ended up owing a P180K debt that he accumulated to help Annie, his girlfriend of 7 years in a perennial quest of the typical Filipina to look Caucasian. during the film's most emotional moments, he cries to Annie who just realized that the cost of her dream of becoming white is her boyfriend's life. "Mahal kita ng sobra, kaso sobra kang mahal!"

11. Mailes Angelina Kanapi in "Madilim Ang Gabi".

Adolf Alix Jr.'s EJK themed crime drama featured a multitude of celebrity cameos, enough to make Marvel's "Avengers : Infinity War" blush. But the most unforgettable cameo of them all was Mailes Angelina Kanapi (from films like "Matangtubig" and "Patay Na Si Hesus") and her heartbreaking moment in the film as a wife of a Japanese businessman who got kidnapped for ransom.

10. Devon Seron in "Bakwit Boys".

Everyone was stunned after Devon Seron's brilliant performance in Jason Paul Laxamana's romantic musical as she was able to showcase her acting chops and her amazing talent in singing. Her soulful voice was perfect for her character as she played Rose, a city girl who helped the Datul boys achieve their dreams in the film.

9. JC Santos in "The Day After Valentine's".

We got a very different JC Santos in this year's Pista as he plays Kai, a distraught man who's trying to fix his life after his break-up with his girlfriend. Portraying a man struggling with depression in Jason Paul Laxamana's latest tearjerker, he proved that he can take on any role given to time and nail it with flying colors.

8. Nikko Natividad in "Bakwit Boys"

Hashtag's Nikko Natividad surprised us with his impressive performance as the shy yet adorable Datul brother Philip in Jason Paul Laxamana's musical.

7. Erich Gonzales in "We Will Not Die Tonight".

Erich Gonzales shocked everyone with her unexpected turn in Richard Somes’ bloody action thriller. From her believable acting to her heart-stopping stunts, everything was on point.

6. Jameson Blake in "Ang Babaeng Allergic Sa Wifi".

Jameson Blake gives his finest performance to date in Jun Lana’s teen romcom. He will surely break your heart with his portrayal of Aries. He blew us away with that emotional scene as he and his brother reconciled, leading to an unexpected twist.

5. Vance Larena in "Bakwit Boys".

Theater star turned indie actor Vance Larena is absolutely brilliant in his sensitive portrayal of a tough yet caring brother in Jason Paul Laxamana’s musical. He manages to make his character stern but sympathetic, while sweeping audiences' hearts with his rockstar voice.

4. Felix Roco in "Madilim Ang Gabi".

One of the best performances from Adolf Alix Jr.’s crime drama is Felix Roco’s powerful turn as a drug user who is caught in the middle of Duterte’s drug war. You can really feel his emotions just by looking at his eyes. It says it all there.

3. Bela Padilla in "The Day After Valentine's".

Bela Padilla brought everyone to tears in her heart-breaking portrayal of  Lani, a strong, confident woman who seems to have answers to all of life’s most difficult questions. During the film's most gut-wrenching moment, he pleads to Kai to be with her. "I fixed you. Dapat akin ka... Ikaw na lang ang meron ako."
Her performance here cemented her status as one of the best actresses of this generation.

2. Nanding Josef in "Signal Rock" & "Bakwit Boys".

One of the most underrated actors of our industry, Nanding Josef truly deserves all the praise for his outstanding performance in two entries of this year’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino: "Signal Rock" & "Bakwit Boys".

1. Christian Bables in "Signal Rock".

Christian Bables’ magnificent performance in Chito S. Rono’s drama is one of the main reasons why “Signal Rock” is one of the best films of the year. Period.

"Ito ang nangyari. Take it or leave it" : A Look on Kip Oebanda's "LIWAY"

People watch her as everyday as the revengeful "Contessa", but this year, people get to see Kapuso actress Glaiza De Castro in a different light as she plays a Martial Law victim in her latest indie film, “Liway” written and directed by Kip Oebanda (Bar Boys).

The film which is based on a true story is an official entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival and features Glaiza De Castro as the titular character “Liway” who finds herself in the middle of prison during the tail-end of the Martial Law era. The film chronicles their life inside prison as she tries to raise her son, named Dakip (since he was born after his parents got imprisoned) in such environment, that despite of the hard situation that the child finds himself in, he can grow up happy, hopeful and resilient. At the same time, their family is struggling with a difficult question, what is best for their child during that time since the risk for former rebels have already intensified as more people disappear or found dead. The family is in immense pressure not just to survive but to ensure that the child doesn’t grow up traumatized and still remains hopeful despite the situation. Will they let Dakip stay with his family in that prison cell or will they set the child free? But if they were to set their child free, can they take the pain of having your own son grow up not knowing you as his parent?

According to the director, this film is very timely given of what’s happening in our society right now. The film is a hopeful and optimistic tale of a family as they try to survive the hardships that they face. “Liway” wants to give encourage people to believe that no matter what happens in our society, even the times becomes suppressive (like during the Martial Law), there’s a way to speak, there’s a way to act, there’s a  way to keep your dignity as a person in spite of what’s happening around you.


When asked whether this film is an anti-Marcos film, director Kip clarified that the film has no intentions of such. “It’s just a true story of  a family. Hindi siya kasi nagme-makeng stand na anti or pro-Duterte, or anti or pro-Marcos, ang stance talaga (ng pelikula) ay totoo ito. Ito ang nangyari. Take it or leave it. Now, whether or not the audiences perceives that as anti-Marcos or pro-Marcos, that’s a different story.” He further commented that “I don’t sugarcoat what happened during that era. Towards the end of our film, meron naman kasing documentary/ testimonial proof that all of these things did happen. And for me, malaking contribution na yun to say that these histories are real. That these stories are true. Na totoo itong mga taong ito at ang mga kwentong ito because may movement ngayon to discredit that narrative, to say na exaggerated yan or masasama’t criminal silang lahat. There is a push to eradicate that history.”
Director Kip and his family is a real life survivor of the Martial Law era. According to him, “I care very much about this particular issue, and I get hurt when people say na hindi kami totoong tao, or hindi totoo yung mga narratives namin. People really did suffer. People really did die.” He said that just to be able to contribute to the discourse by saying that these stories are real is already an achievement for a filmmaker like him at this point in time.

As for Glaiza De Castro, he said that by accepting the film despite her busy schedule due to her teleserye, it shows that she’s really interested. He further commented that people are going to see a
different side of her in this film. “It’s a challenging role, I would say. Kasi on one hand, she’s a very caring and loving mom who’s calm and poised, but she’s also the commander of a rebel movement. So it’s a very difficult balancing act of toughness and sensitivity that I think she pulls off very, very well. So I’m very happy for her.”

 

The film reunites Glaiza De Castro with Dominic Roco who plays her husband. Glaiza and Dominic both starred in another indie film before, the 2015 romantic flick “Sleepless”. The film also stars Soliman Cruz, Renante Samantes, Joel Saracho, Sue Prado, Vance Larena, and introducing Kenken Nuyad as the child Dakip, with Khalil Ramos. The film will debut at the Cinemalaya Film Festival this August 3-12, 2018.