The Philippines now enters a new era of Television with the recent collaboration of two rival broadcast media companies, ABS-CBN and GMA.
The two media giants signed an agreement last April 5, 2022. Executives of both companies signed a deal airing Star Cinema movies - the cinema production arm of the Kapamilya network - through the Kapuso channel.
It is already known that Star Cinema produces high-quality and world-class films (no offense to GMA Films, though) that were recognized by different award-giving buddies both inside and outside the country. But with the recent shutdown of the network, ABS-CBN struggles to hold on to such momentum. Fortunately, the Kapamilya network innovates by using digital platforms in pursuing their crafts. They also collaborated with other streaming platforms with the likes of Viu and iFlix in producing new and relevant content to cater to their viewers - this recent partnership is just an addendum to the company’s effort in securing their spot as the country’s premier entertainment source.
Filipinos love to watch TV. They love watching Filipino dramas, reality shows, and other TV shows. Aside from these, they love to watch pageants, singing competitions, and other competitions on the TV.
Looking for Filipino movies to watch in your condo? Here is the list of Star Cinema movies that will be airing on free TV through GMA 7.
Must watch Filipino films that can now be streamed on free TV
Hello, Love, Goodbye
Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) is a young Filipino woman who abandons her family in order to seek a better life in Hong Kong. Joy struggles to make ends meet as a household worker. She is, nevertheless, determined to bring her family to Canada so that she can pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Then she meets Ethan (Alden Richards), a Filipino bartender in Hong Kong who enjoys his carefree lifestyle and wishes to be free of his family. When the two fall in love, Joy is faced with a common dilemma: should she stay for love or should she move on to pursue her dream?
This highly acclaimed film by Cathy Garcia-Molina currently holds the title of “Highest Grossing Filipino Film of all time”, overtaking another Star Cinema movie “The Hows of Us” which was also led by Kathryn Bernardo alongside her real-life Partner Daniel Padilla and was also directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. This earned the lead cast, Kathryn Bernardo, the Phenomenal Box Office Queen award.
Alone/Together
Penned by the award-winning director Antonette Jadaone, it yet again offers a film with the country's premiere love team as its lead.
Christine (Liza Soberano) and Raf (Enrique Gil), are college sweethearts, reunited for the first time eight years after their breakup. Christine, who was formerly a high-achieving art student, has failed, whereas Raf, who no one expected to be a great man, is now a respected doctor in the barrios.
Their reunion transports them back to their youth and the dreams they shared back then, despite the fact that they now live lives that are very different from each other. Their old feelings revive, and they find themselves falling in love with each other once more. Will they both be willing to risk everything they have just to relive the joys of their youth?
This is one of the numerous Star Cinema movies that capitalized on the network’s massive followers through love team fanbases.
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 1
Jocelyn (Cai Cortez), Rainier (Kean Cipriano), and Bingbong (JM de Guzman) are recent film school grads who are determined to make an Oscar-worthy film. They set out to undertake fast pre-production as a courtesy call to their star actress (Eugene Domingo), as well as a thorough assessment of the Payatas dumpsite, the film's main location. They feel they have a winning script, as well as the enthusiasm and determination to see their ideas realized, no matter what it takes.
In recent years, a large number of Filipino films have represented our country at international film festivals, and these indie films appear to fit into a specific category - focusing on socio-economic problems, and of course poverty. With such, indie filmmakers are being chastised for engaging in "poor porn," as local reviewers put it.
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 1 is a film directed by Marlon Rivera and written by Chris Martinez. The film bagged the Audience Award, Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay in Cinemalaya 2011. It also took home worldwide recognitions from different Film Festivals and Screenings (Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2012, Asian Film Awards 2012, and Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema 2012).
It Takes a Man and a Woman
In addition to this “must watch Filipino films” list that will now be aired via free TV is another masterpiece of Cathy Garcia-Molina and a sequel of her two previous installments: A Very Special Love (2008) and You Changed My Life (2009), which follows the timeline of Miggy (John Lloyd Cruz) and Adelaida “Laida” Magtalas (Sarah Geronimo) love life.
In this third installment (spoiler alert!), Miggy and Laida's relationship has come to an end. Laida strives to move on and become a "wiser, bolder, stronger, and fiercer" Laida Magtalas version 2.0 after Miggy cheats on her and returns to her ex-girlfriend Belle (played by Isabelle Daza). You can expect a lot of conflict between Miggy and Laida when they try to work together in the same company based on the trailer alone. Worse, Miggy's new girlfriend is in the vicinity. This third and final sequel finally closed the book for the fan’s beloved Miggy and Laida.
This movie is one of the gems, perhaps, that pushed the tandem’s popularity. As a matter of fact, this was followed by another film that also starred the network's A-List celebrities.
Fantastica
In an attempt to overtake his last film’s success, ABS-CBN's biggest star to date Vice Ganda starred and co-penned this comedic and fantasy Star Cinema movie, Fantastica.
Bellat (Vice Ganda) lives with his mother, Fec (Jaclyn Jose), and three adoptive brothers, Daks (Ronnie Alonte), Pepe (Edward Barber), and Junjun (Donny Pangilinan), in Perya Wurtzbach (a carnival). Except for Bellat, everyone has given up on the perya. She tries to relive their golden days by putting up small-scale shows with her friends Chakalyn Jose (Lassy Marquez) and Chubbylyn Jose (MC Calaquian), but it's futile. Due to indebtedness, they are also in danger of being evicted from their land by Dong Nam's (Dingdong Dantes) family.
Looking at the synopsis itself, the plot is quite busy - with big stars suddenly appearing on the scenes, shallow plots, and spoon-fed punchlines, it is indeed made to cater to kids and general audiences; Vice Ganda is consistent with his “pang-masa” and “pang-bata” brand. Airing this on free TV is a sealing act.
These are some of the grossing Star Cinema movies that everyone can enjoy no matter what channel they are loyal to. Thanks to this partnership, there is now a selection of movies to watch in your condo - the good thing here is there is no need to pay or subscribe, it's already on free TV!
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