Are you at the comforts of your humble abode, distancing yourself from people in order to avoid getting infected by the coronavirus pandemic? How do you spend your time all by your lonesome? With the nation now being placed under enhanced community quarantine, all of your most anticipated events, like film and music festivals, concerts, red carpet screenings and even birthday parties thrown by your office-mate’s cousin, have been either cancelled or postponed until further notice. The best option for you to entertain yourself while at home is to surf the web for ongoing updates regarding government actions, medical highlights and whatnot, read books that you have hoarded from Big Bad Wolf or many years ago when you still had time to read, or watch films and TV shows that you’ve long kept in your hard drive and has been taking up a huge amount of space now. That being said, you can only keep yourself preoccupied for so long.
You’re in luck, because there are many Filipino films that you can check out for free on YouTube while you are passing the time (or at least, until the virus has been eradicated and the streets are free of infectious diseases). Here are some of them:
Films by TBA Studios
TBA Studios is known for being one of the best independent film studios in the country, with over 20 award-winning full-length films in their lineup that have been shown in various film festivals in the country and all over the world. 3 days ago, they have released 8 of the films from their catalog on their YouTube account for everyone to access and enjoy. Among the films that have been released are:
- K’na the Dreamweaver (dir. Ida Anita del Mundo)
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Synopsis: When K’na, a young T’boli woman, becomes a dreamweaver, she has the chance to weave together her village’s warring clans. But, will she give up true love to do so?
- Gayuma (dir. Cesar Hernando)
Synopsis: Mike, a young student artist, is enthralled by a beautiful and mysterious woman. His curiosity and infatuation turns into fatal obsession and deep erotic passion.
- Iisa / As One (dir. Chuck Gutierrez)
Synopsis: A thriller about a never-ending war, a town ravaged by a devastating storm, and the woman caught in between.
- Matangtubig / Town in a Lake (dir. Jet Leyco)
Synopsis: Matangtubig, a quiet town, is suddenly disrupted by a crime, which leads to the uncovering of the town’s dark secrets.
- Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo (dir. Mihk Vergara)
Synopsis: 10-year old Meng loves one thing: Patintero. The only hitch is that she’s terrible at it and her reputation has earned her the title of the neighborhood “patalo” (loser). But in the continuing struggle against the high school team that has one-sidedly claimed the territory of the local sari-sari store, Meng forms an unlikely team of fellow losers to finally challenge these high schoolers in the biggest game of their lives.
- Water Lemon (dir. Lem Lorca)
Synopsis: Set in Mauban Quezon, a group of characters cope with the small town blues, longing for life in a lifeless milieu.
- Bliss (dir. Jerrold Tarog)
Synopsis: Actress Jane Ciego (Iza Calzado) entered showbiz at a young age. Though equally popular and successful, Jane now in her 30’s, has become tired of the usual projects she’s been getting. She decides to produce her own film to win some respect in the industry. But things do not go as planned. A terrible accident on the set of her dream project leaves her temporary crippled, trapped in a house filled with bizarre phenomena and under the care of her unfeeling husband and a strange nurse. With the horrors and madness escalating each day, Jane’s simple dream becomes an endless nightmare.
- Dormitoryo: Mga Walang Katapusang Kwarto (dir. Emerson Reyes)
Synopsis: Charles, an engineering student with an eye for beauty, just returned from school to a dormitory owned by Aling Linda, a strict, lonesome widow. Other occupants of the dorm include Max-now on his 7th year in college, Sheen-his reluctant partner, Steven-a social entrepreneur, Ramon-his cop lover, Alex-a call center agent, and Jenny-his attentive girlfriend. They all spend the evening tucked away in solitary rooms, talking about collective experiences, sharing a similar fate. And rent is due.
Films by Cinema One Originals
Cinema One Originals Film Festival is one of the oldest and most renowned film festivals in the country, allowing diverse Filipino filmmakers and talents to have a voice in the industry. Since 2005, the festival has produced many amazing outputs that have been recognized by film critics, reviewers and workers in the industry, some of them nabbing awards from other festivals all over the country. 11 of the films that they have produced are accessible for free on their YouTube account, which are:
- Anino (dir. Raymond Red)
Synopsis: A poor church photographer wanders into the harsh realities of life in the city of old Manila. His camera is stolen by a kid. He encounters intimidation in his search for the kid and goes through other misadventures.
- Ang Anak ni Brocka (dir. Sigfreid Barros-Sanchez)
Synopsis: A group of investigative journalists has scored a controversial scoop when they find a 20-year-old boy claiming to be the son of the late National Artist for Film Lino Brocka. When they have started gathering data to verify this, they discover a lot of things about the late filmmaker-much more than they expected.
- Sa North Diversion Road (dir. Dennis Marasigan)
Synopsis: A man and a woman play ten different characters in ten scenes, all of which take place in a car traveling along the North Diversion Road. Together, they go on a journey to self-discovery, summing up everything we know about love and redemption.
- Rome & Juliet (dir. Connie Macatuno)
Synopsis: Rome and Juliet follows the romantic journey and soul mating of two straight women caught in a web of forbidden love. Juliet (a conservative pre-school teacher) is a bride to be who befriends and hires Rome (a liberated businesswoman) as her wedding planner. As they go through the preparations, Rome and Juliet develop a deep friendship, a soulful connection and a love that is physically consummated. But conflicts arise when Marc, the groom, who is a young politician, shockingly discovers the ongoing relationship between the two women. Angered and humiliated, Marc calls off the wedding and a huge scandal explodes, leaving Rome and Juliet in a state of emotional turmoil.
- Confessional (dir. Jerrold Tarog & Ruel Dahis Antipuesto)
Synopsis: The mockumentary features fictional character and filmmaker Ryan Pastor who meets former mayor Lito Caliso while on his way to Cebu to document the Sinulog Festival. Lito then confesses—in front of Ryan’s camera—all the crimes he committed while in office.
- UPCAT (dir. Roman Olivarez)
Synopsis: A coming-of-age light melodrama that centers around Lucas (Felix Roco) and best buddy Jaoquin (Joseph Roble), provincial lads who believe passing the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) is the passport to their dreams of a better future. However, Lucas is more concerned about winning the heart of his rich schoolmate Jane (Yas Neri).
- Yanggaw (dir. Richard Somes)
Synopsis: A young girl develops an unknown infection that causes her to evolve into a horrifying monster.
- That Thing Called Tadhana (dir. Antoinette Jadaone)
Synopsis: At the airport, Mace (Angelica Panganiban) tries to eliminate excess baggage on her way back to the Philippines. Anthony (JM De Guzman) shows up and offers to carry her extra baggage. They later on end up in a karaoke bar where she begins to talk about her eight-year-long relationship, which recently ended. Mace gets drunk then tells Anthony that she wants to go to Baguio City. Will Mace be able to forget and move-on? Will she open up her heart to find new love? Is love a matter of choice or destiny?
- Sanctissima (dir. Kenneth Lim Dagatan)
Synopsis: Marisa lives alone in the dark with an even darker secret. Her only contact to the outside world were her patients, who come and go, oblivious of whether the fetuses that Marisa extracts from them survive or not. A complication besetting one of her patients threatens Marisa’s reclusive world. She fights back to protect it.
- Himala Ngayon (dir. Sari Lluch Dalena & Keith Sicat)
Synopsis: In memory of Ishmael Bernal and the classic that constitutes one of Philippine cinema’s proudest moments, Himala Ngayon is a documentary that lets its viewers discover why Bernal’s masterpiece “Himala” is considered one of the best Filipino films ever made.
Synopsis: Ganito Kami Muli, a Cinema One Originals documentary, is the story behind the restored classic, Eddie Romero’s “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Na Kayo Ngayon.”
Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil
Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil (lit. Echorsis: Hair-pulling Between Good and Evil) or simply Echorsis is a 2016 Philippine supernatural spoof horror film directed by Lemuel Lorca and produced by Chris Cahilig of Insight 360, and stars John Lapus, Kean Cipriano, and Alex Medina.
The film revolves around a gigolo Carlo (Alex Medina), who was possessed by a gay entity after he deceived Kristoff (John Lapus) his closeted gay lover. Father Nick (Kean Cipriano) is then tasked to exorcise the spirit out of Carlo’s body.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUqwO9L9YQ8]
Give Up Tomorrow
Released by Rappler for free in 2018 after the controversial release of film Jacqueline Comes Home, Give Up Tomorrow is a 2011 documentary about the infamous case involving the Chiong sisters, wherein a teenager from a political family in the Philippines is accused of a double murder and the country’s entire judicial system is put to the test after years of alleged corruption, directed by fillmmakers Michael Collins and Marty Syjuco.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UHQqM8f50Y]
