Eduksine USA – EdukSine Blog

Welcome to the EdukSine Online Filipino Film Festival

Where the vibrant soul of the Philippines comes to life through ten powerful Filipino films. These films are glimpses into our culture, our struggles, our joys, and the unbreakable spirit that defines us as a people.

From sun-drenched rice fields to bustling city streets, from stories of love and sacrifice to tales of hope and resilience—every film carries the heart of the Filipino. Rooted in our traditions yet boldly looking forward, these stories invite you to see the Philippines beyond postcards and headlines—to feel it, to understand it, to be part of it.

OMNIBUS TRAILER

OFFICIAL LINEUP - FULL LENGTH FILMS

Ang Guro Kong ‘Di Marunong Magbasa

2017 • 1h 45m / PG

In this barrio, the number of child warrior grows when their illiterate teacher disappears and education is ignored.

Theme: Children’s Educational Films, Education and Values Formation Law and Governance Peace and Justice VAWC

Written and Directed by: Perry Escaño

Main Cast: Alfred Vargas, Mon Confiado, James Blanco, Lou Veloso, Miggs Cuaderno

“Ang Guro Kong 'Di Marunong Magbasa dares to shine a light on a side of the Mindanaoan rebellion often touched upon but rarely exploited in cinema: the struggle of the innocent souls merely caught in the crossfire. It's a heavy, reflective, and occasionally even funny independent film that draws on issues that are very much of-the-moment yet anchors itself on the things that are eternal – on education, on camaraderie, on living nobly. .”

TRAILER

Bagahe
(The Baggage)

2017 • 1h 30m / PG

Synopsis: NBI agents appear at the doorstep to invite Mercy to join them for an investigation. As Mercy undergoes a rigid examination of testimonies and pieces of evidence, she is turned over to different social entities – police, hospital, shelter, media, church, and bureaucrats. What unfolds is the whole truth behind a mother who is abused, and the measures in which she is taken care of by her motherland.

Theme: Gender and Development, Law and Governance, Media Education, Peace and Justice, Political and Social Issues, VAWC, Women Empowerment

Written and Directed by: Zig Dulay

Main Cast: Angeli Bayani, Boots Anson-Roa, Sharmaine Buencamino, Bing Pimentel

“...It’s a powerful exploration of the societal issues experienced by Filipino women. It delves into poverty, the challenges of working abroad, abuse and violence, as well as stigma and discrimination—it’s truly tough to be a woman.”

Instalado

2017 • 1h 44m / PG

Synopsis: Instalado’ is a social science fiction set in a farming village in the not-so-distant future. Victor lives in a time when the dominant form of education is through installation, a process wherein bodies of knowledge can be installed directly into people’s brains using technology owned by big corporations. However, like many others in the agricultural town of Porac, Victor cannot afford the sky-high cost of installation; which he believes is the key to escape his rural life. To raise money for installation, Victor abandons farming and works as the housekeep of a wealthy childhood friend who has become extremely successful after undergoing a series of installations.

Theme: Career Development Science and Technology

Written and Directed by: Jason Paul Laxamana

Main Cast: Mccoy De Leon, Francis Magundayao

“The best part of the film has nothing to do with its futuristic implants, but for its relevant debates on education and social class distinctions. All arguments were reasonably made to feel equal and valid, leaving up to the viewers which side do they want to embrace. There's so much to explore here, but what we got is already satisfying. ”

Otso

2013 • 1h 30m / PG

Synopsis: Hoping to reconnect with his roots by returning back to Manila, Lex writes a screenplay for an indie film based on the secret lives of his next-door neighbors. Facts and his own artistic infusions clash as he discovers that reinterpreting real life isn’t always a good thing.

Theme: Arts, Culture and Literature, Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Romance, VAWC

Director: Elwood Perez

Writers: Elwood Perez, Vincent Tañada

Main Cast: Vince Tañada, Monique Azzereda, Anita Linda, Jun Urbano

"Must-see Sineng Pambansa entry. Elwood Perez took a decade to craft another film but it was worth the wait. A worthy addition to the local film canon, an instant classic. It may not be an accident that the title recalls Fellini's 8 1/2, which may only be one out of many possible interpretations. I am just blown away with the creativity. Definitely the work of a master!"

Pauwi na

2016 • 1h 43m / PG -13

Synopsis: Mang Pepe and his family travel from Quezon City to Bicol on pedicabs (“sikad-sikad”). To survive daily, Mang Pepe drives his pedicab and carries various loads to the market. Realizing their futile life in the city, Mang Pepe convinces the family to go back to their hometown in Bicol. Without enough transport money, they decide to use pedicans so they could “pedal” their way back to the province. A series of unfortunate events occur that will either test their determination or distract them from their journey home.

Theme: Agriculture Gender and Development Spirituality

Director: Paolo Villaluna

Writers: Angela Cortero and Camille Dominique Javier

Main Cast: Meryll Soriano, Bembol Roco, Cherry Pie Picache, Jerald Napoles

"Chugging along for two hours at a leisurely pace, the film’s pivotal points occur sporadically, with the height of drama falling towards the last twenty minutes. Despite the laborious pace, the film ends on a poignant, heart-wrenching note. Pauwi Na thrives in relatable, family-oriented storytelling driven by a lovable cast that inevitably pulls at the heartstrings.."

Pusit

2017 • 1h 59m / R-18

Synopsis: They live different and separate lives but Mama Josie, Samuel, Alfred, Sonia, Ian, Mark and Victor are connected and bonded both by hate, persecution and condemnation by a society that is blinded by its own guilt. When living and loving means everything, you either find your greatest strength, hope and happiness or you succumb to the clutches of weakness, escape and defeat—this is the reality of the lives of persons living with HIV and AIDS.

Theme: Health and Wellness, HIV and Sex Education, LGBT Rights

Written and Directed by: Arlyn Dela Cruz

Main Cast: Jay Manalo

“The film’s power lies in its insistence. Dela Cruz’s lens lingers on the mundane—the hum of a salon fan, the click of a call center keyboard, the weary slump of Samuel’s shoulders. These are lives that HIV has touched, yet they are not defined by it. The virus is present but never foregrounded, like the latent tension in a room. Pusit doesn’t lecture or moralize; it simply shows. The laughter, the longing, the ordinariness of trying to live when the world has already written your obituary.”

Sinandomeng

2017 • 1h 30m / GP

Synopsis: When her husband unexpectedly dies, Sinang is forced to take over their farming business. But is her resolution and diligence enough to keep it going?

Theme: Comedy Sustainability and Environment Women Empowerment

Written and Directed by: Byron Bryant

Main Cast: Sue Prado, Julio Diaz, Althea Oredina and Edsel Santiago

“This film is a simple, straight-forward, unadulterated story about a farmer, making it a perfect fit for the agricultural overall theme of the ToFarm Film Fest. Even if the cinematography may be grainy or unfocused or dark at times or the loud background noise may overpower the dialog, the positivity, optimism and overall good vibes of this movie makes it a pleasant rare bird among indie films.”

Tanabata's Wife

2018 • 1h 30m / PG

Synopsis: Tanabata-San is a successful Japanese immigrant farmer in La Trinidad Valley in Benguet. Middle-aged and lonely, he hires a young feisty Bontoc woman, Fasang, as farmhand, and falls in love with her. They get married and have a son, but Fasang is attracted to the city lights of Baguio that are now taking shape, and to someone else.

Theme: Agriculture, Indigenous Culture, Romance, Sustainability and Environment, VAWC, Empowerment

Directors: Choy Pangilinan, Lito Casaje, Charlson Ong

Writers: Choy Pangilinan, Juan Carlo Tarobal, Charlson Ong, Mao Portus

Main Cast: Miyuki Kamimura, Mai Fanglayan

“Yet as it stands, the furnish with which “Tanabata’s Wife” lends itself to is a simple one with surprising intricacies in between the lines. It isn’t a grand film by any means, but it makes itself known to be one that is earnest. Coincidentally speaking, it behaves and breathes just like its esteemed author: a spirit that is extremely quiet, refuses exuberance, yet has depth that speaks to the human condition.”

The Adventures of Kween Jhonabelle

2023 • 1h 40m / PG

Synopsis: When her brother is diagnosed with Leukemia, Jhonabelle turns to vlogging and creates prank videos that go viral, allowing her to raise funds for her brother’s treatment. (An entry from students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran)

Theme: Children’s Educational Films, Career Development, Comedy, Coming of Age Education and Values Formation, Women Empowerment

Writer and Director: Carlo James Buan

Main Cast: Larizze Ann J. Eco, Khaleil Patrian A. Co, Samantha Faith Valdez, Stephanie Kayla L. Quitlong

"I will say that out of all the entries in this year's fest, this one was the most technically polished. It felt great listening to dialogue without being assaulted by ambient noise.."

The Chanters

2017 • 1h 18m / PG

Synopsis: Sarah Mae, the grand-daughter of the last chanter of the Panay Bukidnon tribe, obsessed with pop culture and readies herself for the visit of a sensational TV star to her school. As she perfects her dance, her grandfather, Lolo Ramon suffers the onset of dementia. Sarah Mae is tasked to help him complete the last of the remaining 12 epics, their tribe’s vanishing tradition.

Theme: Arts, Culture, and Literature, Children’s Educational Films, Comedy, Education and Values Formation, Indigenous Culture

Director: James Robin Mayo

Writers: John Paul Bedia, Andrian Legaspi, Ana Paud

Main Cast: Jelly Nae Gabaliga, Romulo Caballero, Jean Aubrey Garin

"...The film presents true originality and ideological freshness, avoiding the trap of exploiting nostalgia for vanished cultures—an urban middle-class naiveté. Instead, it offers a narrative that reflects realities in communities worldwide, where cultures are not static compositions of traditions but dynamic entities shaped by external forces, globalization, and hegemonic influences."