4 “Panalo” Moments Unfolding at the Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival 2025

After its successful run in its inaugural year, Cinepanalo Film Festival returns with the central theme, “Mga Kuwentong Panalo sa Buhay.”

Words & Photos Rafaela Abucejo
January 31, 2025

Puregold once again uplifts the filmmaking spirits of both aspiring and well-known filmmakers through millions in production grants. This year, the highly-anticipated film festival continues to aim at celebrating the diverse and triumphant stories that reflect the lives of many Filipinos. 

Puregold senior marketing manager and a selection committee member Ivy Hayagan-Piedad expressed her enthusiasm for once again sharing even more inspiring stories created by talented filmmakers. “After an intensely competitive application period, these directors came out on top of the heap,” she said “We know they will produce excellent, gripping work and we can’t wait to share these with the viewing public at the upcoming festival.”

Here are four panalo moments of the festival:

Panalong full-length film finalists:

Among the eight full-length finalists in the Cinepanalo Film Festival 2025 are highly acclaimed filmmakers. The finalists include: 

• Mes De Guzman with "Sepak Takraw," starring Enzo Osorio, Nicollo Castillo, Ruby Ruiz, and Acey Aguilar

• T.M. Malones with "Salum," starring Allen Dizon and Christine Mary Dimaisp

• Tara Illenberger with "Tigkiliwi," starring Ruby Ruiz

• Baby Ruth Villarama, with "Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea" – the first documentary in the festival’s history

• JP Habac with "Olsen’s Day," starring Khalil Ramos, Romnick Sarmenta, and Xander Nuda

• Catsi Catalan with "Fleeting," starring Jannella Salvador and RK Bagatsing

• Filipino-Canadian filmmakers Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat with their film “Journeyman”

• Actor-director Jill Singson Urdaneta with the star-studded film “Co-Love”, featuring KD Estrada, Alex Ilacad, Jameson Blake, and Kira Balinger

Each of these talented filmmakers has received a P3,000,000 grant from Puregold to support their production needs for this year’s festival.

Panalong young aspiring filmmakers 

Meanwhile, the 24 selected student directors hailed from different colleges and universities all across the country. Each provided with a P150,000 grant,  the short film finalists are:

• Abrigonda, Adelbert (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)  – “Dan, En Pointe”

• Balance Jr., Allan M. (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)  – “Cancer Din Ang Zodiac Sign Mo?”

• Cruz, Angel Allizon (University of Santo Tomas)  – “Dito, Dati”

• Dolim, Roniño (University of Eastern Philippines)  – “Sine-Sine”

• Flores, Kenneth (Far Eastern University)  – “1… 2… Strike!!!”

• Fresnido, Austine Rae R. (FAITH Colleges)  – “Sa Susunod Sisikat si Susan”

• Gamale, Clyde Cuizon (University of the Philippines Diliman)  – “Champ Green”

• Herrera, Bjorn M. (Central Philippine University)  – “Nanay’s Frankenstein”

• Javier, Maria Eleanor P. (University of the Philippines Visayas)  – “Mother at Sixty”

• Malaya, Mae (University of the Philippines Diliman)  – “Sisenta!”

• Malit, Ira Corinne Esquerra (University of Caloocan City)  – “SamPie”

• Mendoza, Naiah Nicole (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)  – “Taympers”

• Molacruz, Vhan Marco B. (Colegio de San Juan Letran)  – “Uwian”

• Morales, Jadrien (University of the Philippines Diliman) – “Let’s Go Somewhere Else”

• Narciso, Regene  (Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo) – “Papunta ka Pa Lang, Naka-Bounce Na Ako”

• Pardo, Alexie Nicole (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) – “Checkmate”

• Rebaño, Kieth Earl B. (University of the Philippines Visayas)  – “Daeaura”

• Rimorin, John Lester (University of the Philippines Diliman)  – “Japan Surplus”

• Sales, Jose Andy (University of San Carlos)  – “G!”

• Sanchez, Mark Joseph (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)  –  “Our One and Only Bab(o)y”

• Soriano, Aubrey (Polytechnic University of the Philippines)  – “Si Nadia at ang Kanyang mga Kuro-Kuro”

• Tan, Jasper (Far Eastern University)   – “Sa Pagbunga”

• Tejero, Johannes  (University of San Carlos)  – “Daog, Pildi”

• Verdejo, Sean Rafael A. (National University Laguna)  – “Dela Cruz, Juan P.”

Panalong star-studded excitement

The film stars expressed their excitement in participating at Cinepanalo,  believing it would help them grow as actors.  Alex Ilacad,  a first-time participant of a film festival, shared her enthusiasm,  “I’m really excited and happy about what this experience has offered me. It’s great that Puregold supports filmmaking and students, too."

Elevating the Filipino film industry 

Whether you're an avid film enthusiast, a supporter of local cinema, or just simply seeking triumphant stories for inspiration, you can’t miss out on Cinepanalo. Celebrate inspiring stories and support local filmmakers as they enliven the Filipino film industry in the festival run from March 14 to March 25 at the Gateway Cinemas in Cubao, Quezon City.