I'M PERFECT: Understanding the Cause of This MMFF 2025 Entry

People were already crying when they got out of the cinema for the media conference of the movie I'M PERFECT, Nathan Studios' entry to the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival. It's a film that touches on the lives of those with down syndrome. Before it even started, the conversations of media and folks from organizations captured my interest. I overheard Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Chairman Elmer Lapeña while he was talking to a colleague about it, and he says "They have one special ability, and that is to LOVE without inhibitions, magmahal ng wagas!"

Direk Ingrid says "I need to make a story, a film about 11 years ago. We won in FDCP and this was teased. This was to show that they can. I'm very lucky that this was noticed by Ms. Sylvia and Nathan Studios and made it happen. Kita Kita was 2017, but this was 2009. They forged my characters, they choose what to show and we only had to trust them. I know it is a risk for producers but I was given the right ones with passion. I didn't want to use them, because this is a passion project and we didn't want them to be used, but loved and be independent. I felt hope because it doesn't end there."

Ms. Sylvia says "I saw two of her scripts and didn't like it but this third one was an afterthought. She didn't believe I would do this, because it was 10 years ago, they wanted it but didn't trust that this will be made, but I knew that the kids with down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy can. I want to thank Janice, LT, Tonton, Zaijan, because at the beginning they knew they would support them, and they did. When I found the cast in Direk's laptop, I knew I had to do it. We met with the officials because we want their guidance and do it right. These kids will make history, so please make sure to watch it!"

This film called "I'm Perfect" is something special. It's about unconditional love, the support actors describe this as reality, a spectrum of emotions, and when they were in the set, instead of them teaching the lead actors, they learned more instead. They taught them the currency of love and hugs, and watch them enjoy the process as actors for MMFF. They were overwhelmed!

Here's what happened at the press conference:

You might be wasting time treating them differently but they probably need to be treated plain and the same. It's an eye opener, looking at family dynamics on how to love, and how to do it purely, without judgement, hesitation, or anger. That's what they want you to feel in this film, and if you're up to it, you can support them on the 25th! 

This film has a mission, and hopefully even before it comes out on theaters, it makes you feel what it is for. Make sure you watch it, so you'll learn more about what LOVE is in its purest form and concentrate on what they CAN DO instead of what they CANNOT DO. 

KIRAY CELIS Wins in LOVE, Launches More Products for Skin/Health Empire

I distinctly remember the times we've covered press conferences for Kiray Celis, her shows and movies. She's always the jolly one, cracking jokes almost every time we meet her, cementing her career as a formidable actress and comedienne. In recent years, she'd had remarkable success in selling products online. She was selling millions worth of products from different manufacturers and asked herself how it could have been better if she sold her own and have had all the profit herself and her team. And so, she did. She's now the proud CEO of Kiray's Brands who manufactures Hot Babe and Skin Vibe products. And yesterday launched the new Hot Babe Green collection and 2 new ones under Skin Vibe.

I personally asked her if she feels that this is her "calling", but replies that the term was too deep for her to connect with. As for success, she doesn't feel she's there yet because all of her earnings are still being invested back to the business and is positive that in the coming years, would bear fruit, but even then she wouldn't see herself doing something big as an entrepreneur. She'd laugh it off just thinking of it. 

Hot Babe Green includes the Chamomile Tea, Lemongrass Pandan, Pistachio Matcha flavors. The drinks aid in digestion, lower cholesterol, detoxifies, cleanses and support weight management. On Skin Vibe, they launched Pwetturs B|eaching Cream and the Singova B|eaching Scrub that does exfoliation, brightens skin, and evens out your complexion. Took a while to put it out because she had to have FDA approval for it. It's a hard job, but she wants to make sure if she's going to have something out in the market, it had to be safe for Filipinos to use as she's got tons of resellers who are also helping her to grow her business. She's so thankful also to her affiliates, resellers and return customers who all contributed to the remarkable success of her brand. 

Here's our talk with Kiray and the part where she also explained the viral Japan issues she addressed, she apologized for those who felt offended but be assured she got proper permits to do the shoot and Japanese folks were asking if she was a model, okay?!

If you want to get a hold of her products, Hot Babe Green and Skin Vibe is available at FB, TikTok Shop, Shopper and Lazada. Just order and have it delivered. I'm sure this isn't going to be the last of what Kiray has up her sleeves. She's also going to be married soon, here's wishing her the best of business and LOVE because she deserves it!

PUREGOLD Cinepanalo Film Festival Showcased Good Short Films

It's the weekend and after the really fun Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival Awards Night, we took time to watch the student short films this Sunday afternoon before they end screenings. 

Short films are, short. If you couldn't get your point or story across, I would feel it would fail, I think the few ones I saw were actually good. Super happy about how Puregold Cinepanalo Film Festival became a great platform for regional film makers to showcase what they can do despite the odds. I didn't even need to read the subtitles in order to understand them.

Dito, Dati was about memories. They had a short film made on VHS recorded tapes but in the end they lost it all. Then they reminisced where it all happened, how it happened. It played on family ties, filial love and what lengths you would go for them. 

Ritche Films Production on the other hand offered Sine Sine, a short film about friends in the Bicolano dialect. A supposed date plan was about to go into shambles because the local movie house called Obet's Sine Sine was closing down. It was cute, mostly about puppy love. When the plan to watch a movie didn't pan out, they made their own film. Obet's Sine Sine was back in business, and the date continued. It made the folks inside the cinema giggle. No wonder this won awards. Their soundtrack was fun and catchy too. 

Daog/Pildi was another regional short film. In Cebuano, they get to tell the adventures they had in arcade gaming (a thing I adore). It was old school, had a little cute and romantic story line. 

SAMPIE was eye candy. It's a coming of age film that had elements of a cartoon (in 2D) about a mermaid, a gay one. It's also about family  and the little joys of life. It is also about acceptance. Pretty good short film, no wonder it won awards too. 

"Our One and Only Baboy" was about an elderly couple, one stricken with cancer but chose to give up and just enjoy his vices. The lone pig was opted to be sold for money, for his medical needs and finances... But they treated it like their child (they didn't have kids). His wife was not so keen in doing it. The film has flaws, the panning shots made me dizzy, but it was certainly a touching film. It's about dreams, the idea of true happiness, love and what matters most.

If you can catch the other films today, go do it. Or maybe wait for a future release in platforms, because from the looks of it, they've got a lot of people out there that would really appreciate it.

Thanks to Puregold who's doing this annually, the ones who made it possible to showcase regional films in actual cinemas. I loved the shorts!