Jollibee and DreamWorks team up for global ‘Forgotten Island’ campaign celebrating friendship and Filipino culture

Jollibee and DreamWorks Animation are teaming up for a global partnership tied to the worldwide theatrical release of Forgotten Island, a new original animated feature that celebrates friendship, family, and Filipino-inspired storytelling.

The collaboration brings together DreamWorks, the studio behind globally recognized films including Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Wild Robot, and Jollibee, the beloved Filipino restaurant brand that makes your favorite Chickenoy, Yumburger, Jolly Spaghetti and Burger Steak.

 

The partnership also brings together shared themes of friendship and togetherness. Forgotten Island draws inspiration from Filipino mythology and stories passed down through Filipino families, while Jollibee has long brought people together through shared meals and everyday moments of joy. In the Philippines, the collaboration offers fans an opportunity to experience the film’s themes and Filipino cultural elements through Jollibee.

 

At the heart of Forgotten Island, from the filmmakers of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, are lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R. and Filipino actress Liza Soberano. The story follows the two friends as they discover a mysterious portal leading to Nakali, a magical island inhabited by mythical creatures inspired by stories from their Filipino families.

 

Their adventure takes a turn when they discover that returning home comes at the cost of losing their memories of each other. Joined by a group of allies, Jo and Raissa must navigate the challenges of Nakali while finding a way to preserve their friendship. 

The film features an international voice cast that includes Dave Franco, Lea Salonga, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, and Ronny Chieng, bringing together global talent and Filipino voices in a story rooted in Filipino-inspired mythology. 

 

“At Jollibee, we've always believed that some of life's best memories are made around the dining table. Forgotten Island is a beautiful and moving story that reminds us of the power and importance of friendship, something that has always been at the heart of our brand,” said Dorothy Ching, vice president for marketing of Jollibee Philippines. “Through this partnership with DreamWorks, we're excited to give Filipinos another meaningful way to celebrate friendship, create lasting memories, and share the joy of eating together.” 

 

To bring the partnership closer to Filipino fans, Jollibee Philippines will introduce the limited-time Forgotten Island Adventure Bundle launching September 16 in Metro Manila and September 23 in all other regions, available until October 31 at participating stores nationwide.

 

The Adventure Bundle includes Jollibee's 1-pc. Chickenjoy with rice and Pineapple Quencher, the new Peach Mango Pie à la Mode with Vanilla Soft Serve, Jollibee's Peach Mango Pie with Chocolate Sauce, and an exclusive Forgotten Island Friendship Charm Bracelet. The bundle is priced at ₱389.

 

Inspired by the film, the exclusive Friendship Charm Bracelet serves as a collectible that fans can take home as a memento of the partnership and the friendships celebrated in Forgotten Island.

 

The Forgotten Island Adventure Bundle will be available through dine-in, takeout, and drive-thru, while supplies last.

 

Forgotten Island, distributed by Universal Pictures, opens in Philippine cinemas on September 23, 2026.

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About Jollibee

Jollibee is a global restaurant brand best known for its world-famous Chickenjoy fried chicken. It was voted No. 1 Best Fast Food Fried Chicken in the U.S. in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for three consecutive years and garnered multiple acclaims in various markets.  It is the #1 QSR in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei.  Guided by its purpose to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone, Jollibee continues to bring people together through joyful dining experiences across more than 1,800 stores in 16 countries. Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Group, one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world.

 

 

About DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island

Your best friendship is worth fighting for.

DreamWorks Animation, the studio that brought you unforgettable bonds between a boy and a dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, an ogre and a donkey in Shrek, and a robot and a gosling in The Wild Robot, now welcomes a dazzling and emotional story about two lifelong best friends who must come together before they drift apart in Forgotten Island.

The new original film is written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and is produced by Academy Award® nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Grammy and Academy Award® winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who have been best friends since grade school but are now about to embark on separate life paths.

While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. 

 

Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Dave Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Tony winning icon Lea Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

The film’s all-star voice cast also includes Emmy nominee Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Dying for Sex), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place, Top Gun: Maverick), BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon (Triangle of Sadness, Ghostlight), global comedy superstar Jo Koy (Haunted Mansion, Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn) and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show, M3GAN). 

DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island is distributed by Universal Pictures.

 

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation, a division of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, within NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, is a global family entertainment company with feature film and television brands. DreamWorks' feature heritage includes many of the world’s most acclaimed films and beloved franchises, including Shrek, Puss in Boots, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Boss Baby, Madagascar, The Bad Guys, Gabby’s Dollhouse and The Wild Robot. Collectively, these theatrical film properties have grossed more than $17 billion worldwide. DreamWorks Animation’s television studio is one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality, animated family programming, reaching consumers in more than 190 countries with a diverse array of original streaming series and films. The company’s deep portfolio of intellectual property is supported by a robust, worldwide licensing and consumer products practice, as well as award-winning brand experiences through Universal Destinations & Experiences theme parks, live entertainment and more.

 

About Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks.  NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Veterans face rising stars in fiercely contested Puregold CinePanalo acting awards

From acclaimed veterans to mainstream stars and fearless newcomers, some of Philippine cinema’s most exciting performers are going head-to-head for Puregold CinePanalo’s top acting prizes.

There will be no easy wins at this year’s Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival.

Acclaimed veterans, established stars and a new generation of performers are going head-to-head in what is shaping up to be one of the festival’s fiercest acting races yet.

During a livestream on the official Puregold CinePanalo Facebook page, festival director Chris Cahilig announced the actors and actresses nominated for the festival’s top performance prizes.

The nominations set up several intriguing battles ahead of the September 30 awards night, with seasoned actors competing against younger performers and emerging talents making their presence felt alongside some of Philippine cinema’s most recognizable names.

Nowhere is the competition more crowded than in the full-length Panalong Aktor category.

Award-winning actor John Arcilla earned a nomination for “Beast,” facing Joross Gamboa for “Wantawsan”; Ian Pangilinan and Khalil Ramos for “Patay Gutom”; Joao Constancia for “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”; and Perry Dizon and Juan Karlos Labajo for “Mono No Aware.”

The Panalong Aktres race, meanwhile, pits Xyriel Manabat of “Stuck on You” against Sassa Gurl of “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo),” setting up a head-to-head battle between two performers coming from markedly different career paths.

The supporting categories are just as competitive, with Rita Daniela, Rochelle Pangilinan, Agot Isidro and Momoko Kobayashi competing for Panalong Pangalawang Aktres, while Paolo O’Hara, Roger Naldo and Zanjoe Marudo are up for Panalong Pangalawang Aktor.

The student shorts competition brings another formidable field, including veteran Soliman Cruz alongside emerging actors from the festival’s 19 student films.

The official acting nominees are:

FULL-LENGTH CATEGORY

PANALONG AKTRES

Xyriel Manabat — “Stuck on You”

Sassa Gurl — “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”

PANALONG AKTOR

Joross Gamboa — “Wantawsan”

John Arcilla — “Beast”

Ian Pangilinan — “Patay Gutom”

Khalil Ramos — “Patay Gutom”

Joao Constancia — “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)”

Perry Dizon — “Mono No Aware”

Juan Karlos Labajo — “Mono No Aware”

PANALONG CHILD PERFORMER

Zion Cruz — “Wantawsan”

Ruslan Jacob — “Beast”

Zion Cruz — “Apol of My Ai”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTRES

Rita Daniela — “Wantawsan”

Rochelle Pangilinan — “Apol of My Ai”

Agot Isidro — “Patay Gutom”

Momoko Kobayashi — “Mono No Aware”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTOR

Paolo O’Hara — “Mono No Aware”

Roger Naldo — “Stuck on You”

Zanjoe Marudo — “Apol of My Ai”

STUDENT SHORTS CATEGORY

PANALONG AKTRES

Pau Baluyan — “Kun Hain, Bisan Diin.”

Mariella Cuerpo — “Miss Intrams”

Jonalyn Mateo — “Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”

Belle Francisco — “Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen”

Kyrie Samodio — “12 Shots”

PANALONG AKTOR

Soliman Cruz — “Nakabinbin”

Arjhay Mangulabnan — “No Mad Is an Island”

Jay Gabriel Cañada — “The Sound of K”

VR Relosa — “Starfish”

André Miguel — “When Heaven Inched Towards Earth”

Chino Alfonso — “Nang Matakasan ang Tagay”

PANALONG CHILD PERFORMER

Van Jordan Gacayan — “Pulis Dunggab”

Don Rishmond Cerbito — “Alumahan”

Zoey Madison Lim — “Limlim”

Kenneth Mendoza — “Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTRES

Nour Hooshmand — “Starfish”

Ma. Christina Simon — “Alumahan”

Angela Salga — “Limlim”

Karla Pambid — “12 Shots”

Mika Hamajo — “Miss Intrams”

Diana Palma — “Miss Intrams”

PANALONG PANGALAWANG AKTOR

Jeremy Mayores — “Alumahan”

Nor Domingo — “12 Shots”

Elj Seth Tababa — “Pulis Dunggab”

Kaleb Ong — “When Heaven Inched Towards Earth”

Alfredo Montano — “Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen”

Vic Romano — “No Mad Is an Island”

The winners will be revealed at the Puregold CinePanalo Awards Night on September 30 at Gateway Cineplex 18.

The 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival runs until October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!

Regular tickets are priced at ₱250, while PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Puregold Perks cardholders can purchase discounted ₱200 tickets.

A ₱2,000 festival pass provides access to all seven full-length films and four sets featuring the festival’s 19 student shorts. Festival passes are available at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is sponsored by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cream Silk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack 'N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins, and Zonrox. 

Heavyweights vs. Wild Cards: Puregold CinePanalo 2026’s Best Actor Race Heats Up

The gloves are off. Puregold CinePanalo 2026 is looping in a Venice Best Actor winner, a defending Panalong Aktor champion, acclaimed character actors, rising stars, and hungry newcomers all vying for the festival’s most hotly contested acting award yet. Seasoned actor John Arcilla looks formidable on paper, but Khalil Ramos has a crown to defend—and Juan Karlos Labajo, Joross Gamboa, Ian Pangilinan, Joao Constancia, and River Joseph have roles that could rattle the competition.

Previous CinePanalo editions have even produced ties. Not a good time to feel smug.

JOHN ARCILLA: THE MAN TO BEAT?

A Volpi Cup winner at the Venice International Film Festival, Arcilla enters “Beast” with the most intimidating résumé in the field. But Lolo Omeng is far removed from the masterful characters he is associated with.

Playing a farmer traveling to Manila with his carabao Pepe, Arcilla must rely on warmth, vulnerability and restraint. Trophies line a shelf but there’s room for more. Could Panalong Aktor be next?

KHALIL RAMOS AND IAN PANGILINAN: A CHAMPION UNDER ATTACK

Khalil Ramos is no stranger to triumph after sharing Panalong Aktor in 2025 for “Olsen’s Day.” Now he’s back to defend his crown in “Patay Gutom.”

As Art, he encounters Tristan, played by Ian Pangilinan, after consuming an offering intended for a ghost. What follows is a supernatural relationship that straddles the realms of life and death.

Ramos could be a back-to-back winner, but his own co-star may stand in his way. Pangilinan has the dual challenges of starring and co-directing the film with Carl Joseph E. Papa.

JUAN KARLOS: READY FOR A BREAKTHROUGH?

In BC Amparado’s “Mono No Aware,” Juan Karlos Labajo plays Ichi, a Filipino kodokushi cleaner in Japan who develops an unexpected bond with an elderly widower nearing death.

After earning a Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actor nomination for “Blue Room,” Labajo may yet steer this story of loneliness, grief, and mortality on his way from singer-actor to serious Best Actor.

JOROSS GAMBOA: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE COMEDY

In Joseph Abello’s “Wantawsan,” Gamboa plays Chito, a cash-strapped father whose ₱1,000 from the mayor becomes the center of an increasingly complicated journey.

Gamboa has both fine comic timing and an instinct for drama. With a Balanghai Best Supporting Actor win and several major acting nominations behind him, he could be the challenger hiding in plain sight.

JOAO CONSTANCIA AND RIVER JOSEPH: THE WILD CARDS

Joao Constancia could spring a surprise in Rodina Singh’s “Multwoh (Patay na Patay sa’yo),” a supernatural love story about feelings that survive death. As the lead character opposite Sassa Gurl, Constancia’s role projects romance, vulnerability, and emotional weight.

Then there is River Joseph. 

Joseph plays Max in Mikko Baldoza’s “Stuck on You,” a dark romantic comedy involving a heartbroken manicurista, a hitman’s job, and a deadly conspiracy. Alongside the multi-awarded Xyriel Manabat, newbie Joseph could be the race’s biggest spoiler yet.

AND THEN THERE’S ZION CRUZ

Young Zion Cruz stars with Zanjoe Marudo in Thop Nazareno’s “Apol of My Ai.” He will compete for Panalong Child Performer rather than Panalong Aktor, but his central role as Poli makes him a contender to watch.

WHO SURVIVES THIS ACTING SHOWDOWN?

Arcilla has widespread prestige. Ramos wears the crown. Gamboa touts experience. Juan Karlos has momentum. Pangilinan is a multi-tasker. Constancia and Joseph have everything to prove.

On paper, favorites abound. Once the lights go off, résumés mean nothing.

The 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival runs from September 23 to October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!

Regular tickets are priced at ₱250, while discounted tickets cost ₱200 for PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes, and Aling Puring and Perks cardholders.

For moviegoers who want the full CinePanalo experience, a ₱2,000 festival pass allows audiences to watch all seven full-length films and 19 student short films.

Festival passes will be available starting September 22 at Gateway Cineplex 18, and from September 23 onwards at Gateway Cineplex 18 and TriNoma.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is sponsored by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cream Silk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack 'N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins, and Zonrox. 

Puregold Hakot Relay draws 4,000 runners in Cavite, takes it to the next level with epic 8K challenge

Puregold’s “hakot” legacy hit a whole new stride in Cavite as the Hakot Relay South Luzon leg transformed Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus into an adrenaline-charged showcase for speed, grit, and panalo. More than 4,000 runners that showed up had their game face on as they competed, enjoyed the camaraderie, and joined the signature “hakot” moments of the race.

Around 500 runners took on the full 8 kilometers, proving that Puregold Hakot Relay is also about pushing one’s limits and crossing the finish line stronger than ever.

The rest competed in the event’s signature Hakot Relay, where runners formed teams and raced through the course while collecting grocery items along the way.

Therein lay the difference: Hakot Relay was a team event, while the new 8K was an individual race.

In the relay, teammates had to strategize and work together as they raced to collect groceries before reaching the finish line. In the 8K Individual Challenge, runners tackled the longer distance entirely on their own.

“We wanted to offer runners a fresh and enjoyable way to challenge themselves, with the ‘hakot’ mechanic adding a playful and uniquely Puregold twist to the race. Being part of the running community is meaningful to us, and it is a privilege for Puregold to bring people together for a shared panalo experience.” said Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Puregold Senior Marketing Manager.

Participants began with a pre-race warm-up before heading to the starting line and completing their respective courses within prescribed cut-off times.

After crossing the finish line, runners collected their race-day rewards and visited sampling booths of participating brands. Sponsor-led stage activities and an awarding ceremony capped the event.

Participants in the team Hakot Relay went home with a Grocery Sling Bag and a Finisher’s Grocery Bag, but a ‘surprise’ awaited the solo 8K finishers at the end of the line: the chance to roll home their loot in a finisher’s grocery cart wagon.

“We’re always looking for ways to level up the Hakot Relay and give Filipinos something new to look forward to,” Piedad said. “This year, this meant introducing our first-ever 8K challenge and bringing the experience to an even bigger scale.”

With more than 4,000 runners joining either as teams or solo competitors, the South Luzon leg expanded the Hakot experience while keeping its coveted reward intact: you race to the finish line—and go home with groceries, too.

For updates, subscribe to the Puregold Channel on YouTube, like @puregold.shopping on Facebook, and follow @puregold_ph on Instagram and X and @puregoldph on TikTok.

Philippine cinema’s brightest unveil latest works at Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival mediacon

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 recently presented the 26 participating original films and their extraordinarily talented makers at a lively media conference held at Quantum Skyview in Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City. 

Alongside seasoned directors and actors joining this year’s filmfest are stoked-up aspirants and brave auteurs seeking to make a name in the industry through a diverse mix of movie genres.

Hosted by TV personality Migs Almendras, the Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival mediacon served to bring excited festival participants within reach of their multi-generation audience. On stage, the artists spoke with passion about their projects while providing attendees with glimpses into this year’s films.

In attendance for the coming-of-age film “Apol of my Ai” were director Thop Nazareno as well as actors Zion Cruz and Rochelle Pangilinan. 

Representing the fantastical “Beast” was producer Meg Bryan Bermudez, together with the film’s supporting cast of Candy Pangilinan, Karl Medina, Ruslan Jacob, and Dax Alejandro.

The quiet and moving drama “Mono No Aware” was represented at the event by director BC Amparado, producer Patricia Salic, as well as lead actor Juan Karlos Labajo.

The supernatural and proudly queer “Multwoh (Patay na Patay Sa’yo)” had director Rodina Singh in attendance alongside actors Sassa Gurl, Joao Constancia, Phi Palmos, Gaia Poly, and Inah Evans.

The otherworldly love story “Patay Gutom” had actors Khalil Ramos, Cris Villanueva, and Alwyn Uytingco joining co-directors Carl Joseph Papa and Ian Pangilinan.

The romantic comedy with a deadly twist “Stuck on You” saw Mikko Baldoza take the stage with lead stars Xyriel Manabat and River Joseph. 

And last but not least, director Joseph Abello appeared to present “Wantawsan,” his ‘slice of life’ comedy with a twist of political dilemma. 

Also in attendance for the event were the nineteen filmmakers participating in this year’s student shorts category. Hailing from all over the country, this new generation of cinematic voices are raring to leave a mark at this year’s upcoming festival. 

“Every film in this year’s CinePanalo carries the passion of its creators,” says Ivy-Hayagan Piedad, festival chair of Puregold CinePanalo. “Giving these stories a platform where audiences can experience and celebrate them is our way of supporting Filipino artistry and contributing to the continued growth of Philippine cinema.”

PUREGOLD CINEPANALO FULL-LENGTH CATEGORY

“Apol of My Ai” 

Director: Thop Nazareno

Starring: Zanjoe Marudo, Zion Cruz, and Rochelle Pangilinan

Logline: Bata lang si Apol pero binata na ang tingin niya sa kaniyang sarili. Masusubok ang kaniyang pagbibinata nang ma-inlove siya sa kaniyang choir teacher, at nang gumawa ang kaniyang tatay Poli ng isang desisyon na maglalayo sa kanilang loob. Kaya ba silang hilumin at muling paglapitin ng musika?

“Beast”

Director: Lawrence Fajardo

Starring: John Arcilla

Logline: After a final harvest forced upon him by the landlord, a farmer and his loyal carabao embark on a magical road trip to Manila, chasing the ghost of a niece the years stole from him.

“Mono No Aware”

Director: BC Amparado

Starring: Juan Karlos Labajo and Perry Dizon

Logline: In a quiet apartment in Japan, a Filipino kodokushi cleaner meets an elderly widower who asks him for one final favor before he dies. What begins as a promise becomes a quiet story of grief, family, and accepting life's impermanence.

“Multwoh (Patay Na Patay Sa’yo)”

Director: Rodina Singh

Starring: Sassa Gurl and Joao Constancia

Logline: When a college queer dies suddenly in their dorm, they return as a ghost—not to seek revenge, but to say the one thing they never found the courage to say in life: “I love you.” A haunting, hilarious, and tender story about fear, desire, and the kind of love that refuses to die.

“Patay Gutom”

Directors: Carl Papa and Ian Pangilinan

Starring: Khalil Ramos, Ian Pangilinan, Agot Isidro, and Cris Villanueva

Logline: The story follows a grumpy shut-in whose third eye is accidentally opened after eating an offering meant for a charming but lonely ghost. Now bound together, they discover family secrets, shared heartaches, and a love that blurs the line between life and the afterlife.

“Stuck on You”

Director: Mikko Baldoza

Starring: Xyriel Manabat and River Joseph

Logline: A heartbroken manicurista accidentally takes on a hitman’s job, leading her to a deadly conspiracy where she must choose between saving her family or killing the man of her dreams.

“Wantawsan”

Director: Joseph Abello

Starring: Joross Gamboa, Rita Daniela, and Zion Cruz

Logline: A cash-strapped father receives money from the newly elected mayor he supported, but when he sets out to buy food for his son’s birthday that day, he’s thrust into a comical adventure that tests his wit and his values.

PUREGOLD CINEPANALO STUDENT SHORTS CATEGORY

SET A

“Starfish”

Director: John Clite Apolinar

Starring: VR Relosa, Nour Hooshmand, Jake Ulan, Floyd Tena, and Dads Valencia

Logline: Forced to return to his provincial hometown, a male sex worker confronts his estranged father, sister, and a town where oppression wears a more familiar face.

“Kun Hain, Bisan Diin. (Anywhere and Everywhere)”

Director: Jomarie Reyes

Starring: Pau Baluyan, Carla Zarcal, and Anton Nolasco

Logline: A young lawyer returns to Samar to look for her estranged activist mother before her wedding.

“Kanibal”

Director: Michael Baylon

Starring: Rowen Jean Ledesma, Roselle Lao, and Ma. Lourdes Maculada

Logline: Sa palengkeng hindi maiwasan ang pagbabago, kasabay nito na magbabago ang paniniwala at katawan ni Lea.

“Sa Mga Nagdaan at Lumipas”

Director: Ezaldea Carla Fernandez

Starring: Darelle Tiu, Aly Torres, and Karla Dipasupil

Logline: Ella, a queer archivist in mourning, reminisced about her lover by preserving a historical video documenting the first Pride March in the Philippines in 1994, in which they are both featured. 

“Limlim” 

Director: Samantha Beatriz Acoja Palaje

Starring: Zoey Madison Presentacion Lim and Angela Salga

Logline: A ten-year-old girl and her mother move into seclusion at an old chicken farm, where they are forced to confront their grief while starting a new life.

SET B

“Alumahan”

Director: Christian Melvin M. Arejola

Starring: Don Rishmond Cerbito, Zoey Madison Lim, and Jeremy Mayores

Logline: In a small provincial fishing town, 13-year-old Unyok, a grieving fish port helper bullied by his peers, seeks to belong in a violent youth gang and faces a brutal initiation rite.

“When Heaven Inched Towards Earth”

Director: Vinh Marco

Starring: André Miguel and Kaleb Ong

Logline: In a Catholic high school in Bulacan, a farm boy’s bond with a sacristan forces him to grapple with faith, shame, and the space between heaven and earth.

“No Mad is an Island”

Director: Carl Geronimo

Cast: Arjhay Mangulabnan and Vic Romano

Logline: In a vibrant fishing town, Matmat dreams of dancing like a fish, yet the world keeps casting nets around him.

“Tingi”

Director: Rowan De Aro

Starring: Jero Andrey Marcelino and Evangeline Argete Gigante

Logline: Inside a neighborhood sari-sari store where every transaction tells a story, a graduating student quietly saves every coin for college until an unexpected turn challenges the future he has carefully built.

“Ang Huling Banlaw ni Susan”

Director: Hezekiah M. Estorque

Starring: Jonalyn Mateo, Ian Laczi, Chayl Flores, and Jeffrey James

Logline: A Filipina labandera’s vivid fantasies slowly take over her reality, exposing the hidden cost of surviving in a broken system.

SET C

“Pulis Dunggab”

Director: Maxine Dela Bajan

Starring: Van Jordan Gacayan, Elj Seth Tababa, and Richel Ann Basiga

Logline: While playing his favorite game of Pulis Dunggab, 9-year-old Dongkoy stumbles into an encounter that transforms childhood make-believe into something all too real.

“The Sound of K”

Director: Jay Gabriel A. Cañada

Starring: Jay Gabriel A. Cañada

Logline: A young boy burdened by the fear of speaking discovers that finding his voice may require confronting the very sound he’s spent his life avoiding.

“Nakabinbin”

Director: Carlo Gula

Starring: Soliman V. Cruz

Logline: A widowed father must secure a death certificate to bury his daughter, only to learn that without proof she was ever born, the law leaves him no choice but to break it.

“Nang Matakasan ang Tagay”

Director: Giancarlo Santiago

Starring: Chino Alfonso and Jovic Gabriel Cardano

Logline: On the eve of his departure, a seaman drifts between a farewell drinking session with his friends and quiet moments with his son, until the tension between machismo and tenderness pushes him toward a reckoning he can no longer postpone.

SET D

“Teks Battle: Shoot Pati Pato!”

Director: John Russel Capule

Starring: Trisha Nicole Corpus, Kenneth Mendoza, Rhandylle Marius Obra, and Samantha Gleo

Logline: In a small barangay where a children’s game of teks reflects real power, Maya challenges Rod, the reigning champion turned tyrant, in a teks battle that could change the fate of their community.

“Kapag Tapos na ang Umpukan”

Director: Justine Lee Estinor

Starring: Oz Kenshin Rodas

Logline: A young man trapped between family obligation and personal ambition finds himself at a crossroads when the rituals of lambanog-making and a night of celebration force him to confront the courage he has long been stalling.

“12 Shots”

Director: Minnesota Flores

Starring: Nor Domingo, Kyrie Samodio, and Ethan King

Logline: In a dying Manila photo studio, a teenage apprentice inherits her mentor’s vintage camera and his penchant for the past—until a debt turns deadly, and the only mercy left is to walk the hours back to where it began.

“Bumtak Sara ti Nuangen (The Carabao’s Horns Have Cracked)”

Director: Lloyd Pereira

Starring: Belle Francisco and Riya Miranda

Logline: A young woman determined to find her mother is about to become their town’s first OFW, sending the townsfolk into a frenzy of over-the-top reactions.

“Miss Intrams”

Director: Henri Marie C. Belimac

Starring: Mariella Cuerpo, Mika Hamajo, and Diana Palma

Logline: A queer transmasc college student enters the campus Miss Intramurals pageant not to win, but to understand: is this who she is? Or is this the farewell to who she was?

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival runs from September 23 to October 4 at Gateway Cineplex 18, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, Ayala Malls Feliz, Ayala Malls Circuit, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Market! Market!

Tickets are priced at ₱250 regular and ₱200 discounted, while a ₱2,000 festival pass gives moviegoers a way to take on the entire lineup. PWDs, senior citizens, students, national athletes and Aling Puring and Perks cardholders qualify for discounted tickets.

Festival passes will be available at the Gateway Cineplex 18 beginning September 22, and also TriNoma starting September 23.

The Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival 2026 is sponsored by Alaska, Angel, Argentina, Ariel, Bingo, Birch Tree Fortified, Bear Brand, C2, Century Tuna, Champion, Chuckie, Coca-Cola, Colgate, Cream Silk, Datu Puti, Downy, GoodNom Fresh, Great Taste, Del Monte, Jack 'N Jill, Knorr, Lucky Me!, Maggi, Magnolia Real Mayonnaise, Milo, Monde, MY San, Nestea, Nissin, Nivea, Palmolive Naturals, Pantene, Purefoods, Rebisco, Royal, Safeguard, Sprite, Surf, Wilkins, and Zonrox.