MANILA, Philippines—Netflix is ushering in the holiday season early with the launch of See What’s Next: Philippines 2023, featuring a lineup of local titles in their first-ever Netflix Station ID.
The stars of three upcoming Filipino titles on Netflix, including Can’t Buy Me Love (starring Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan), Keys to the Heart (featuring Zanjoe Marudo and Elijah Canlas), and Replacing Chef Chico (with Piolo Pascual, Alessandra de Rossi, and Sam Milby), went caroling at Barangay Netflix alongside other sought-after celebrities from hits like Missed Connections (Miles Ocampo, Kelvin Miranda, Chie Filomeno), What If (JM de Guzman), and Seasons (Lovi Poe and Carlo Aquino). The video is filled with Christmas cheer and Easter eggs related to various Pinoy Netflix titles.
Netflix offers a diverse range of Filipino stories and talents, and top local directors expressed their excitement about their titles being part of this year’s lineup. They emphasized how these films and series are perfect for celebrating a Pinoy Christmas with themes of family, love, friendship, and food.
“Christmas is about family, familial love, friends, and reflection on the past year’s milestones, failures, and disappointments. Just like in our film, What If, it helps us reflect on what has happened in our lives,” said director Manny Palo.
Keys to the Heart director Kerwin Go highlighted that his film is a must-watch for the holiday season, celebrating unconventional families and the importance of friends who become like family.
Replacing Chef Chico, directed by Dan Villegas, was deemed perfect for the Christmas season due to its themes of love, friendship, and acceptance. Showrunner Antoinette Jadaone emphasized the celebration of Filipino food in the series, adding that it’s time for Filipino cuisine to take the spotlight.
See What’s Next: Philippines 2023’s lineup offers the best in local content on Netflix, providing a perfect watchlist for celebrating a Pinoy Christmas with loved ones.
Can’t Buy Me Love
Image Courtesy of Netflix.
The film is set to launch on October 13 and is directed by Mae Cruz Alviar. It stars Donny Pangilinan as “Bingo,” a popular online seller managing multiple jobs, and Belle Mariano as “Caroline,” who comes from a traditional and wealthy Chinese family.
Keys to the Heart
Image Courtesy of Netflix.
The film, directed by Kerwin Go and featuring Zanjoe Marudo, Elijah Canlas, and Dolly de Leon in the cast, is set to launch soon. The story revolves around a troubled boxer who reunites with his long-lost mother and autistic pianist brother, leading to a complex journey of fitting into a family he hasn’t been a part of for years.
What If
Image Courtesy of Netflix.
The film, directed by Manny Palo and starring Alessandra de Rossi and JM de Guzman, is now available for streaming on Netflix. The story follows a newlywed musician couple who find themselves trapped in a storm during their island honeymoon, forcing them to confront challenging truths that could potentially unravel their marriage.
Seasons
Image Courtesy of Netflix.
The movie, directed by Easy Ferrer and featuring Lovi Poe and Carlo Aquino, is currently available for streaming on Netflix. The story revolves around two best friends who, after a series of unsuccessful relationships, make a pact to take risks and search for love once more, possibly discovering it within their friendship.
Missed Connections
Image Courtesy of Netflix.
Directed by Jelise Chung and starring Miles Ocampo, Kelvin Miranda, and Chie Filomeno, is currently available for streaming on Netflix. It tells the story of a hopeless romantic who, after a memorable encounter, resorts to using an app to find a man she recently met, questioning whether he truly matches her expectations.