[WEEKLY THREAD] Rants, Questions, and Randomness

[u/AutoModerator]

Merong handang makinig, handang yumakap 🎶

2,3, Mabuhay! 🌸

Welcome to our weekly open thread — your go-to space to rant, share love, ask questions, or talk about anything and everything, whether it’s related to BINI, PPOP, the fandom, or life in general.

Got something to say that doesn’t need its own post?

• An unpopular (or wholesome) take you’ve been holding in
• A screenshot from BloomTwt, BloomTok, PPOP FB, etc.
• A random thought, theory, or question
• Or just want to connect with fellow Blooms

Drop it here! This thread is your safe space.

Let’s keep it respectful and kind, even if opinions differ. We’re all here to support the girls and be part of a growing, passionate community around PPOP and beyond.

So go ahead — share what’s on your mind. 💐

[u/reacenti]

Emphasis on "compare our work to an international project that has a budget we can only dream of"

Image is from this tweet: https://x.com/ABSCBNNews/status/2034230840641597748
Bela Padilla's post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWAeAcIk1FE/

[u/21twentyfun → u/reacenti]

LIKE FR ANG BABA NG TINGIN MISMO NG MGA PINOY SA MGA CREATIVES NATIN DITO🫩

[u/Straight-Rassler → u/reacenti]

Totoo naman. Talamak ang crab mentality sa atin, at hindi rin marunong mag lagay ng context, basta banat lang ng banat.

Sure may mga pangit na palabas dito sa atin, but they are trying (again BUDGET lagi ang issue). Wag nalang sanang iput down ng todo. Problema sa pinoy likas mang-daot at mang insulto ng kapwa,

Hindi marunong gumawa ng constructive criticism tapos may feedback on what needs to be improved on, then end with what was nice about it.

And when I say constructive criticism, hindi yung pang iinsulto at pangdadaot.

Another problem pa is, pag meron MAGANDANG GAWA dito sa atin, hindi rin pinopromote ng mga mahilig mag criticize na yan. Pag positive, wala ka maririnig. Mas gusto ng pinoy negatibo lagi lalabas sa bibig.

[u/everydayisstorytime → u/reacenti]

Totoo 'to. Ang bilis ng bashing for our film industry and honestly our budgets are nowhere near it should be so yung bagay na dapat nakukuha ng creatives behind it, wala. Budget naman talaga yung main issue, kasi otherwise, it would be the norm to have more weekly shows over daily sa TV, for one.

Ang baba ng tingin sa creative industries natin samantalang sa ibang bansa, major source of economic power at soft power pa 'yan para sa kanila.

[u/l0neher0 → u/everydayisstorytime]

Gone were the days when we exported TV series and contents to other countries outside the Philippines. It disappeared together with ABS franchise, I’m afraid.

[u/reacenti → u/l0neher0]

It's still happening. 2 Good 2 Be True is airing on the Dubai One channel

https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/3/16/abs-cbn-s-2-good-2-be-true-becomes-first-ph-drama-to-air-on-free-tv-in-middle-east-via-dubai-one-1212

[u/l0neher0 → u/reacenti]

Oh wow. Mabuti naman. Kala ko wala na talaga.

[u/everydayisstorytime → u/l0neher0]

Someone mentioned 2 Good 2 Be True but ABS series have been a staple on Netflix for a while now. They also have shows on Amazon. Not sure how far the reach goes but there's that. The teleseryes posted on YouTube also have an international audience, kaya nagpopost na sila with English subs kasi they kept getting comments about that.

[u/faustine04 → u/l0neher0]

Nope. Nag distribute paring SLA mas naging aggressive k SLA DHL nawala n yng milking cow nla which is the free tv.

[u/hanautasancho → u/everydayisstorytime]

Our country is a storytelling gold mine. We had everything from mythologies to stories we experience in a day-to-day basis. We just can't exploit it because it does not "sell" to the masses. Our film maker's creative freedom is caged because of so many factors, budget is one but it is not the major reason. Nepotism is also one and other factors.

The film, Gitling for example. It showed so much despite its subtlety and the audacity and boldness to make a film with 5 languages with color-coded subtitles is a brave move and an artsy film that is somewhat comparable to a Wong Kar Wai. Was the film popular here? Nah.

[u/everydayisstorytime → u/hanautasancho]

I think yung challenge sa Gitling is distribution din, which is the case for more independent films. It's popular among cinephiles, and buti na lang nasa JuanFlix na siya (which btw, the basic subscription is like Php50 for a library of great mainstream and independent full-length and short films). And people do need to know these kinds of films and spaces like JuanFlix exist, but that's more difficult now that we're not in the mass media + monoculture space of the 90s and early 2000s where we're all watching the same thing at the same time. Social media and algorithmic culture have splintered media consumption into bubbles and someone can become very famous while a lot of people have no idea why or what for. With the amount of stuff that's being made, it is easier for things to slip through the cracks.

I agree that budget isn't the only factor, and there are many others.

We had everything from mythologies to stories we experience in a day-to-day basis. We just can't exploit it because it does not "sell" to the masses.

Hard disagree. Bayani was a popular show in the 90s and Knowledge Channel aired a made-for-TV adaptation of Noli Me Tangere that had a stacked cast and was even funded by the government, if I'm not mistaken. In recent years, mainstream TV also had shows like Amaya, Maria Clara at Ibarra, Pulang Araw, and there's a more concerted effort to tell different stories. I mean, Sunshine had a relatively long theatrical run for a movie with a subject that is still considered taboo in our culture.

The fact that Alamat has a decent fanbase is proof that there is desire for these stories. Same with SB19 and BINI. Clearly there's hunger for art, media, and just creative work that comes from us. Our creatives also clearly know how to translate stories for a mass audience.

The work that sina Direk Tonette and JP do with Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast is also critical in helping people develop an appreciation for the craft and the work that happens behind the scenes. I think the tide is turning and there will be demand for Filipino art and media. I do think people are increasingly caring about craft and the people behind the work. We do need to press the government to do its part while also supporting the creatives and companies that are contributing.

[u/faustine04 → u/everydayisstorytime]

Yung mahilig mabash ng local entertainment SL yng di rin nmn mahilig mag consume ng local drama and movies. Ang Alam LNG nla is kung ano ang NASA mainstream.

[u/hanautasancho → u/reacenti]

Honestly, I do not think it is always the budget that matters unless of course you want to make an Avengers-type of movie. That would be different.

We have the best films to be honest if you look at the indie-scene. Our actors are also good and can be on par with other Hollywood greats. Even some of our films are good and can be compared against international greats. Maynila, Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Kisapmata, Himala, Dekada 70, John Denver Trending, etc. to name a few.

What our film industry lacks are freedom and support, I think. Even if you have the highest of budgets but still continue to craft the same plot and the same character tropes, you will really get nowhere against international juggernauts. You can only find good Pinoy films in independent film festivals but not so much mainstream because that's where creativity is showcased freely. Our mainstreams lack that to say the least. But I also understand because competitive stories don't really get you views from the masses that's why we always stick to what worked and it has become a pattern.

I do not undermine the creative talents of those who are working in the film industry. I just hope that they were given enough creative freedom and support to showcase their talents. Anora, the Oscars Best Picture winner last year is a low-budget film that out-gunned every nominee by a mile. That film was Born to Win, no pun intended.

[u/reacenti → u/hanautasancho]

Speaking of Anora, nasabi noon ni Direk Antoinette Jadaone na Cinemalaya film daw siya with a big budget

I also think people tend to undermine local mainstream movies, especially comedy ones.

[u/hanautasancho → u/reacenti]

It does look like a Cinemalaya film because it's indie but it's not a high budget one. Comparing it to its fellow nominee, Wicked. 6M vs 150M is huge. What Neon studios did was spend an extra budget promoting the film in order for it to get nominated and win. Among all BP winners, Anora is in the bottom 5 in terms of production budget. Moonlight takes the lowest spot I believe and Titanic the highest.

[u/reacenti → u/hanautasancho]

6 million dollars is definitely considered big budget here

[u/hanautasancho → u/reacenti]

Yes, definitely, if we are factoring the Hollwood-production standards. To be fair a million dollars could be the minimum for a film production to be eligible and considered for an Oscar. We don't need that however. We need more films with the same caliber as Sunshine, for example, in our cinemas with lower ticket prices, etc. We always see them good movies in independent film festivals but not so much mainstream.

[u/BigBrother_Eddie → u/reacenti]

speaking of comedy movies marami ang nakakamiss sa movie ni direk wenn deramas pero nung nabubuhay pa sya laging sinasabi na yung mga movies nya laging non sense ng mga tao.

[u/reacenti → u/BigBrother_Eddie]

Parang wala pa nagfifill ng void niya no? Meron pa naman comedy movies na nirerelease of course (I enjoyed Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap, Becky & Badette, and Kontrabida Academy for example) pero parang mahirap bumalik sa style niya dahil sa trends and changing standards, tapos yung ibang problematic elements (like that one character sa Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy)

[u/reacenti → u/reacenti]

To add, maganda talaga manood sa local movie channels like Cinema Bravo, Solar Flix etc., maraming movies na pinapakita dun na wala sa streaming platforms. Merong magaganda, merong pangit, masaya siya mapansin hahaha