Filipiñana (2026)

August 26, 2026 (PH) • Drama, Mystery • 101m

Overview

While working at an elite country club outside Manila, a 17-year-old Ilocana worker uncovers the violent truths of her workplace, her country, and her own past after attempting to return a lost golf club to the club's president.

Director

Rafael Manuel

Writer

Rafael Manuel

Top Billed

Jorrybell Agoto

Keywords

tourist dark past country club drought manila philippines based on short film aapi golf course

Where to watch

Check streaming options on TMDB

Top Billed Cast

Jorrybell Agoto

Isabel

Carmen Castellanos

Clara

Teroy Guzman

Dr. Palanca

Carlos Siguion-Reyna

Renato

Isabel Sicat

Ina / Clara's Caddie

Nour Hooshmand

Janine

Elle Velasco

Charlie

Angeli Bayani

Beth / Renato's Caddie

Micah Musa

Mica

Sunshine Teodoro

Susan

Pipay Kipay

Dolly / Tour Guide

Agot Isidro

Mrs. Palanca

Jewel Sotelo

Little Girl in Red

Thea Marabut

Little Girl's Nanny

Anna Buquid

Sleeping Waitress

Bullet Dumas

Rondalla Vocalist

Karen Gutierrez

Tee Girl

Clara Del Rosario

Tee Girl

Karenina Haniel

Tee Girl

Alyssa Villanueva

Tee Girl

Francine Delos Reyes

Tee Girl

Pia Velonza

Tee Girl

Oniqca Copillo

Tee Girl

Dan Verzosa

Tee Girl

Andrea Fei Padilla

Tee Girl

Joanna Marie Banua

Tee Girl

Nicole Dela Cruz

Tee Girl

Jong Cuenco

Golfer

Dyas Adarlo

Rodel

Roven R. Alejandro

Mario dela Cruz

James Lomahan

Security Guard

Eduardo Ngo

Chinese Golfer

Victor Nem Singh

Non-Urinating Man

Crew

Rafael Manuel

Director

Rafael Manuel

Writer

Jeremy Chua

Producer

Sam Chua

Producer

Bradley Liew

Producer

Alex Polunin

Producer

Jia Zhangke

Executive Producer

Bianca Balbuena

Producer

Nadia Turincev

Producer

Omar El Kadi

Producer

Rafael Manuel

Producer

Sam Chua

Co-Producer

Farhana Bhula

Executive Producer

Sebastian Raeuber

Executive Producer

Francine Raeuber

Executive Producer

Xenia Patricia

Cinematography

Carla Villanueva

Costume Designer

Tatjana Fanny Honegger

Costume Designer

Tatjana Fanny Honegger

Production Design

Rafael Manuel

Editor

Eugene Seah

Post-Production Manager

Vlad Barin

Color Grading

Sylvia Sanchez

Executive Producer

Ria Atayde

Executive Producer

Anthony Isais

Executive Producer

Grace Mariel Isais

Executive Producer

Bervyn Chua

CG Artist

Danna Simbre

Casting Director

Alyssa Villanueva

First Assistant Director

Giselle Lin

Second Assistant Director

Ari Turalba

Associate Producer

Marlon Stockinger

Associate Producer

Shayna Cua

Choreographer

Nicholas Varela

Production Sound Mixer

Kitch Napigkit

Art Direction

Myka Serviño

Set Decoration

Myka Serviño

Graphic Designer

Roselio "Teng" Mendoza

Special Effects Supervisor

Vincent Villa

Sound Designer

Vincent Villa

Sound Mixer

Barbie Capacio

Makeup & Hair

Phil Canning

Music Supervisor

Sreynith Ros

Sound Editor

Kim Sreymoch

Sound Editor

Reviews

Brent Marchant

⭐ 6/10

September 6, 2026

Films that seek to scathingly satirize such sacred cow institutions as unchecked capitalism and unabashed patriarchy generally work best when carried out at a breezy or even breakneck pace. It’s as if this approach steps on the gas and never lets up in relentlessly making its opinions known. So, when a picture attempts to achieve the same end with a slow and steady tempo, the effect is frequently watered down, if not lost entirely. And that, unfortunately, is what nearly derails this debut feature from writer-director Rafael Manuel. This wannabe satire tells the story of 17-year-old Isabel (Jorrybell Agoto), a native of the idyllic Ilocos Region of the northern Philippines who has recently relocated to Manila. She works as a tee girl at the driving range of a luxury country club that obsequiously caters to Chinese tourists. In turn, the new hire is expected to operate under a cloak of subservience when it comes to interactions with the guests, especially the men, most of whom are blatant pinnacles of chauvinism and condescension. Although Isabel is not openly adversarial toward these required working conditions, she’s new to them and naturally has a lot of questions, an attitude not particularly appreciated or understood by management. However, she somehow manages to endear herself to the club president, Dr. Palanca (Teroy Guzman), another Ilocos transplant to Manila who claims to understand her (though, as she is cautioned by others, looks can be deceiving). Much of the narrative finds Isabel looking for Dr. Palanca to return a lost golf club to him, a plot device that takes her on an extended tour of her workplace (including many places where she’s allegedly not allowed), showcasing the disparities of capitalism, privilege and gender equality. The exploration of these themes parallels the experiences of other subplot characters, such as Clara (Carmen Castellanos), a Philippine native who has expatriated to America and is under more than a little seemingly tactful strongarming to relocate back to her roots by her wealthy industrialist uncle, Renato (Carlos Siguion-Reyna), and Palanca’s wife (Agot Isidro), a former Miss Universe and trophy spouse who often finds herself sitting on the sidelines while her husband engages in an array of apparently philandering shenanigans. Through these experiences, the women discover insights about their country, their culture, the men in their lives and themselves, but will these revelations inspire them to action? As clearly as these points are made, however, the execution of the story could use some serious retooling. For one thing, the picture’s glacial pacing and numerous overlong reaction shots often cause the film to fall flat and feel needlessly padded (a likely result of the fact that this offering is an expansion of the director’s 2020 film short of the same name). What’s more, the picture’s overly simplistic narrative approach feels more like a localized travelogue at times. Even this offering’s trailer is somewhat misleading, portraying the title as lighter and more amusing than it actually is (despite a few genuinely inspired comedic moments). Nonetheless, perhaps this production’s failings are largely attributable to the inexperience of a first-time feature filmmaker, or maybe they’re due to the fact that the material is inherently underdeveloped to begin with. Clearly, this is a release with something to say, but how that message is articulated is another matter altogether.

show less

Recommended Movies

In Bruges

Crocodile Dundee

The Ruins

Wolf Creek

Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$55,000

Revenue

—

Loading…

Filipiñana (2026)

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Brent Marchant

Recommended Movies

In Bruges

Crocodile Dundee

The Ruins

Wolf Creek

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

Rate This Movie

Rate This TV Show