Get ready for a new set of diverse stories to watch this October as new Filipino movies and series hit the cinema, television, and streaming services!

Related: Can’t Buy Me Love’s Full Trailer Got Us Even More Excited for DonBelle’s First Teleserye

The year 2023 has seen plenty of Filipino excellence make waves both locally and internationally. From Maria Clara at Ibarra to A Very Good Girl, local productions have been present, diverse, and well-received—as they should! Filipino filmmakers and stars are raring to tell unique stories and share them with the world, proving that Philippine TV and cinema are well and alive as new genres, stars, and stories make their way to local and international screens. There’s no slowing down, much less stopping, for the art and these artists, and there’s no shortage of people wholeheartedly willing to champion Philippine cinema and production.

If you haven’t had enough of local media, or if you’re looking for something new to love, these seven upcoming and highly-anticipated Filipino movies and series will fill your October with enough drama, horror, comedy, and romance to tide you over.

SPARKLE U (OCTOBER 1)

GMA’s new youth-oriented anthology series features the freshest and up-and-coming young stars of GMA’s talent agency Sparkle Center. Sparkle U, set in the fictional Sparkle University, touches on the problems and issues faced by the youth of today, from social media to school hierarchies. The series’ first installment, #Frenemies, stars Shayne Sava as Bekang, a teenager who, along with other average students, save Yazzi (Roxie Smith) the popular girl at their school. Sparkle U airs October 1 on GMA’s Sunday Grande sa Gabi.

KEYS TO THE HEART (OCTOBER 4)

Starring Zanjoe Marudo, Dolly de Leon, Elijah Canlas, and more, Keys to the Heart is a Philippine adaptation of 2018 Korean dramedy of the same name. Marudo stars as Joma, a washed-up boxer who comes home to his long-lost family and finds out he has a gifted pianist brother, Jayjay, on the autism spectrum. The film will be released on Netflix on October 4.

LINLANG (OCTOBER 5)

Linlang is an upcoming ABS-CBN drama series starring Paulo Avelino, Kim Chiu, JM De Guzman, and Maricel Soriano. The series revolves around dirty lies, secrets, jealousy, and betrayal in relationships. Linlang airs on Prime Video starting October 5.

IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN (OCTOBER 12)

This folk horror film written and directed by Kenneth Dagatan is set in World War II and features a young girl, Tala, who tries to save her troubled family by turning to a suspicious, flesh-eating fairy for help. In My Mother’s Skin premiered at Sundance Film Festival and has since appeared in more than 10 international film festivals. Lauded for its macabre horror and unique story, this film is worth a watch on Prime Video starting October 12.

CAN’T BUY ME LOVE (OCTOBER 13)

DonBelle’s much-awaited first primetime teleserye Can’t Buy Me Love stars Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano as Bingo and Caroline, respectively, who come from very different backgrounds but are brought together when Bingo saves Caroline from a kidnapping attempt. The series airs October 13 on Netflix, October 14 on iWantTFC, and October 16 on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, Jeepney TV, TFC, A2Z, and TV5.

FIVE BREAKUPS AND A ROMANCE (OCTOBER 18)

Superstars Julia Montes and Alden Richards show off chemistry and their well-honed acting chops in their first romantic drama together, Five Break-Ups and A Romance. In the film, Montes plays the driven Justine Royales across Richards’ optimistic Lance Sandoval. Tackling the complexities of relationships in this day and age, Five Breakups and a Romance is coming to cinemas October 18 and promises an emotional rollercoaster of a love story with a large heaping of charm.

ROOKIE (OCTOBER 19)

Hit WLW film Rookie directed by Samantha Lee and starring Pat Tingjuy and Aya Fernandez made waves at Cinemalaya Film Festival 2023 for its depiction of a volleyball-themed love story where queerness is the norm. Rookie tells the story of Ace, a new student in a Catholic school, who’s encouraged to try out for the school’s volleyball team, where she meets Jana, the team captain. They form a friendship and find love in this sweet coming-of-age rom-com.

Continue Reading: 6 Movies From 2023 That You Should Have Seen by Now

DonBelle brings the drama and the romance to primetime with their upcoming teleserye Can’t Buy Me Love, airing on October 13! We already can’t wait for the show to air.

Related: Can’t Buy Me Love: Donbelle Gets Their First-Ever Teleserye

Action, drama, and a whole lot of romance are in store for Bubblies and soon-to-be-Bubblies starting October 13! Can’t Buy Me Love, the upcoming teleserye starring Gen Z icons Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan, dropped its full trailer last Monday. The highly-anticipated primetime series looks to be an exciting romp filled with thrills and suspense, love and laughs, and of course, that classic DonBelle charm.

In the trailer, also seen in the series’ previous teaser, Caroline (Mariano) seems to be abducted by unknown men and left to drown, but Bingo (Pangilinan) saves her. She assumes he’s the one who kidnapped her, but eventually warms up to him, and so starts their unorthodox relationship. Quick scenes show Caroline and Bingo’s respective struggles with family and the treacherous road ahead involving deaths, dangers, and secrets—one that they’ll traverse together. It’s definitely something new from the couple—a love story tackling different cultures, crime, and an unusual first meeting between leads helmed by Mae Cruz Alviar, Cathy Garcia-Sampana, and Ian D. Loreños.

THE STORY OF CAROLINE AND BINGO

IG / STARCREATIVESTV

Belle Mariano’s Caroline Tiu is a wealthy daughter from a traditional Chinese family with a tumultuous relationship with her sister, and Donny Pangilinan’s Bingo Rivera is a young man working hard to provide for his family. The harm that befalls Caroline—her kidnapping and almost-drowning—we can assume is caused by her family’s wealth. Meanwhile, the trouble Bingo gets into, which is perhaps connected to Caroline’s problems, is caused by his own family’s lack of money to afford healthcare.

Caroline and Bingo meet at Caroline’s sister’s engagement party, where Bingo is working as a waiter. The stark contrast between Caroline’s high-society lifestyle and Bingo’s financial struggles paves the way for the series to explore the tensions between people of different class backgrounds and the lengths people go through to obtain money. It’s a fresh take on a tried-and-true trope that looks to rattle plenty of emotions from the audience.

A NEW ADVENTURE FOR DONBELLE

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The phenomenal Gen Z loveteam DonBelle has made many root for their romance both on and off-screen since they were first paired up in teen series He’s Into Her (2021-2022). Since then, they’ve worked on rom-coms Love is Colorblind (2021) and An Inconvenient Love (2022).

Can’t Buy Me Love is their first foray into primetime television, and is a new challenge for the pair. However, throughout their different projects, DonBelle has shown that they can act with heart and do comedy, drama, and romance like nobody’s business. And whatever screen they’re on, their chemistry straight-up leaps out of it, as shown in the 2-minute trailer, so it’ll be exciting to see what they do with Caroline and Bingo. And further solidifying DonBelle’s first teleserye as a TV moment, the show will premiere on Netflix on October 13, a full three days before it airs on TV.

Can’t Buy Me Love also features a star-studded cast that includes Ruffa Gutierrez, Maris Racal, Albie Casiño, Nova Villa, Agot Isidro, Enzo Pineda, Rowell Santiago, Vivoree Esclito, Darren Espanto, Celeste Legaspi, Kaila Estrada, Karina Bautista, and Joao Costancia. Just from the trailer, we learn that the storyline is set to have many twists and turns, the production is grand and immersive, and that DonBelle is embarking on a thrilling new chapter.

Can’t Buy Me Love will premiere on Netflix on October 13, iWantTFC on October 14, and Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, Jeepney TV, TFC, A2Z, and TV5 on October 16!

Continue Reading: 9 Times DonBelle’s Low-Key Relationship Sent Us On A Kilig Overload

Trouble may be brewing among the student body of Northford High, but off the set, the Gen Z stars of hit series Senior High give off major bestie vibes!

Related: What to Expect in “Senior High” Starring Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri, and Xyriel Manabat

Senior High started airing August 28th, and it’s chock-full of secrets, suspense, drama, and serious and sensitive issues. Its star-studded cast includes young stars Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri, Xyriel Manabat, Juan Karlos Labajo, Elijah Canlas, Zaijan Jaranilla, Daniela Stranner, Miggy Jimenez, Tommy Alejandrino, and Gela Atayde. However, when the cameras are off, this young Gen Z cast gets to goof around and have fun as friends do!

From TikToks to pretend talk shows, hangouts and events, these stars make the most of their time and friendship together as they work on the game-changing youth-oriented thriller.

CHIKA SESSIONS WITH BLYTHE AND XYRIEL

@username3147600375

Sky nyo may chika kay roxy haha

♬ No Me Diga – Daphne Rubin-Vega & Stephanie Beatriz & Dascha Polanco & Leslie Grace & Melissa Barrera

In a video that only spurred our curiosity, Senior High leads and close friends Andrea and Xyriel used the “tell me something I don’t know” TikTok audio from In the Heights to spill some clearly piping hot tea—a secret that required emoji censors to prevent even lip readers from finding out! The follow up TikTok was also giving “tried-and-true besties trying to knock some sense into each other” as a Xyriel playfully throws Andrea around in a bout of gigil in response to the secret.

DOGSHOW TALK SHOW SHENANIGANS

They’re so unserious! In Kyle’s newest vlog, co-stars Juan Karlos and Elijah have some fun playing around with the concept of a talk show, where they invite Andrea to talk about what’s been bothering her today. (Spoiler alert: she’s got some unfortunate bathroom troubles.) The fake characters, the serious, dramatic acting and music, and the “crime” and the “conviction,” make for a hilarious watch.

COORDINATED OUTFITS

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Don’t they look like they’re a group of friends going to a concert? Or a dance crew ready to rock the stage? For their appearance on ASAP, the crew donned funky matching ‘fits in the show’s signature purple as they promoted Senior High to a lively audience.

POBLA NIGHTS

i love how senior high cast hang out outside of taping 🥹🫶🏻💘 LOVE THIS CAST SM https://t.co/J2l7LYdjVR

— ayla (@kyldrew) September 3, 2023

Spotted in Poblacion, Makati: the Senior High cast taking in the vibrant nightlife! What’s a friendship without fun night outs, right? At the end of theirs, the cast say their goodbyes to each other and the fans that ran into them. Apparently, Andrea also gave a rose to one of the fans! Hopefully they all had a great night.

RIDING THE TIKTOK TRENDS

@blythe SENIOR HIGH MAMAYA NA PO! 9:30PM sa kapamilya channel, kapamilya online live , iwanttfc, A2Z, jeepney tv at tv5! ! #fyp #seniorhigh ♬ nhạc nền – xiao xiao 💦

We all know how Andrea loves her TikToks, particularly the recent “Sandy Super Bass” trend she’s done several times with different people. It’s a special treat when she got the Northford High students all together for a quick TikTok dance on the day the series premiered. And with the uniforms, they even look so much like those friend groups who do TikToks in their school hallways!

Continue Reading: Senior High is Giving Teens and Troubles a New Look on Primetime

With help from Gen Z members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we talk about the importance of diverse, normalized queer narratives in Filipino media.

Related: Sing It Loud, Sing It Proud: These Queer Filipino Musicians Are Unapologetically Raising Their Voices for the LGBQIA+ Community

While the prevalence of queer identities on local screens grows, the fight for diverse, authentic representation in Filipino media is an ongoing struggle. It’s not enough that a queer person is in a show or a movie, but the stories we tell must capture the breadth of queer experience.

It is, of course, important to be able to portray the unique struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, as they are a marginalized community still not afforded the same rights as cisgender heterosexual Filipinos. But as we see the same characteristics and (often upsetting) storylines over and over again, isn’t it also important to tell stories where queerness is not the problem for once?

We reached out to a few queer Gen Z individuals—Jay, Tristan, Rylle, Izzy, Dom, Clara, and Kimiko—to get their takes on why normalized representation matters in the local scene, because time and time again, this generation proves they know what they’re up against, and they know what they’re talking about.

DEPTH AND DIVERSITY

@anothergaymer did you figure out who i referenced? #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqia #representation #pride #pridemonth ♬ original sound – J

Countless studies and perspectives have emerged detailing how much the portrayal of queerness on Filipino screens are one-dimensional, stereotypical and often harmful, as they perpetuate rigid ideals about how queerness “should” be like.

Young writer Jay recalls growing up in the 2000s and watching Filipino shows where queer characters were present, but relegated to roles like the main character’s friend or comic relief. “While these are not inherently untrue portrayals,” they share. “[They] diminish the vast and complex tapestry of the queer identity and our representation falls easily into stereotypes—stereotypes that subconsciously affect people’s perception on the LGBTQ+ community, and these stereotypes often lead to harmful rhetoric.”

Given that there still exists oppression and discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, authentic, sensitive representation allows queer individuals to envision possibilities and be open to the breaking of boundaries.

Student Tristan shares, “For most of my life, I didn’t get the support system and healthy environment that some queers enjoy.

The queer experience is not monolithic—and the stories we tell shouldn’t be, either.

STORIES ON SCREEN

Representing queerness in local media, recent graduate Rylle says, draws attention to the struggles of the queer community. The kicker is—queer people struggle with more than just their genders and sexualities, and presenting those problems alongside the struggle of being queer can paint a more complete, more resonant picture of queerness to the general public. Stories on screen are valued both by the community whose stories are told as well as the people outside those circles.

“Queer representation reaches out to the young people who need to hear and see that it’s more than okay to take up space. It helps us plant our existence in society when we are able to see and relate to stories that are reflective of our own,” Dom remarks.

“Let the gays have their cheesy romcoms!” is a frequent sentiment echoed on social media. Having marginalized identities take up space in predominantly heterosexual contexts brings people on equal ground. So much of queer media focuses on homophobia, coming out narratives, and queer trauma. It’s time those stories stop being the only option and we explore more ways of representing queerness and queer love in media.

im so sick of people holding queer media to such a high standard, we want shitty romcoms and cheesy tv shows just like everyone else!

— ak (@VENEFLWRS) April 27, 2023

NORMALIZATION AS RESISTANCE

Normalizing queer existence, relationships, and love in a story means not treating queerness as the source of conflict or a problem to be solved. In a way, it resists predominant narratives that queerness is inherently tied to suffering and fear, othering and discrimination.

Recent graduate Izzy explains that “normalized queer representation helps overcome heteronormativity.” Shifting focus from gender and sexuality being the main concern in a narrative to acknowledging the complexity of queer experiences replaces “the idea na heterosexual relationships and heteronormative expressions of gender are the norm.” She adds:

A paradox lies within this nuance. While the LGBTQIA+ community is inherently “different” by virtue of their identity, their experiences are often set apart from those experienced by cisgender heterosexuals, as if they are incapable of feeling or acting or behaving the way the latter do just because they don’t fit into the perceived standards of what is “normal.”

“Despite queerness defying standards at its core, normalizing queer media offers comfort to the audience,” Clara comments. Pushing for the normalcy of queerness, while still acknowledging the community’s unique struggle, could lead to valuable conversations.

@fundforwomensequality The lack of representation of LGBTQ people in media is still a real issue. By seeing LGBTQ people represented in films, TV shows, and other forms of media, it not only gives encouragement to those struggling to come out but also helps fight outdated stereotypes. #lgbtq #mediarepresentation #lgbtqrights #inclusion #equality #lgbtqvisibility #queerpride ♬ original sound

Because yes, highlighting queer struggle illuminates how difficult it is to exist as a queer person, and could thus spark much-needed change. But stories that don’t focus on the struggles of being queer are important too, as they help queer individuals and audiences nuance their understanding of what it means to be queer, and reassures members of the community that it’s possible to live openly and freely. Jay explains,

LEAPS FORWARD

Artists and filmmakers like Samantha Lee have championed normalizing queer experience, particularly with her first miniseries Sleep With Me (2022), where the love story between two women is not complicated by their sexualities, but rather other issues and problems. Queerness was a norm itself. The intersectionality of queerness and disability are present, putting forth the value of acknowledging and highlighting such struggle, but queerness is not presented as a problem.

This is becoming a comfort series— sobrang feel good, light, and kilig. Lmao no dead lesbians nor arranged marriage, and grabe the normalcy cos it wasnt about coming out or what hays #sleepwithme pic.twitter.com/f7ORTpzter

— Mela is seeing Twice ✨ (@carmelabiscuit) August 20, 2022

Stories like these set a precedent for young storytellers, producers, and audiences to patronize diverse queer representation in Filipino media.

“In a way,” Rylle muses. “[Filipinos] haven’t really basked in their own unique queerness yet. And it’s still a struggle for some to come to terms with who they are, because they don’t have anything to ‘put’ themselves in yet, especially since most of what they understand of the Filipino environment is prejudice.”

Wouldn’t we love to change that? To foster a change in how the LGBTQIA+ community is perceived? To present more possibilities to people still figuring out who they are? As artist Kimiko notes,

So if you’re an aspiring filmmaker or storyteller, don’t feel as if you have to ascribe to certain formulas or stick to the usual narratives. Diverse stories matter. Your stories matter. The struggle for queer liberation is a blazing fire, and could be further stoked by a simple, bold statement: we are here.

Continue Reading: What the Success of Rookie Means for Samantha Lee and Pat Tingjuy

Here are some fast facts about Sophia Laforteza, up-and-coming superstar and the only Filipino competitor on The Debut: Dream Academy!

Related: Meet the Only Filipina Competing for A Spot in HYBE X Geffen’s New Global Girl Group

In case you didn’t know, Sophia Elizabeth G. Laforteza is competing to become part of the newest global girl group formed by K-Pop industry leader HYBE’s collaboration with American record label Geffen Records! Using her talent in singing and performance, the 20-year-old Filipino artist will participate in K-pop survival reality show The Debut: Dream Academy.

The show’s first episode aired on September 1 along with the competitors’ introduction videos. While we’ll definitely learn more about Sophia during her The Debut: Dream Academy journey, for now here are some fast facts about the up-and-coming it-girl.

She’s the only Filipina to make it to the final 20 of Dream Academy.

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Out of hundreds of thousands of applicants all over the world, Sophia Laforteza is the only Filipino performer who made it to the top 20 finalists competing for a spot in the new girl group. With her style, talent, and pride in her Filipino roots, Sophia is blazing a trail for the new generation by taking the chance to be a world-renowned artist under one of the biggest K-Pop companies in the world.

Talent is in her blood.

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A post shared by Carla Guevara Laforteza (@carlaguevaraofficial)

As the daughter of actress and performer Carla Guevara Laforteza and chef and former performance artist Godfrey Laforteza, Sophia’s very genetic makeup is filled with talent and ambition. Her parents have also been constantly rooting for her on social media since the Dream Academy lineup was announced.

She’s an ARMY—just like her dad!

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In an Instagram post, Sophia showed off her purple blood as she posed with her father after watching supergroup BTS’ Permission to Dance in Seoul livestream. Dressed to the nines, with an ARMY lightstick in hand, we can plainly see her love for the boys, and we can only guess how excited or nervous she was to audition for the company that houses her idols.

The Debut: Dream Academy isn’t her first time in the spotlight.

At the young age of 5, Sophia made a guest appearance with her family in the Philippine talk show She Said, She Said where she talked about how she wanted to be a pediatrician and a performer. She also showed off her pipes by dueting with her mother!

She’s been singing since she was 3, and she’s been dancing for around the same time.

@sophialaforteza #duet with @clintonkane ib: @ysawitha_y ♬ original sound – clintonkane

Sophia’s been showing her talent on social media for years, and let us tell you—this girl can sing. We’ll let her TikToks speak for itself. Also, at five years old, she was already taking a variety of dance lessons at Julie Borromeo’s dance studio! She mentioned in She Said, She Said that she loved dancing and wanted to be an artist just like her mother.

Her confidence took a hit after an ankle injury—but she bounced back stronger than ever.

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In her intro video for The Debut: Dream Academy, Sophia revealed she had to sit out some of her work due to an ankle injury and that it really affected her confidence. “I need you to give your everything,” she told herself. Once recovered, Sophia bounced back tenfold and performed well in one of her “strongest months in the program.”

Being nurturing and practicing self-love are integral to her character.

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Sophia believes being nurturing is a special characteristic of Filipinos, and that it’s a big part of who she is, as well. After her ankle injury, she pushed herself to do her best and told herself that she deserves to be where she is. Self-love, no matter how “cheesy,” as she said in her introduction video, helped her “a lot” and allowed her to continue pursuing her dreams.

She graduated in 2021 with high honors and adorned with medals.

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Sophia is a graduate of the Humanities and Social Sciences strand from Multiple Intelligence International School. She won 10 awards and 7 medals, proving that the young trainee is not just a superstar in the talent industry, but also in school! Bonus: she was also accelerated in school at a young age.

She has a killer fashion sense.

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One look through Sophia’s Instagram and you’ll see how trendy and stylish the 20-year-old is. From pink pants to sequined dresses, her clothing pieces are always styled to perfection. She exudes an effortless, genuine charm through her fashion, and we’re this close to spamming her with questions as to where she gets her collection of boots.

She’s going to be performing Paramore’s Still Into You with fellow competitors Lara, Celeste, Samara, and Nayoung.

@dreamacademyhq Are you ready for Mission 1? ✨Your first chance to watch and vote for your Dream Academy fav is coming Sep 6. Watch the announcement now on YouTube! #DREAMACADEMYHQ #HYBEGEFFEN #HYBE #GEFFEN ♬ original sound – Dream Academy HQ

The girls’ first mission on The Debut: Dream Academy was revealed on September 1. Split into four teams—two dance and two vocal teams—the competitors will perform their assigned songs to secure their spot in the next stage of the show. Sophia’s team, Vocal Team B, will be performing a special arrangement of Paramore’s Still Into You.

All of the performances will premiere on September 6, 11 PM Philippine time on YouTube. After the missions, two girls will be eliminated, so be sure to stay in-the-know about voting by joining the Dream Academy Weverse community and checking on their socials!

Mark your calendars and set your alarms. ⏰

The Dream Academy curriculum just dropped.

‘Mission #1 Performance Videos’ are coming Sep 6th on HYBE Labels.#DREAMACADEMYHQ #HYBEGEFFEN #HYBE #GEFFEN pic.twitter.com/qYPaW2MzA9

— The Debut: Dream Academy (@dreamacademyhq) September 2, 2023

Stay tuned on the Dream Academy website, socials, and HYBE LABELS+ on YouTube to be updated with the show and Sophia’s journey! Voting also begins September 6th on Weverse and YouTube.

Continue Reading: All the Major Announcements From HYBE’s Community Event Briefing

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians trailer brings Percy and the Greek gods’ story to life in new ways for a generation that’s waited forever.

Related: Percy Jackson is in Its Renaissance Era, and We Love to See It

After wildly successful book-to-screen adaptations like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Divergent, it’s time for Percy Jackson to have the spotlight (and no, we don’t talk about the discontinued movie series adaptation). The long-awaited Disney+ adaptation of the book series, this time with author Rick Riordan heavily involved, dropped its series trailer last August 19 and moved its release date to December 20 of this year.

The series, as it was undergoing development, has been the subject of much media coverage and social media virality the past year. Book readers who have been there since the beginning and new fans alike have been buzzing with anticipation for an age-appropriate, faithful adaptation that will do justice to the young demigod hero’s story. Reactions to the new trailer and an earlier release date have been a mix of overjoyed excitement and emotional expressions of wish-fulfillment.

And no, as someone who’s read the books as a pre-teen and is now 22, I definitely didn’t tear up. Not at all. Nope.

FAITHFUL, DIVERSE CASTING

a high-quality percy jackson series with age-appropriate actors and leads of color ohhhh this is the only thing i’ve wanted since i was 10 years old 😭😭 https://t.co/xn0wIfBO8S

— trish (@ULTRAGLOSS) August 18, 2023

Riordan and series fans have sung nothing but praises for the diverse and skills-first casting of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Walker Scobell of The Adam Project fame was announced as Percy Jackson last year, and Riordan referred to him as having the “perfect mix of comedic timing, sweetness, rebelliousness, snark and heroism” to embody the demigod hero.

The funny Aryan Simhadri was said to have a “mixture of sweetness, humor and internal toughness” perfect for satyr Grover Underwood. Finally, Leah Sava Jeffries is a “brilliant actor,” the embodiment of the daughter of Athena—smart, strong, and courageous. She could break hearts, make people laugh, and have people cheer on her “all in the same scene.” From the actors’ previous works, social media presence, and behind-the-scenes looks at the series, it is undoubtable they’ll do a fantastic job as the main trio.

NOTICING EASTER EGGS AND REFERENCES

IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO REALIZE THIS BUT IS THAT THALIA’S TREE pic.twitter.com/wwPxZFwVAn

— no context percy jackson (@nocontextpjo) August 18, 2023

Both teaser trailers featured creatures, gods, battles, and Camp Half-Blood come to life. It was fun for fans to notice and call out the series version of something they read in the book, such as Thalia’s tree (spoiler alert: Thalia Grace is a daughter of Zeus that was turned into a tree to save her life), the orange camp t-shirts, the armor, the battle with Ares, and so much more. While book-to-screen adaptations are a mix of hits and misses overall, there is reassurance in Riordan’s involvement and the world-building we’ve seen so far. Plus, it’s always so much fun and excitement in seeing words on a page come to life right in front of you.

PURE WISH-FULFILLMENT

the way riptide is officially a percy jackson song brings me so much joy 😭 https://t.co/JlKPYEzBxi

— did the percy jackson trailer come out today? (@percytrailer) August 18, 2023

In the trailer, if you listen carefully, you’ll hear a line from Vance Joy’s Riptide, making it canon as a Percy Jackson song after years of fans linking the song to the franchise. The song shares a name with Percy’s trusty sword Riptide. This detail means the series was produced with the fans in mind, and more than that, the creators truly realized what it means to fans who have been there forever, like those who made edits to the song way back in 2016. One can only wonder how those editor fans felt after watching the trailer!

PEOPLE HAVE RUN FAN ACCOUNTS FOR YEARS

ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE FAITHFUL ADAPTATION OF THE BOOK SERIES THAT I'VE BEEN A RUNNING A TWITTER FAN ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS IS FINALLY COMING TO US AT THE END OF 2023 😭 https://t.co/Cmmb9zMgeK

— maria 🌟 (@cursedbythegods) August 18, 2023

Speaking of fans and faith, so many fans of the series who have run stan accounts for the series showed immense elation at the adaptation. I was also part of Percy Jackson Twitter in the early-to-mid 2010s, and I’ve made friends online and offline because of this series. Running a fan account and witnessing all the new releases and developments, from new novels to disappointing movie adaptations, is such a unique, rollercoaster experience. To watch the series, reliving old adventures and seeing new ones as the series goes on, will be a nostalgic, emotional journey that will get us to say, “Hello again, Percy.”

GROWING UP WITH PERCY

me on december 20th when the percy jackson tv show finally comes out pic.twitter.com/ol6zLOFjAS

— cowboy like jib 🤠 | percy jackson tv show! (@ohgreekgod) August 18, 2023

The first book of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, The Lightning Thief (which the first season of the show is based on), was first published in 2005. It’s been almost 20 years since then, but the series has consistently been relevant over the decades, what with new series being published by Rick Riordan still featuring characters and storylines from the original 5 books.

Chalice of the Gods, a standalone sixth novel to the original 5 books, is even being released this September. All that is to say, Percy’s story has lived on for years, accompanying a generation that is now all grown-up. This new Disney+ series will definitely introduce Percy to a whole new audience, and even a whole new generation. Regardless, we’ll all be seated for this renaissance.

Hype and expectations are sky-high for the adaptation, and hopefully, it will let Percy Jackson’s story live on in a new way in longtime fans, and open up new worlds to people who will have just discovered the magic of the series.

Continue Reading: Shops in and Around Manila Where You Can Buy or Donate Secondhand Books

New shows, new talent, and new stories are all available right at your fingertips!

Related: 11 Filipino Shows You Should Binge Next On Netflix

These days, you will never run out of things to watch, especially with how many streaming services you can subscribe to. But if you’re interested in branching out from your sites, you may want to turn to iWantTFC, the platform filled with local gems where you can stream local productions for free if you’re in the Philippines!

Whether you’re into drama, musicals, or coming-of-age, original Filipino programming will deliver. And if you’re into having fun (and engaging in a little drama surrounding the new generation), these following six miniseries will deliver comedy, romance, drama, and friendship in 10 episodes or less.

RUN TO ME

This rom-com sees KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad in their first series pairing as Wilson and Jewel, respectively. Wilson, a struggling musician, tries to rescue successful online creator Jewel from a kidnapping. Unfortunately, she ends up whacking him for ruining her planned kidnapping. After meeting in one of the most unlikely and ridiculous of circumstances, they accompany each other as they navigate their dreams, family lives, and blossoming romance.

LYRIC & BEAT

This tribute to Jonathan Manalo’s music is a teen rom-com set in the fictional Philippine National Conservatory of Music, where the halls are brimming with talent and the classrooms are shark tanks filled with ambitious young artists dealing with their own personal teenage problems. Lyric (Andrea Brillantes) gets the chance to attend the prestigious school, in spite of her father’s doubt and disapproval at her chosen aspirations. She meets Beat (Seth Fedelin), an introverted singer, and a whole slew of students that excel at singing, dancing, and show choir. Think Glee meets Backstage, this miniseries is fun, musical, and also brimming with talent.

DRAG YOU & ME

Andrea Brillantes also stars in this dramedy as Betty, a young cisgender woman who enters a drag competition to earn enough money to save her family home and drag bar. Fearless, fun, and fabulous, this series delves into the world of drag and the life of a young girl trying to do right by her family. With the participation of queer actors as well as actual drag queens Precious Paula Nicole, Xilhouette, Brigiding, and Viñas Deluxe, this celebration of queerness and drag makes for an entertaining watch.

TEEN CLASH

Based on a Wattpad story by Ilyn Anne Danganan, Teen Clash explores the life of Zoe (Jayda), an aspiring musician with an embarrassing past, as she attempts to start a band to perform at the school’s music jam. She meets songwriter Ice (Aljon Mendoza) and they try to overcome struggles brought upon by their musical endeavors, teen drama, and their possible feelings for one another.

BEACH BROS

Put a group of boys on a beach and watch the magic happen. No, really. Dave (Kyle Echarri), Billy (Lance Carr), Jason (Brent Manalo), Pete (Raven Rigor), and Jeremy (Sean Tristan) live their best life on the shores of Baler, Aurora, until they face the challenges of growing up and problems brought by a mysterious girl (Chie Filomeno) with secret ties and a danger-filled secret mission.

TARA, G!

Friendship and teamwork take center stage in this miniseries starring an ensemble cast of Anthony Jennings as Rocky, Kaori Oinuma as Legs, Vivoree as JengJeng, JC Alcantara as Dan, CJ Salonga as Smith, and Zach Castañeda as Will. Together, along with newcomer Cars (Daniela Stranner), a spoiled tourist trying to rehabilitate her image, they make up Team WISE (Walang Iwanan Sa Ere). Led by coffee farmer Rocky, the group works together to fight for the struggling coffee business and their town. After Cars almost ruins everything they’ve worked for, Team WISE has to depend on each other and overcome their drama to fight for that they believe in.

Continue Reading: Make Room in Your Watchlist for These New Movies and Shows of August 2023

Nothing is what it seems in Northford High. Check out what to expect in the upcoming teen drama Senior High!

Trigger Warning: The following article and subject matter include mentions of bullying, abuse, and suicide.

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When the first teaser trailer for upcoming teleserye Senior High dropped earlier this year, the response was interesting, to say the least. But that first look wasn’t all that the show was going to be as the series, produced by ABS-CBN and Dreamscape Entertainment, dropped its first trailer over the weekend, and it’s filled with teen drama, industry big-names, and a whole heaping of intrigue.

In the dog-eat-dog world of high school, tensions and emotions run high. But who could have thought anyone would be embroiled in a death of a student under mysterious circumstances? Lead star Andrea Brillantes as Sky embarks on a mission to find out the truth about her twin sister’s apparent suicide, but it seems like secrecy and power run through the halls of Northford High, and that won’t be an easy task.

Interested yet? If the trailer set to SB19’s Bazinga didn’t convince you to check it out, below are more reasons to stay tuned to this new show!

ANDREA BRILLANTES SLAYS, AS PER USUAL

Andrea Brillantes plays two roles in the series: twins Sky and Luna, who go to school at the prestigious Northford High, where cliques and hierarchies run rampant, and a tragic event will change the students’ lives. Luna has big dreams, but is unfortunately being taken advantage of by the clique of popular rich kids led by Z (Daniella Stranner). Brave and headstrong Sky is new to the school and will do anything to find out what really happened to her sister.

The young actress committed herself to the role. In a blogger conference for the series, Andrea shared that she did extensive research to fully characterize Sky and Luna. Being very specific with characterizing each role, from their humor to the way they walked, allowed her to portray them distinctly. She is able to do so much with each twin, and we can’t wait to see her show-stopping performance.

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VETERAN ACTORS WITH THE NEW GENERATION

Acting alongside Andrea Brillantes is a stellar Gen Z cast comprised of Kyle Echarri, Xyriel Manabat, Juan Karlos Labajo, Elijah Canlas, Zaijan Jaranilla, Daniela Stranner, Miggy Jimenez, Tommy Alejandrino, and Gela Atayde in her first acting role where she also co-stars alongside her mother, Sylvia Sanchez. Dubbed the “future of Philippine entertainment,” the young cast is set to portray a wide variety of characters alongside “the industry’s finest”—a set of established veteran actors: Angel Aquino, Baron Geisler, Mon Confiado and so many more.

Senior High boasts a star-studded ensemble with the acting chops needed for such a project. Seeing Andrea go toe-to-toe with Angel Aquino in the trailer with bursts of emotion was a great moment that immediately established each of their perspectives and their relationship. Angel herself also praised the young actors. “Alam kong magagaling sila,” she says in the conference.

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CLASSIC HIGH SCHOOL SHENANIGANS—WITH A TWIST

The first teaser for the series showed a bunch of kids partying and doing things they probably shouldn’t be doing in a Euphoria-esque haze, but it kept many things about the narrative hidden until the full trailer.

Sure, the series delves into the usual—partying, romances, and secrets—as well as prevalent problems like fitting in at a new school, the popular rich kids taking advantage of the smart kid, parental pushback against dreams and aspirations, and so much more. The twist about Luna and her death, as well as Sky’s desperation to get to the bottom of things, adds a whole new dimension to the series.

THRILLING DRAMA—AND SERIOUS ISSUES

Luna’s apparent suicide doesn’t appease Sky nor Sylvia Sanchez’s character, the security guard who saw something go down before the incident. And with all the rumors about the popular clique mistreating Luna, something is definitely up. Andrea also revealed that each character in the series has their own storyline, so it will be interesting to find out what really goes on in the lives of the young students of Northford High.

With Luna’s mysterious death, the series shows that it’s not just your run-of-the-mill teen drama. Similar to the likes of Elite, Riverdale (Season 1, at least), and One of Us is Lying, Senior High will delve into a mystery and possible murder where the characters work together to get to the bottom of things, facing danger and action along the way.

With such intense subject matter, it’s important to deal with serious issues sensitively. Fortunately, Andrea and Elijah Canlas shared that such relevant and important topics like bullying, suicide, and abuse will be talked about and dealt with in proper ways.

LOOK: Juan Karlos Labajo, Kyle Echarri, Andrea Brillantes and Elijah Canlas will topbill the upcoming series 'Senior High'.

According to them, the show will tackle relevant and pressing issues of the youth today like bullying, depression, anxiety and more.

Andrea:… pic.twitter.com/SNs77s1BwH

— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) August 21, 2023

As Filipino entertainment diversifies the stories they tell and the way they tell it, it’s exciting to bear witness to all the new that comes next. Senior High will air on the Kapamilya Channel this August 28.

Continue Reading: 11 Filipino Movies And TV Shows That Should Be On Your 2023 Must-Watch List