After months of sluggish performance, the Philippine film industry is showing renewed strength, thanks to the strong box-office returns of three major films released since September — “100 Awit Para Kay Stella,” “Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna,” and “Quezon.”
100 AWIT PARA KAY STELLA
After several years of anticipation, “100 Awit Para Kay Stella” finally hit cinemas — the sequel to the 2017 box-office and critically acclaimed romantic drama “100 Tula Para Kay Stella.”
Bela Padilla and JC Santos reprise their beloved roles as Stella and Fidel, joined by Kapamilya actor-singer Kyle Echarri. Written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the film reportedly earned around ₱70 million, according to industry sources.
MINAMAHAL: 100 BULAKLAK PARA KAY LUNA
Laxamana scored another box-office hit shortly after, with “Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna” — the debut movie of rising love team Andres Muhlach and Ashtine Olviga, now popularly known as AshDres.
While the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) reported that the film earned ₱25 million in two weeks, some sources dispute this figure, estimating the earnings to be closer to ₱60 million.
One insider argued that the numbers published by PEP seem “mathematically impossible,” explaining that the movie grossed roughly ₱7 million on its opening day alone, with several theaters reportedly recording strong performance.
As of now, VIVA Films — the studio behind both “100 Awit” and “Minamahal” — has yet to release official figures, admitting in an interview that they currently have no in-house cinema checkers to verify box-office results.
QUEZON
After years in the making, TBA Studios and filmmaker Jerrold Tarog finally released the highly anticipated “Quezon”, the third installment in the “BAYANIverse” historical film franchise.
Premiered last Wednesday, October 15, the film chronicles the life and political legacy of former President Manuel Luis Quezon, the second President of the Philippines and first President of the Commonwealth Republic.
Starring Jericho Rosales as Quezon, alongside Karylle and Mon Confiado, the movie has already earned an estimated ₱13 million in just three days, with projections suggesting it could reach ₱40–₱50 million depending on positive word of mouth.
Both “100 Awit Para Kay Stella” and “Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna” continue to screen in select cinemas nationwide, while “Quezon” is currently showing in over 200 theaters across the Philippines — a promising sign that local audiences are once again embracing Filipino storytelling on the big screen.