Journeyman Film Review

 JOURNEYMAN Mini Review

by Mars Callo

Directed by Christian Paolo Lat and Dominic Lat

Starring JC Santos, Ruby Ruiz, Jasmine Curtis Smith, Darlyn Izabelle Salang, Raffy Tejada

Give JC Santos any role and he can nail it hard. In Journeyman he plays Angelo, a professional losing boxer who does the job for quick money and for his sickly daughter (Darlyn Izabelle Salang) and wife played by another brilliant actress Jasmine Curtis Smith. 

If you are familiar with director, Christian Paolo Lat, he also had his directorial debut of a boxing inspired film, Ginhawa, shown in 2022. This time he worked on this film together with brother Dominic who also served as co-director and cinematographer. Cool tandem. 

Journeyman explores the shady side of boxing in which matches can be fixed. Raffy Tejada plays Angelo's corrupt handler who instills in his boxer's mind that even if he doesn't win his fights, just think of the prize money that he can bring home for his family's needs. 

Notable scenes can be credited to Ms Ruby Ruiz as Nay Rosario, who works at a fish port where JC side hustles as a kargador of fish and other seafood faves. She gives life lessons to inspire Angelo to overcome trials and challenges and what life throws back at him.  

Kudos to JC who gained weight and trained hard for at least a couple of months just to be in top boxing shape and making his fight scenes very convincing all throughout the film. He can also consider this project as one of his most notable to date. 

Adding extra punch was a cameo from world champion Gerry Penalosa who brought authenticity to the sport that made him shine and famous during his active fighting years. He has truly inspired a lot of boxers to work extra hard and follow their dreams and bring glory and pride to the nation as a boxing champ eventually. 

These are the awards of JOURNEYMAN during Puregold Cine Panalo 2025 Awards Night:

Panalo Sa International Jury, Panalo sa Cinematography (tie with Olsen’s Day), Panalo sa Film Poster, the MTRCB Special Award for Responsableng Paglikha, Panalo sa Brand Intrusion, and the Puregold Always Panalo Film shared with the romantic-comedy film Fleeting by Catsi Catalan.

Co-Love Film Review

Co-Love Mini Review

by Mars Callo

Ditected by Jill Urdaneta Singson

Starring KD Estrada Alexa Ilacad Jameson Blake Kira Balinger 

When two popular content creators face conflicts in their respective romantic relationships, they decide to form an unlikely collaboration.

Social media these days can either break you or make you. Even personal relationships begin and end through social media.  

This is a kind of film where you just have to relax and not think much about its conflicts 

The fandom of KDLex are happy because of their idols, Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada are in this movie.  

Jameson Blake and Kira Balinger have quite a chemistry here, and their scenes are okay. These two can be paired again in another project, which I believe they will pull through.  

The Break Up Boys scenes with KD and Jameson were for me a fun to watch. They make a cute kilig bromance couple and could end up a potential series together.  

Speaking of series,  Co-Love was made for the intent of mainstream fans.  Would not be surprised if this ends up as an online series featuring more romantic comedy pairs.

Sepak Takraw Film Review

Directed by Mes de Guzman 

Starring Enzo Osorio Ruby Ruiz Acey Aguilar Nicollo Castillo Arnold Reyes

Article by Mars Callo

As the title suggests, one would think that most of this film's running time would dwell on the very sporty sepak takraw, the native sport of foot volleyball. 

Featuring award winning actors Enzo Osorio and Ms Ruby Ruiz together with Acey Aguilar, Arnold Reyes (in a special cameo) and Nicollo Castillo, the film also tackles the conflict of two long lost siblings as they face and struggle family matters in their young lives. 

From the success of young actor Enzo as Cinemalaya 2024 Best Actor for the film, The Hearing, his role in Sepak Takraw shifts from good character to a lead bully to long lost half brother Nicollo Castillo. A little taller now, Enzo always does his very best in roles he plays. With more training and acting workshops and exposure to various characters given his way, Enzo is on his way to pursuing the dream roles of his bright career in the acting industry. Same goes to Nicollo, this kid deserves a cool spot in showbiz as future dramatic actor inspired by the greats in Allen Dizon, Jericho Rosales or John Lloyd Cruz. 

What we liked about this movie is the cultural side of the Isinaya tribe of Nueva Ecija, the birth province of director Mes. He fittingly gave us an immersion, of regardless as a disappearing tribe, the indigenous folks have interesting practices when it comes to death, healing and cleansing as depicted in the film. The movie also notes the downside of losing ancestral domain to rich capitalists providing jobs and tourism in the guise of a natural resort for profit. 

Hall of Famer award winning actress Ms Ruby is a cinematic gem and treasure. She does her characters so well it just comes out of her so naturally. Truly an actor's actor. She is a regular favorite actress to cast in the many film festivals here and abroad. 

Sepak Takraw is more than a sports themed film and the challenges that go along with dominating the sport can also be compared side by side with life's thorns pertaining to handling and resolving sensitive family issues or matters that eventually lead to forgiveness and acceptance in the end.