How ‘Rekonek’ aims to rekindle Filipino Christmas magic in MMFF 2025

MANILA, Philippines – As soon as the “ber” months arrive, most Filipino households will already have their Christmas trees set up. As early as September, malls and dining establishments begin to play Christmas tunes, and before long, kids take to the streets to carol from house to house. It’s also a time when many Filipinos working abroad return home to reunite with their families. Suffice it to say, Christmas is a big deal in the Philippines.

This is what the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Rekonek hopes to highlight, but not in the way you would think. Set 10 days before Christmas, the film centers on six different families whose lives are suddenly disrupted by a global internet outage.

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With no choice but to step away from their screens, they are pushed to reconnect with themselves, their loved ones, and even long-standing enemies at times, through more traditional, deeply rooted ways of bonding. Through themes of family, friendship, love, loyalty, and forgiveness, each family slowly finds its way back to the heart of what makes a true Filipino Christmas.

Only after this narrative unfolds does Rekonek seamlessly align with the MMFF’s long-standing tradition of opening on December 25. Running until January 3, the festival spans the entire holiday season, a period when Filipinos have both the time and resources to spend on entertainment.

By showcasing exclusively local films, the MMFF celebrates a cultural moment where families gather in cinemas during the holidays, and Rekonek taps into this by bringing back the long-missed warmth of the Filipino Christmas movie.

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The film restores the intimacy and tenderness often lost in modern celebrations, leaning into timeless Filipino values nurtured at home. A feel-good story at its core, Rekonek promises to leave audiences with lighter hearts, wrapped in the warm glow of cinema and the season of perpetual hope.

In the making

The concept of an internet-free holiday film originated with Reality MM Studios co-founder Erik Matti, which director Jade Castro readily embraced, followed by his intuitive casting choices.

The star-studded ensemble, spanning multiple generations, includes Gloria Diaz, Gerald Anderson, Bella Padilla, Andrea Brillantes, Charlie Dizon, the Legaspi family, Kokoy Santos, Angel Guardian, Alexa Miro, Kelvin Miranda, Raf Pineda, and Jaypee Tibayan.

Apart from its unique concept and ensemble, the project also marks a series of firsts for the stars involved. The film marks Gerald Anderson’s first venture into producing, following 20 years in the industry as a lead actor. 

Stepping into this new role allowed him to see filmmaking from an entirely different perspective, giving him a deeper appreciation for the work that happens behind the camera. He shared the logistical decisions and storytelling considerations he had to make, expressing that, for him, the story remains the most significant element. 

“You could have a beautiful cast like this, pero kung hindi maganda story mo o hindi malinaw (but if the story isn’t good or clear), it won’t work,” he said.

When asked if producing films for MMFF will become an annual tradition, he answered that it doesn’t have to be limited to the festival. 

“Puwede rin sa TV, sa digital, sa movies. Tignan natin (It could also be for TV, digital, or movies. Let’s see),” he said. 

Anderson’s openness to exploring different platforms as the right story presents itself, notes that audiences today consume content in a variety of ways. For him, the priority is creating projects that feel meaningful and thoughtfully executed, regardless of the medium.

Anderson’s first step into producing not only expands his career but also allows him to contribute to the industry that has shaped him over the years. For now, however, the first-time producer is fully focused on Rekonek, embracing all the rights and challenges involved in its making and learning from them along the way.

The Legaspi family also faced the unique challenge of playing an on-screen family: the Crowder family. Although they previously worked together in the television series Hating Kapatid, this is the first time they are portraying a family in a film. Cassy shared that the experience allowed them to see each other in a different light, and she felt a bit pressured knowing that her on-screen parents were her real-life mother and father. 

Portraying a family on screen again gave them the chance to explore new dynamics and interactions, each day determined to go on set with a clear role to play. It was a learning curve for everyone as they adjusted to combining personal familiarity with professional performance. 

“I need to shake this [weird] feeling of hindi ko siya magulang na gan’to (they’re not my parents in this way)… I need to get back to the professional side, that’s the challenging part,” Cassy said. 

Meanwhile, Carmina, Zoren, and Mavy emphasized that the family has always felt comfortable working together, having previously collaborated on commercials and endorsements. The main challenge wasn’t about the blurred lines between their onscreen and offscreen relationship, but surprisingly, it was coordinating their personal schedules. Nonetheless, the family loved the experience and expressed gratitude for this “once in a blue moon” opportunity.

The film also stars Andrea Brillantes in a role opposite to her usual teleserye and drama-infused ones. Her role in Rekonek, the actress attested, signals the start of her “comedic era.” 

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“Kilala ‘nyo po talaga ako bilang pinapaiyak sa mga teleserye, lagi pong nag da-drama, so ito po yung first light role ko talaga,” Brillantes said.

(All of you know me for roles where I’m always crying in teleseryes, always doing heavy drama, so this is really my first light role.)

Without all the emotional weight she usually infuses into her characters, such as the bratty Margaret “Marga” Mondragon-Bartolome from Kadenang Ginto or, simultaneously, twin sisters Luna Amor Cruz and Sky Love Cruz, in Senior High and High Street, the actress expresses her happiness for the audience to see this new side of her onscreen persona. 

Above all, though, Rekonek hopes to capture the togetherness that defines the ever-familiar nature of Filipino Christmas. It aims to remind audiences that, beyond the decorative lights and sing-song carols, it’s the connections we nurture that truly make the season memorable. – Claire Masbad/Rappler.com

Claire Masbad is a Rappler intern studying AB Communication Arts at De La Salle University.