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The Last BeerGin

Jude Cartalaba

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759827513735557630804_1384069790385828_2771260467815778593_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Grand premiere night of &#x27;The Last BeerGin&#x27; at Gateway Cinema. Cineko/Facebook "/>Grand premiere night of &#x27;The Last BeerGin&#x27; at Gateway Cinema. Cineko/Facebook </div>MANILA — Director Nuel Naval and screenwriter Mel Mendoza-del Rosario, the powerhouse duo behind &quot;Miracle in Cell No. 7,&quot; &quot;Family Matters,&quot; and &quot;Family of Two,&quot; return to cinemas with &quot;The Last BeerGin,&quot; which opened in cinemas last October 1.Produced by Cineko Productions and Obra Cinema Productions, the film is less about alcohol and more about what happens when people finally let their walls down.“Hindi kasi ako manginginom,&quot; Mendoza-del Rosario admits. “Ever since the ‘90s lagi akong designated driver so I get to intently witness friends and people go through the stages ng kalasingan hanggang mawalan ng malay at ulirat.”The film follows five strangers — each carrying emotional baggage — who unexpectedly find themselves in a moment of connection. As they share a drink, they begin to share something far more potent: their truths, their stories, and their pain. And in between shots, something stronger is served: the chance to be seen, heard, and maybe —finally — valued.Asked what made him pursue the project, Naval promptly replied, “Actually, we wanted to do a low-budget film without compromising content and quality. This is to help the industry since hindi pa nga bumabalik ang mga tao sa sinehan as it used to in pre-pandemic days.&quot;“Mahirap din kasi mag-produce tapos hindi kikita. Kawawa rin mga producers. So nag-isip kami ng concept na medyo mura lang. But of course, &#x27;yun may kabuluhan pa rin, stay true to our core as filmmakers,” the director added.Filmed in 12 days, the film is a toast to vulnerability, a chaser for emotional honesty, and a reminder that sometimes, the most healing conversations happen over the simplest pulutan — and the most unexpected samahan.It features five seasoned stars: Cherry Pie Picache as Tere, a woman quietly breaking under the weight of caregiving; JC Santos as RG, emotionally locked and unwilling to speak; Zaijian Jaranilla as Isaac, a young man in love but painfully invisible; Xyriel Manabat as Sandy, a privileged youth masking emptiness with attitude; and Pepe Herrera as Hilo, a father running from the family he can no longer face.In a culture where emotions are often served with laughter and pain is chased with silence, &quot;The Last BeerGin&quot; captures the bittersweet reality of being Filipino in 2025: emotionally loaded, quietly hurting, and still showing up for one more round.“I imagined the characters, but have no final casting in mind. All I know is that competent actors are a major requirement to pull off the material,” Mendoza-del Rosario stressed. The flick is a raw, resonant, and deeply Filipino dramedy that invites audiences to pull up a chair, raise a glass, and ask themselves: How much truth can you really take in one sitting?

After a string of box-office hits, director Nuel Naval and writer Mel Mendoza-del Rosario team up once again for The Last BeerGin, a raw, intimate dramedy that proves sometimes the strongest chaser isn’t alcohol — it’s honesty.

After a string of box-office hits, director Nuel Naval and writer Mel Mendoza-del Rosario team up once again for The Last BeerGin , a raw, intimate dramedy that proves sometimes the strongest chaser isn’t alcohol — it’s honesty.

Nuel Naval and Mel Mendoza-del Rosario reunite for ‘The Last BeerGin’

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Nuel Naval and Mel Mendoza-del Rosario reunite for ‘The Last BeerGin’

Jude Cartalaba

Published October 07, 2025 05:04 PM PHT

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The Last BeerGin

Nuel Naval

Mel Mendoza-del Rosario

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