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A scene from 'Bar Boys: After School'

Fred Hawson

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766481556579Screenshot 2025-12-23 at 5.16.49 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>A scene from &#x27;Bar Boys: After School&#x27;</div>Atty. Torran Garcia (Rocco Nacino) married a singer Jasmine (Glaiza de Castro), and is now a law professor at his alma mater. Atty. Christian Carlson (Enzo Pineda) is a big time lawyer in New York City, but whose marriage is on the rocks. Atty. Erik Vicencio (Carlo Aquino) is a lawyer of a NGO helping farmers who just narrowly escaped being shot. Joshua Zuniga (Kean Cipriano) getst disillusioned with his showbiz career, and returns to law school. Torran takes over a class in Political Law in the absence of Justice Hernandez (Odette Khan). Among the groupmates of Josh in that class are Arvin Asuncion (Will Ashley), who has to balance his studies with a menial job; CJ David (Therese Malvar), whose goal is to fight a quarrying company destroying their remote village; and Trisha Perez (Sassa Gurl), a brilliant trans woman student on her way to becoming class valedictorian. The events of this sequel happen 10 years after the events of the first film, &quot;Bar Boys&quot; (2017), also written, directed and co-produced by Kip Oebanda.This time around, Oebanda had the help of fellow writer-directors Carlo Catu and Zig Dulay in writing the script. Like the original, this sequel also contains classroom recitations, legal discussions and current issues.We see ruthless tactics of expensive wily lawyers to get their clients off the hook, as exemplified by Atty. Rhodina Banal (a formidable turn by Sheila Francisco). The four main actors have grown up in outlook and in look.Even if he is the eldest of them at age 40, Carlo Aquino still looks as youthful and vulnerable as he did in the first film.Rocco Nacino looks respectable and professorial with his glasses and premature greys. Enzo Pineda looks every inch the prideful rich guy whose guts you&#x27;d hate. His Chris is such an insensitive pain when he complains about his wife, you&#x27;d cheer Jasmine on when she tells him off big time.We can see how much Kean Cipriano has matured from his old photos in the collection of his big fan Mae (a scene-stealing film debut by Klarisse de Guzman). The three younger actors who play the aspiring lawyers also had their respective moments to shine.Therese Malvar has been known to be an intense actress since she was a child, so it was no surprise how she made the most of her limited screen time. On the other hand, trans comedian Sassa Gurl surprised me as she spouted legalese in a smart and serious performance as Trisha.Will Ashley got to show off his drama skills as his Arvin was the most challenging role of the three. Emilio Daez, as Arvin&#x27;s stoic but sympathetic boss Chef Ziggy, was also given a memorable moment as he urges his employee to pursue his passion. 79-year-old Ms. Odette Khan, who had won multiple Best Supporting Awards for the first film, is billed as lead this time.All her scenes were particularly well-written, with several quotable quotes about life and the law.Her words about lawyers being &quot;invisible by design&quot; and how integrity is &quot;the courage to be disliked&quot; stuck to me.Her iconic Justice Hernandez may have mellowed down with her age and health, but Ms. Khan&#x27;s performance still hits very hard. The best scenes of each actor in the cast were those they shared with her. Ms. Khan knew that this is the role she is going to be best remembered for, and she gave it her all.<div> </div>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, “<a href="https://said-fred.blogspot.com/2025/12/mmff-2025-review-of-unmarry-advice.html">Fred Said</a>.”

Set a decade after the original film, 'Bar Boys: After School' reunites its once-idealistic law students — now practicing lawyers, professors, and disillusioned adults — while introducing a new generation grappling with the same questions of integrity, privilege, and purpose.

Set a decade after the original film, ' Bar Boys: After School' reunites its once-idealistic law students — now practicing lawyers, professors, and disillusioned adults — while introducing a new generation grappling with the same questions of integrity, privilege, and purpose.

MMFF review: 10 years later, ‘Bar Boys: After School’ puts integrity back on trial

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MMFF review: 10 years later, ‘Bar Boys: After School’ puts integrity back on trial

Fred Hawson

Published December 26, 2025 04:00 PM PHT

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Updated December 27, 2025 11:15 PM PHT

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MMFF

Bar Boys

Bar Boys After School

Kip Oebanda

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