03/01/2026
Big Impact while something to remind ourselves. LIBERTY
ADOPTION, ANNULMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUSIVITY: THESE MMFF FILMS REMIND US WHY THE LAW MATTERS
A few days before the release of the Bar Exam results, the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 quietly gave us three films that reminded us why the law and the legal profession matter, even beyond courtrooms and classrooms.
Kip Oebanda’s Bar Boys returned to the story of lawyers and the paths they choose. More than the grind of law school or practice, it centered on human rights and the responsibility that comes with the title. It reminded us that the law is not just about success or survival, but about who you stand up for, especially when no one else will.
Jun Robles Lana’s Call Me Mother tackled adoption with honesty and care. It showed how the law intersects with love, identity, and belonging. Adoption was not treated as mere paperwork or procedure, but as a deeply human process where legal rules exist to protect, but never replace, compassion and sacrifice.
Jeffrey Jeturian’s Unmarry explored annulment and the painful reality of relationships that no longer work. It showed how the law steps in when love fails, not to judge, but to provide structure, protection, and dignity for people trying to move forward.
Sigrid Bernardo’s I’mperfect tells a simple but powerful story of two people with Down syndrome falling in love. Although the law is not the central concept, it touches on anti-discrimination, inclusivity, and PWD rights, and reminds us that the law should protect the right to love and live with dignity, regardless of ability.
Taken together, these films reminded us that the law affects our lives in ways we often do not notice. It shapes families, defines rights, and gives people a chance to heal, rebuild, or fight for others. It affects the relationships we choose and those we let go.
At a time when many are waiting anxiously for their Bar results, these stories were a timely reminder. The law is not just an exam to pass. It is a tool that touches real lives every day.
Thanks to these films, we are reminded that the legal profession is not just about lawyers in courtrooms. It is about people, stories, struggles, and second chances.
Huge thank you to the cast and production! Vice Ganda Nadine Lustre Carlo Aquino Rocco Nacino Enzo Pineda Kean Cipriano Will Ashley Sassa Gurl Zanjoe Marudo Nathan Studios Inc.
