Paskong Pasko Na Talaga! What Makes a Christmas Celebration…Filipino?

Trisha Echeverria lives on! 

IdeaFirst Live! is set to bring the 2015 LGBT comedy-drama film “Die Beautiful” to the stage later this year. This was revealed by Jun Robles Lana, co-Artistic Director and director of the 2015 film, during a press preview held for the upcoming stage adaptation of “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan,” set for March 2025. 

“Die Beautiful” is one of the movies that IdeaFirst Live! is thinking of bringing on stage. They are also currently developing original materials for future productions. As for their motives behind their live production, Jun Robles Lana says that they want to be loud and clear about who they are and what they stand for as a company. 

“If we go into musicals, the kind of materials that we will do would be something like ‘Die Beautiful.’ That’s who we are as a company and as entertainers. But definitely, one of the things we want to do is to make original materials for the stage; just because the films we made were successful doesn’t mean we’ll immediately adapt them to the stage.” 

“Die Beautiful” by Jun Robles Lana

The film follows the life and story of Trisha Echevarria, a trans woman who died of a cerebral aneurysm after being crowned as Binibining Gay Pilipinas. Every day during her wake, Trisha is transformed into different female celebrities through her best friend Barbs’ skills in makeup. 

The film was an entry to the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, where Paolo Ballesteros (Trisha Echevarria) and Christian Bables (Barbs) won the awards for “Best Actor” and “Best Supporting Actor”.  The film also competed in the Main Competition of the Tokyo International Film Festival, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3, 2016, winning the “Best Actor” and “Audience Choice Award.” 

It is followed by a sequel, “Born Beautiful” (2019), focusing on the life of Barbs, now portrayed by Martin del Rosario.

Filipinos love love and no one knows this better than the storytellers who narrate such tales. “Everything About My Wife,” the much talked about movie that reunites real-life couple, Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado, onscreen is set to hit cinemas on Feb. 26, 2025, just in time for Feb-ibig! 

With an official trailer that has amassed over 2 million views and counting, “Everything About My Wife” is set to become the rom-com of the year. We can't be the only ones in tears when Jennylyn uttered this line in the trailer: "Nangako tayo for better or for worse, pero sumuko ka at our worse (We made a vow [to stick together] for better or for worse, but you gave up at our worse).”

Hugot line of the year alert!

Produced in collaboration with GMA Pictures and CreaZion Studios (of which the film’s director, Real Florido is Chief Creative Officer) “Everything About My Wife” tells the story of a Filipino couple as they traverse the challenges of their relationship. The film introduces us to Dom (Dennis Trillo) and Imogen (Jennylyn Mercado), a husband-and-wife duo who try to build a family and find ways to keep the spark alive between them. But as they enter their seventh year of marriage, hardships set in as Dom faces the feeling of being trapped in his relationship. Enter ladies’ man and "Cassanova," Miguel (Sam Milby) who comes into Imogen’s life and further tests the couple’s relationship. 

Headlined by award-winning actors, “Everything About My Wife” explores themes close to Filipinos’ hearts and opens a discussion about what love truly is. As the movie tagline so succinctly put it: "'Pag ang better naging worse (When better becomes worse), can love heal everything?”

The Beat Asia, in an exclusive interview, talked to Director Real Florido, Jennylyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo, and Sam Milby about their creative process, their characters, and what they’ve learned about love along the way. 

Director Real, what did you want your viewers to take away from this film?

Director Real Florido: [While] I love the ridiculousness of the premise, at the same time, I know that a lot of people go through similar challenges in their relationships, whether married or not. That’s why I think it's very important to have this kind of discussion on marriage because for us Filipinos, marriage is sacred and it's very important. So, I feel strongly about the movie because of the topic alone.

Also, when I first saw [the script], I just knew in my mind that Jennylyn and Dennis would be the perfect couple to do it.

What do you think audiences will be surprised to see in the film?

Real: The performances! The actors pushed themselves to commit to the hilariousness of the characters they portrayed. But at the same time, it’s all very grounded in reality.

Audiences will see performances [by the actors] that they might not expect. For example, people have seen Dennis do a lot of things: from a Japanese colonel (in “Pulang Araw”) to a person deprived of liberty in “Green Bones.” Jennylyn naman is known as a dramatic actress and a very bankable rom-com star. We’ve seen Sam Milby in a lot of classic, Filipino adult movies and teleseryes [and so I think] when people see the movie, they will not expect how versatile these actors truly are. People might be surprised at how well they do all these ridiculous things, but be very serious when necessary.

Dennis, Jennylyn, and Sam, did you guys relate to your onscreen characters in any way?

Jennylyn Mercado: Yes, nakaka-relate ako. Mag-asawa kami ni Dennis sa totoong buhay and yung pinortray ko na role ay wife niya rin. So malaking bagay yung influence ng personal life ko sa character ko (Yes, I relate to my onscreen character because in the movie, I portray Dennis’ character’s wife and I’m also his wife in real life. So definitely, my character was influenced by my personal life). 

The last time Dennis and I worked together was 10 years ago. When we were doing this film, it was kind of rough at first, but when we got the flow of it, it was much easier because we had a good sense of teamwork.

Sam Milby: I’m the shy, introverted, quiet type but my character is outgoing and overly confident so he’s very different from me. At the same time, however, I can still relate to him because I went through a time in my life where, [like my character], I was going through heartbreak. I guess I can relate to him [especially when I think back to] that point in my life.

This is a movie about marriage and relationships. Dennis and Jennylyn, what lessons did you learn from your own marriage?

Jennylyn: Bukod sa magkaroon ng mahabang patience, napaka-importante  na  ayusin ninyo lahat ng problema niyo na kayong dalawa. Hindi kayo matutulog  nang nag-aaway. Lahat ng mga malilit na bagay, huwag niyo nang  palakihin, palampasin niyo na. Kailangan ng mahabang patience,  understanding, at laging, laging  nangingibabaw 'yung love (Aside from learning to stay patient, I also learned that it’s so important for a couple to be able to fix their problems. Don’t go to sleep angry at each other. Don’t let small things become big things, let the small things slide. In a marriage, it’s important to have plenty of patience, and understanding. Make sure that love comes out on top).

Dennis Trillo: Ako naman siguro pinaka-importante sa akin 'yung pagiging  team  player, lalo  na  kapag  you're  in a  relationship,  kailangan always  present  yung  teamwork. Hindi pwede na isa lang 'yung gumagawa ng paraan para maging okay 'yung relationship. (For me, I learned about the importance of being a team player, especially while in a relationship. You should always work as a team. The relationship won’t work out if only one person is finding ways to make the relationship work.) Always work hand in hand. Stick together through the highs and lows no matter what happens.

What was your creative process in bringing your characters to life?

Dennis: This project is an adaptation of an original concept that already has a lot of versions. [There’s 'All About My Wife', which is the Korean version and 'Un Novio Para Mi Mujer' or 'A Boyfriend for My Wife', which is the Argentinian version]. I think it was very important for me to watch those original films and take notes before putting [my] own flavor into it for the Filipino version.

Were there any challenges that you faced during the filming of the film?

Jennylyn: I’m very comfortable na kasi working with Dennis and Sam. Nakatrabaho ko naman sila pareho [before] and si Direk Real, matagal ko na siyang kakilala, though first time ko siya nakatrabaho as director (I’m very comfortable working with Dennis and Sam because I’ve already worked with them before. I’ve also known Director Real for some time now, though this is the first time I’ve worked with him professionally).

Pero I’m very happy dahil importante kasi 'yung collaboration ng director and actor and hindi niya kami pinabayaan. Ang sarap ng feeling na maganda 'yung collaboration. Hindi ako nahihiyang magtanong. Very comfortable ako sa set with  Dennis and Sam. Tapos if may mga suggestions si Direk, open kami gawin lahat (But I’m very happy because I know how important collaboration is between a director and actor, and Director Real gave us plenty of support. I didn’t feel uncomfortable asking questions and I’m very comfortable on set with Dennis and Sam. If Director Real had any suggestions, we were all open and willing to do it).

Excited ako na mapanood nilang lahat dahil maganda 'yung chemistry  naming tatlo (I’m excited for people to see the movie because Dennis, Sam, and I have great chemistry onscreen).

Aside from Everything About My Wife, what projects are you looking forward to this 2025?

Jennylyn:  Magkakaroon kami ng TV series ni Dennis sa GMA. Malapit na, sa second quarter of this year. Mayron din akong new album under Star Music.  And sana marami pang maging project ang Brightburn Entertainment, production company namin (Dennis and I will star in a new TV series with GMA to be released during the second quarter of this year. I also have a new album coming up under Star Music. And I’m hopeful that Dennis and I can land more projects for our production company, Brightburn Entertainment).

Sam: Besides this movie, there’s my teleserye with Julia Montes called 'Saving Grace.' It’s still airing. I’m also hoping to get back into music this year. I have a friend who teaches music production and [you know] music has always been my first passion. I haven’t done music for a long time so I want to learn the ins and outs of music production while I’m waiting for my next movie or TV series.

Real: My company, CreaZion Studios, will be launching a lot of big projects this year including an international co-production for a TV series. It will be in collaboration with a local network. We will announce more details about it soon but it’s a very big project. We also have a lot of movies coming out soon from CreaZion Studios.

"Everything About My Wife" is set to hit cinemas on Feb. 26, 2025.

Follow CreaZion Studios on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit their website to learn more.

If you’re anywhere on social media, the name “Lottie Bie” might have come up once or twice. 

With her comedy skits making its rounds on TikTok, earning her millions of likes and a staggering 3.2 million followers on the platform alone as of writing, it’s safe to say that Lottie Bie is a social media star! 

Popular for her satire and comedy content, Lottie is shaping the content creator scene one skit at a time. It’s more than just “funny.” Part of what we believe makes her videos so entertaining is their relatability aspect. These dialogues and scenarios embody a type of humor that is very Filipino like her “English series,” which shows hilarious dialogues about the struggles of translating Tagalog or switching to what is otherwise known as “conyo English” in everyday conversations. 

If you follow Lottie, you’ll know that she’s more than her funny skits. In fact, the content creator wears many hats: director, writer, and NFT (non-fungible token) artist. A woman of many talents, Lottie has taken social media by storm, and if she can do that in a few years, we believe she can do anything.

But how did it all start? The Beat Asia talked to the TikTok star herself to know more about her career journey, her inspirations, and her creative process. 

A Passionate Endeavor

Like many influencers today, Lottie started her content creation journey at the height of the global pandemic, when social interaction was limited and all that was available then was to connect online. 

“It all started during the pandemic when I was diagnosed with ADHD,” she told The Beat Asia. “I was looking for an outlet and ended up downloading TikTok. I started uploading dance videos. Secretly, at first. I never shared them with friends or family. And then I moved on to skits, and eventually, my satire and comedy content started blowing up. I stuck with it because the reactions excited me. Ang saya pala mang-trip (It’s actually fun to joke around)!”

If you all don’t know already, Lottie’s name was inspired by a nickname she got in college for her gorgeous curls. “Lottie” was taken from “Kulottie,” a cute term for “kulot” which means curly in Filipino, while “Bie” is from her real name. With her online screen name, Lottie had made a name for herself not just for her funny content videos but also in other forms of media.

Having already been used to being in front of the camera, it’s no surprise that she has dipped her toes in acting and was even seen in the 2023 Cinemalaya entry, “When This is All Over.” She also published a book called, “Crumpled Pages,” which features a collection of letters that showcased her creativity and sensitivity. Additionally, Lottie is a successful director, business owner, and artist. 

When asked if she had always been inclined to the arts, the multi-talented creator answered, “Yes. Ever since I can remember, I never liked math, so I’ve always been a creative girlie. I was involved in theater, choir, and music. When I started working, I wore many hats. I’ve always been working. Back in high school, I had a summer job as an encoder. In college, I tried working at a call center. After graduation, I became an events coordinator, then an editor, a writer, an English teacher — yes, I taught English to foreign students as hard as that is to believe *laughs* —an assistant director, a producer, and now, a full-time director and content creator.”

A triple threat and some, Lottie can practically run an entertainment empire by herself and it’s amazing to see how she had utilized these talents to create art — and more importantly, share it with the world and inspire people to follow their passions as well. When asked how she got to this point in her career, the artist humbly replied, “God. To be honest, all grace and opportunities come from Him. I was simply doing what I loved, and opportunities just presented themselves.”

“I stayed consistent with my passion. I didn’t stop when I felt discouraged. I kept posting, improving, enjoying, and engaging. I like singing, so I sing. I like acting, so I act. I like writing, so I write. I surrendered my work to God, and everything else followed. I also learned to ignore negativity along the way.”

Lottie Bie On Keeping it Real and Being a Source of Laughter

Lottie had always known she had an innate talent for humor. The massive support she received in the past few years, however, was something entirely unexpected.  

“I never expected my videos to blow up when I started. I simply wanted an outlet. But I’m glad they did well, and because of people’s support, I get to do what I love and share my blessings with others,” she said. “I think I’ve always been this way. Finding me funny is subjective, though. I’ve always been a weirdo — talking to myself and having imaginary friends. I guess that’s what happens when you’re an only child. My jokes have had their seasons. When I was younger, not many people understood my sense of humor. But luckily, I make people laugh now.”

The content creator also emphasized that she couldn’t take full credit for everything considering the majority of her content was inspired by interactions with her friends. 

“Life, experiences, watching content, my ADHD. I get ideas everywhere! I write them down immediately when I get them because ideas are everywhere. But if you don’t express them, they’ll simply evaporate.”

When asked about how she feels about being the resident “funny girl” on TikTok, Lottie is all about keeping it real, explaining that her online persona is 100% her, minus details about her private life which are kept in the shadows. 

But the humor? The creator commented, “That’s all me. But it’s also not all of me. Gets ba? Haha, basta! (Does that make sense? Anyway!) I don’t overthink it. If I find it funny, that’s good enough for me. I’m the type of person who laughs at my own jokes. Bahala na sila if they enjoy it too (it’s up to them if they enjoy it too).”

Lottie also gave us a glimpse into her creative process and how she creates her viral skits. She mentioned that her process is quite different from when she is directing projects and creating her personal content. 

“I’m more loose and lenient when it comes to my personal content. When it comes to directing, I have to consider the clients,” she said. “As for the process… In directing, I love collaboration. I get ideas from the production team and I encourage them to suggest things as long as they align with the creative vision. I’m also a fan of authentic reactions. I always tell my camera crew to keep rolling even after I yell ‘cut!’ because actors tend to loosen up when they think they’re not being recorded.”

When asked if there’s a profession she particularly enjoys more, Lottie responded, “I can’t choose; I enjoy both. I get to wear different hats, and that, in itself, is the best part of what I do. I don’t favor one over the other. When I’m a creator on the set of another director, I enjoy being a talent — the director’s problems are not mine to figure out. If I’m the director, I give my talents the freedom to express themselves.”

In content creation, talks on social responsibility would always come up because influence is power given to those who have acquired a wide audience like Lottie who has garnered millions of loyal fans. With that kind of reach, there’s always the possibility of cracking under pressure and expectations. But the director, however, has an interesting mindset:

“The pressure comes from making sure I don’t influence anyone negatively. But at the same time, I don’t create content to please everyone. I understand that people have different viewpoints, so… what’s the point? *laughs*”

When asked if the numbers and engagement stats have ever influenced her, she mentioned that her relationship with them has changed over time.  “At first, I didn’t care about likes and followers. Then I started caring too much and overthought everything. Now, I’m somewhere in the middle. I consider the likes and followers, but they’re not my driving force anymore. I create because I love creating.”

Now a full-time director and content creator, the world is at her fingertips and we can only hope for more — be it a TikTok skit, a movie, a new book, or even a song. This multi-talented artist and content creator is definitely someone to keep on your radar. 

We asked her if there were any other creative endeavors she wished to pursue, and Lottie replied, “I’m not sure, to be honest. I wanted to write, so I wrote a book. I wanted to sing, so I released a single. I wanted to act, so I said yes to TV and film work. I guess my goal now is to stay consistent in all those paths I’ve taken. But if another opportunity knocks, I’m game. Maybe voice acting would be fun?”

Whatever she tries to pursue next, we’re sure it’s going to be a hit! 

You can follow Lottie Bie on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to see more of her hilarious and fantastic content. 

One of the greatest professional boxers of all time joins the quest for the ultimate physique. 

In a surprise announcement on Feb. 4, 2025, Netflix revealed that Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will be joining the South Korean reality competition “Physical: Asia.” 

Slated for release later this year, “Physical: Asia” is an expansion of “Physical: 100,” where “the most physically fit contenders from across Asia will compete fiercely, representing their countries with pride.” 

Netflix also teased a change in the dynamics of the competition, instead of it being an individual contest, competitors will be “uniting under their national flags for the toughest, most pulse-pounding missions yet.” 

“Physical: 100” topped the Netflix Global Top 10 TV Series (Non-English) list when it first came out, making history as the first South Korean reality TV show to do so. 

No further details have been revealed as of this writing. Stay tuned to learn more, and follow Netflix on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram.