The rainy season can unearth a wide variety of emotions in us that we once kept dormant. Inclement weather will inevitably lead to cancelled plans, bouts of “bed-rotting,” and indoor alternatives for your outdoor agendas. Still, these unforeseen changes can remind us of the compassion that we should always have for the people around us who experience this period of tag-ulan differently.
Many Filipinos have long associated gloomy weather with their enduring plight. These struggles, whether personal or large-scale, are highlighted further in the local films and TV shows we keep coming back to at the first sign of rain. What better way to appreciate these compelling stories and human perspectives than through a critical lens of the system they’re under?
Photo: VIVA Films, VIVA TV/YouTube
Our rainy season watch lists will always serve a purpose that goes beyond comfort, kilig, and yearning. They’re reflections of the voices and identities we encounter every day that harbor striking sentiments about the world we live in and the notions that govern it. They help you ruminate on the pressing realities we endure, take action when needed, and find hope in the fact that we aren’t alone in bearing these experiences.
We’ve all laughed, swooned, and definitely cried over these sentimental media picks at least once in our lives. Here’s how they squeeze a little brightness into our rainy days through evergreen reflections and insights:
I’m Drunk, I Love You (2017)
Simple, effective, and universally timeless. They say “you can’t ‘out-yearn’ a Filipino,” and one might argue that everyone’s favorite best friends, Carson (Maja Salvador) and Dio (Paulo Avelino) of JP Habac’s I’m Drunk, I Love You, are at the forefront of getting that point across.
The Hows of Us (2018)
We’ve all met a George (Kathryn Bernardo) or a Primo (Daniel Padilla) in our lives who’d turn their lives upside down for the people they love, their goals and futures be damned. Being in either character’s place is a fate we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemies, especially in today’s economy. But The Hows of Us is proof that we can still take charge of our own trajectories, even if heartbreak puts us through the wringer. And if the world won’t stop to ease our hardships (or watch us brave through intense confrontations in the rain), then it’ll point to the sources of healing that we need most.
Ulan (2019)
In Irene Villamor’s Ulan, Nadine Lustre and Carlo Aquino portray a whimsical, earnest romance that even the gods of rain can’t detest, try as they might. The pair shines as Maya and Peter, two star-crossed dreamers who find solace in one another even amid the real world’s soul-crushing demands. Filipino folklore and age-old superstitions add an unsung purpose to their otherwise dreadful lives, casting gentle rays of light onto the harshest hurricanes.
Isa Pa, With Feelings (2019)
What happens when the world seems to close in on you, and you have nothing left to hold on to but your own emotions? You get Isa Pa, With Feelings, a bittersweet romance by Prime Cruz that approaches love in a tender, unassuming light. We’ve all longed for a bond like Mara (Maine Mendoza) and Gali’s (Carlo Aquino) before, where they choose one another every day above the judgment and hurdles that surround them.
Ngayon Kaya (2022)
Though carefree and upbeat at times, Ngayon Kaya challenges viewers to make peace with their regrets, impulsive decisions, and all the missed chances at love that they never bothered to take. Follow Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez as they navigate life’s ups, downs, and in-betweens together with the power of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) by their side.
An Inconvenient Love (2022)
An Inconvenient Love is for the hopeless romantics at heart who also long for a grander, greater life than what’s currently in the cards for them. Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano bring complex traits to Manny and Ayef, whose care and support for one another withstand their glaring class disparities.
Sleep With Me (2022)
You can always count on Sleep With Me to bring comfort to your gloomy days, especially this Pride Month. There’s so much to adore about this six-episode sapphic show, which grapples with silent battles and the plight surrounding mental health. Lovi Poe and Janine Gutierrez are remarkable as Luna and Harry, who stay up trying to mend hearts they didn’t break.
Third World Romance (2023)
The Internet said it best: mahal magmahal. Third World Romance drives that point home with a deeply engaging love story that echoes Filipinos’ everyday grievances and adverse living conditions. Britney (Charlie Dizon) and Alvin (Carlo Aquino) go from two perpetually struggling (and surviving) protagonists to representations of the people we meet every day, who long to love and dream freely in a world that slowly silences them.
Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna (2025)
If the rainy season has you mulling over what your mind and heart truly want, then Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna is right up your alley. We can all resonate with the titular character (Ashtine Olviga) and the countless sacrifices she made for her family. In the face of failures and setbacks, she never lost sight of the future she deserved, even if it meant parting ways with who might be her greatest love.
Viva One Originals: ASHTINE (2026)
Delve into some variety this rainy season with Ashtine Olviga’s Viva One Originals drama anthology. Get ready to laugh, cry, and scream your heart out as the award-winning artist takes on distinct characters in romance, comedy, horror, and drama, alongside some of the industry’s household names and emerging actors.
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Which TV shows and films do you have on your rainy season watch lists? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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