12 Weeks: Movie Review

"My body, my decision."

Alice (Max Eigenmann) said this line over and over again to people around her as they became more persistent in convincing her to stop the abortion.

Alice is 40 years old; she struggles to balance her responsibility as the team leader of their humanitarian mission in Marawi with her delicate pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Ben (Vance Larena), is a carefree and alcoholic young man without any stable job. Even more so, he’s abusive and manipulative. Alice is right to break up with him, but he always comes back with sweet words and gestures, and she gives in again and again.

Of course, her concerned best friend Lorna (Claudia Enriquez) is not totally on board with all of her decisions. But she understands her, and she always extends a helping hand every time she needs it. In fact, she’s the one who recommended the abortion facility.

Words about Alice’s intent to abort her child quickly spread like wildfire. Her mom (Bing Pimentel) criticized her decision, but she has certain reservations about it. On the other hand, Ben continually bugs her to be involved in her pregnancy despite her repeated refusal.

Alice starts to doubt her decision with so many people having different thoughts on the situation and forcing their own beliefs on her. As time goes on, she will need to make a choice. Will she keep the baby or not?

Elehiya: Movie Review

Arriving at a port, Dr. Celine de Miranda (Cherie Gil) comes out holding a big box on top of all the luggage she already has. Inside is an urn holding the ashes of her late husband, Paeng. Before his death, his final wish was to scatter his ashes on the island that he loved and lived on. Even though their relationship isn’t really great, since Celine decided to go abroad, she still honored his request.

Now on the island, Dr. Celine gets welcomed by their villa caretaker Basyon (Erlinda Villalobos), her daughter Vilma (Sue Prado), and grandson Jasper (Ross Pesigan). The family lived in the house for such a long time, and they are concerned that the de Mirandas will sell it due to Paeng’s passing. Contrastingly, Dr. Celine has no love for the house. She knows that Paeng’s cousin, Sergio (Miguel Faustmann), is already engaged in conversations about it, and all she wants is her cut of the deal. She doesn’t really care about the fate of the people there.

Until one day, Dr. Celine uncovers a secret in one of the house’s rooms that will change her mind about the house and the family.