This Labor Day, we’ve rounded up some great Filipino films available on streaming that spotlight the people who keep things running — and yep, we’ve included where you can find them, so you can just kick back and hit play.
Dubai
Where to stream: Netflix
Orphaned as children, Raffy (Aga Muhlach) and Andrew (John Lloyd Cruz) have always relied on each other. After nine years of working in Dubai, Raffy’s dream is to bring his younger brother to Canada. Their reunion comes when Andrew arrives in Dubai, where he meets Faye (Claudine Barretto), one of Raffy’s many girlfriends. Despite their age gap, they quickly form a connection, with Faye becoming Andrew’s guide, comfort, and lover. When Raffy realizes he still has feelings for Faye, tension builds between the brothers, threatening to break their bond.
Anak
Where to stream: Apple TV
Overseas Filipino worker Josie (Vilma Santos) must leave her three children in the Philippines to take a job as a nanny for a rich couple in Hong Kong. When Josie eventually returns home and tries to repair her relationship with her family, her daughter Carla (Claudine Barretto) struggles with feelings of abandonment and resentment.
Sister Stella L.
Where to stream: YouTube
Sister Stella Legaspi (Vilma Santos) doesn’t want to get involved in politics, but when she learns about the harsh realities faced by striking workers and the government’s indifference to their struggles, she finds herself taking a stand. Directed by Mike de Leon, Sister Stella L. is a gripping drama that spotlights the plight of Filipino laborers.
Third World Romance
Where to stream: Netflix
Outspoken cashier Britney (Charlie Dizon) and laid-back bagger Alvin (Carlo Aquino) try to find happiness while dealing with the everyday struggles of blue-collar life in a world where nothing comes easy.
Iska
Where to stream: Netflix
Iska (Ruby Ruiz), a loving but impoverished grandmother, struggles to make enough money to take care of herself and her autistic grandson Dongdong (Jonic Magno). Iska ends up trying to manage two jobs, working as a photocopier at the University of the Philippines and as a house cleaner for a professor (Ricky Rivero).
Dekada ‘70
Where to stream: Netflix
In martial law-era Philippines, Amanda (Vilma Santos) and Julian (Christopher De Leon) try to raise their five sons while keeping a low profile. Though they see themselves as apolitical, their children respond to the repressive regime through activism — or teenage rebellion. But when violence hits close to home, Amanda begins to find her own voice of resistance.
Sunday Beauty Queen
Where to stream: YouTube
From director Baby Ruth Villarama comes an honest documentary about the often-overlooked lives of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong. Behind the city’s glamorous facade, five women transform in a unique beauty pageant, using the experience to reclaim their dignity and embrace their worth.
Hello, Love, Goodye
Where to stream: Netflix
Bartender Ethan (Alden Richards) and overseas domestic worker Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) fall in love as they try to make a living in Hong Kong. However, while they hope to build a life together, the future seems to be pulling them apart.
