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(From left) Vilma Santos, Vic Sotto, Vice Ganda, and Piolo Pascual. Images: FILE PHOTOS

While the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has always been a celebration of the film industry, the 50th edition of the festival was touted as historic as it brought together some of the biggest stars who played a role in its history.

The 50th MMFF marked the return of household favorites Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda, with many excited for their return to the annual festival as it marked a shift in their usual comedy genres, while the addition of Eugene Domingo makes the perfect foil for the latter’s movie entry.

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Drama greats Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, Piolo Pascual, Aga Muhlach, Judy Ann Santos, Gladys Reyes, and Lorna Tolentino are also back in the big screen.

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To refresh your memory, here’s a look at the defining films of the 2024 iteration’s biggest stars throughout the festival’s inception before the film entries will screen in theaters from December 25 to Jan. 7, 2025.

Vic Sotto

Vic Sotto’s “Enteng Kabisote” was arguably the most successful MMFF franchise in the MMFF history, becoming a somewhat of a Filipino Christmas staple on the big screen. The title is actually an offshoot of the 1990s TV sitcom, “Okay Ka, Fairy Ko,” featuring Sotto in the titular role, and Kristine Hermosa, as his love interest, Faye. Incidentally, Faye was played first by Alice Dixson and subsequently Tweetie De Leon on TV, while Hermosa eventually became the wife of Sotto’s son, Oyo Boy.

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As the movie gained a wider audience at the MMFF, Sotto through his M-Zet Productions, produced several other film entries year after year: “Enteng Kabisote: OK Ka Fairy Ko… The Legend (2004),” “Enteng Kabisote 2: Okay Ka Fairy Ko… The Legend Continues! (2005),” “Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko: The Legend Goes On and On and On (2006),” “Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka, Fairy Ko: The Beginning of the Legend (2007),” “Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote (2010),” “Enteng ng Ina Mo (2011),” and “Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako (2012).”

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Staying true to his brand of slapstick comedy, the screen veteran also deviated from Enteng through the films “Lastikman (2003),” “Iskul Bukol 20 Years After (2008),” “Ang Darling Kong Aswang (2009),” “My Little Bossings (2013),” “My Big Bossing (2014),” “My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore (2015),” “Meant to Beh (2017),” “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (2018),” and “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity (2019).”

Vice Ganda

Another MMFF favorite is Vice Ganda whose films have always been Box Office hits. Carrying a signature brand of self-deprecating and witty humor, his comedic chops are the shining point of his work without losing the heart — usually happening in the final act.

Vice Ganda’s notable films in the MMFF include “Partners in Crime (2022),” “Fantastica (2018),” “Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad (2017),” “Beauty and the Bestie (2015),” “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014),” and “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy (2013).”

Vilma Santos

Vilma Santos is another crowd-drawer star during the MMFF season as she appeared in several characters with a lot of heart, although most of them are masked with sheer determination to prove something. She is currently the reigning Best Actress at the annual film fest for her work in “When I Met You in Tokyo.”

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Her other well-known MMFF films are “Mano Po III: My Love (2004),” “Dekada ‘70 (2002),” “Karma (1981),” and “Haplos (1982),” among others.

Piolo Pascual

Another fan-favorite is Piolo Pascual who has long been noted for his multi-dimensional performances in films, with the MMFF being no different from his goal to taking on various roles.

His body of work in the festival includes “Mallari (2023),” “GomBurZa (2023),” and “Dekada ‘70 (2002).”

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Judy Ann Santos

Noted for her undisputed skill in “crying on cue” and possessing realistic emotions, Judy Ann Santos is considered a favorite with her ability to fiercely take on various roles including a newbie mother, a Muslim mother, a female commander, and a fairy disguising as an environmental activist.

Her versatility as an actress is notable in her annual film fest entries, such as “Mindanao (2019),” “Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako (2012), “My House Husband: Ikaw Na! (2011),” “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo (2007),” “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2006),” “Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita (2004),” and “Mano Po 2: My Home (2003).”

Nadine Lustre

Nadine Lustre may have starred in just three MMFF films throughout her career — namely “Beauty and the Bestie (2015),” “Deleter (2022),” and “Uninvited (2024)” — her acting prowess and magnetic presence is not one to be denied. And true enough, her Best Actress win in its 2022 edition is proof of brighter things to come for the young actress at the film festival and beyond.

Aga Muhlach

Another must-watch star at the MMFF is Aga Muhlach who made fans cry with his portrayal of a mentally impaired man in the 2019 entry “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the festival.

His films — thanks to his acting range — have always made a mark among cinephiles and Filipino families and the annual festival is no differentluhoplay, as seen in “May Minamahal” and “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal,” which were released in 1993 and 1992, respectively.

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