Filipino: What makes us “us”?
Written by: Aisha Claveria
April 20, 2025
We are bound not only by blood but by sharing meals, inside jokes, and always knowing how to return home. Filipinos are naturally kind; we are well known for hospitality. Three unforgettable films celebrating the beautiful mess of being Filipino will live on through this article.
Four Sisters and a Wedding
courtesy to thelasallian
Are you prepared for the emotional roller-coaster ride, immortal one-liners, and unforgettable sibling drama? Four Sisters and a Wedding (2013) is the unique family movie of the Philippines and has now been rightfully included in the annals of pop culture history. Not just a film—it is a phenomenon that ties us together through laughter, tears, and a myriad of relatable messes. It doesn't matter if you're the eldest trying to keep it all together or the bunso who is constantly misunderstood; this movie is sure to hit the spot multiple times in different ways.
At its heart, the film is about the Salazar siblings coming together for the wedding of their youngest brother, CJ. But a reunion that should be wonderful turns into one big emotional war. Each of the sisters brings her own bottled-up issues to the party out there — Teddie hides her personal failures, Bobbie straddles identity and distance, Alex is doused in sibling rivalry, and Gabbie keeps trying to prevent a fallout.
The movie is a well-executed combination of riotous discharges and deep-level emotional truths. From the now-famous confrontation in the garden to the vulnerable confessions sisters share with each other, it carries a lot of the thickest stuff that Filipino families are made of: pride, sacrifice, resentment, and their bottom line: unshakeable love.
Cinematically, the film is brilliant and very loud. It has a pace that makes the audience glued to the screen while trying to match the performances of all these stars who have weathered the test of time. Toni Gonzaga, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Shaina Magdayao, and Enchong Dee play their roles so well that it's almost impossible not to fall into their chemistry.
Four Sisters and a Wedding isn't just a family drama; it is a cultural reference that everyone seems to relate to. It is about love, pride, regret, and, ultimately, forgiveness. Whether you learned the script by heart or are simply watching it for the first time, the film speaks to your heart and prompts you to think about his or her own family ties. Trust us, with your siblings wrapped up tight afterward. This is the story that should leave a person laughing, crying, and reminiscing. A certified classic, indeed.
Seven Sundays
courtesy to janusisaac
What if you were to spend only a few remaining Sundays with your family? Seven Sundays (2017) questions deeply the matters of time, love, and heritage. It's a heart-piercing and powerfully agonizing tale that reaches everyone around the globe. It talks about all things and begs one to consider what truly matters in the end. In equal proportion, it's a great appreciation for families, wrapped in plenty of humor, nostalgia, and just about all tears. Truly, an emotional ride for family values and memories.
This informs the audience that the Bonifacio siblings will meet every Sunday together because their father, Manuel, is terminally ill. This gesture soon turns from one of sympathy into a reservoir of old tensions. Allan shoulders the weight of a thousand worries; Bryan hides his failures behind bravado; Cha is doing her damnedest to keep the family together; and Dex merely wants to be noticed and understood.
With the passing Sundays, emotional barriers began to dwindle: other family-life aspects came into view—secrets were spilled, confrontations bubbled up, and loyalties got tested. The mix of personalities that each sibling represents in the film gives us a view into the different roles we play within our own families. It illustrates contrasts and politics—from trying to fit a mold to holding on to old grudges. It reflects on our relationships.
The film's greatest strength is portraying Filipino life with grace and subtlety. Family luncheons are full of loving mockery, awkward silences, and loose talk. It's a story of the family, where death draws the curtain and life is resuscitated through self-worth and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is preceded by listening. Lastly, and always crucial, is showing up before it is too late. The Seven Sundays makes you laugh, cry, and feel guilty, perhaps for not having set that long-overdue Sunday lunch gathering with family. In short, this is a film for anyone who has ever felt disconnected from the family and needed an excuse to get back to them. With much poignancy, the film tells us that time passes so quickly, and relationships, no matter how complicated, deserve our care and attention.
Family Matters
courtesy to bworldonline
In this world, hardly pausing for a moment, Family Matters (2022) gently yet firmly reminds us to take time to reflect — especially on those people who raised and nurtured us. This film is a tribute to eldercare, sacrifice, and the soft but sure spirit of a Filipino family. It does not grab your attention; it earns it through honest storytelling, warmth, and emotional generosity. All through, it tells us about the deep ties that bind families together — and therefore one should value time spent with loved ones.
The tale depicts the family coming to terms with the aging parents. As health deteriorates, adult children must juggle the responsibilities of care with the realities of their careers, private lives, and strained finances. The film then goes on to explore sibling relationships, compensating and repressed guilt, and the many different ways love is expressed or rejected.
The different personalities portray a typical Filipino setup. The dutiful child, for example, postpones everything in her own life to stay with her ailing parents. Those back in the country are willing to help out but do not appreciate the burden that comes with nursing elderly parents. It is sheer tension; all communication fails; yet all the love in the world feels constraining.
What makes Family Matters real for the audience is its sincerity. It does not go for melodrama for effect. It shows life: going through the motions in the hospital, bickering about each other, and coming to terms with the slow passage of death. The touch of power lies in its subtlety: love is not grand or loud. Love is changing Dad's clothes, making sure Mom takes her meds, and being there when nobody else is.
Family Matters is not just a film—it's a quiet revolution. It whispers into the ear that we should treasure our parents—the small sacrifices they made with the emotional work that always came with it. This movie is subtle, tender, and deeply Filipino, perfect for carrying long after the end credits roll. It has a small but powerful message that reverberates deeply and reminds family. Watch it with your folks and sprinkle it with some tissues. This is a beautiful reminder, understated, that "in the end, family really goes before anything else.
Being Filipino is not just a matter of birth; it is more a matter of loyalty. From Four Sisters and a Wedding to Seven Sundays and Family Matters, these films portray the very essence of the Filipino spirit: loyalty, resilience, and love that confronts the most difficult obstacles and embraces the tightest hugs. They also bring to memory how even when life tries to pull us apart, it is our hearts that always rush back for another chance. So, watch, feel, and absorb it; family is an ongoing narration."
References:
Cadaon RJ. (July 26, 2018) Filipino Woman in a Chick Lit: A Review of Four Sisters and a Wedding” https://cultprodjrrj.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/filipino-women-in-a-chick-lit-a-review-of-four-sisters-and-a-wedding/
Torado J. (June 29,2023) “Four Sisters and a Wedding” and its Portrayal of Modern Filipino Society https://villagepipol.com/four-sisters-and-a-wedding-and-its-portrayal-of-modern-filipino-society/
Mijares M. (November 27, 2022) A Perfect Imperfect Family: Film Review on Seven Sundays https://www.filcatholic.org/11231-2/
Isaac J. (October 20, 2017) Ode to my Family: A Review for Seven Sundays https://janusisaac.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/family-autonomy-philippines-review-seven-sundays/
Ching M. (December 29, 2022) Family Matters Very Relatable; casts delivers solid performance https://www.pep.ph/news/local/170567/family-matters-review-a738-20221229