The Filipino comedy-drama film Lola Magdalena premiered successfully at Cinemalaya 2024, held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay on August 9. The event was attended by the film’s main cast, producers from Hero Hito Productions, and crew, who gathered to celebrate this highly anticipated screening.
The premiere was graced by the presence of esteemed cast members such as Gloria Diaz, Liza Lorena, Perla Bautista, Pia Moran, Harlene Bautista, Jim Pebanco, Marcus Madrigal, Joni McNab, and Dorothy Gilmore. Producer Amelia Zuniga, writer Dennis Evangelista, and the multi-awarded director Joel Lamangan also attended the event, adding to the night’s excitement.
Check out these snaps from the event:
During the introduction before the screening, Gloria Diaz expressed her gratitude to the audience and shared a brief remark, saying, “I hope, as I always say, that the film should be entertaining.”
Director Joel Lamangan, who is currently trending as Roda in FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, humbly spoke about his directing role and mentioned that the story is based on real-life events, supported by research conducted by his writer. He stated, “May mga nagsabi na hindi daw totoo ang nangyaring ito. Mali po yun. Totoo ang mga nangyaring ‘to. May mga lola na nagbebenta ng aliw… Hindi lang natin alam dahil hindi naman napag-uusapan. Pero meron, batay sa research ng aking writer… Totoo pong nagyayari ito. At ang partikular na istoryang ito ay nangyari sa Bocaue, Bulacan…”
As Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz noted, the immersive film is indeed entertaining, delivering the emotions needed to evoke laughter, tears, and a profound impact on the audience. This explains why the hearts of early viewers were captured during its international run at foreign film festivals, as attested by Evangelista, who also served as the line producer of the feature.
“Sa Bocaue, mga dati silang prostitutes na hindi na nakaalis sa trabahong yon, ipinagpatuloy na nila hanggang sila’y tumanda na, nagsama-sama sila bilang magkakaibigan,” Direk Joel narrated. “May mga nagsasabi, ‘Ay! Hindi naman yan totoo.’ Ganyan. Hindi po. May katotohanan po ang istoryang ito.”
Evangelista’s script sincerely fulfills the individuality of each character, especially the five grannies who share the common goal of maintaining their friendship while staying true to themselves. Each character’s struggles, joys, and fears are magnified on the big screen through the filmmakers’ vision, creating a quality film that appeals to audiences both locally and internationally.
In the Philippines, the film received a PG (Parental Guidance) rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) despite its offbeat theme, language, and minimal skin exposure. Hopefully, it will gain more recognition worldwide as it pursues further competitions and exhibitions on different platforms before its deserving theatrical release in its homeland.
As Lola Magdalena continues to make waves internationally, its unique blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling promises to leave a lasting impression. This success could pave the way for the new production company to create more quality films in the future.
TATAK MNL 
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