The main premise of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 entry ‘Rekonek’ is what happens if the world gets disconnected from the internet ten days before Christmas? Where did it come from?
“Kay Erik Matti, kay Mich Yamamoto. Ininvite ako ni Erik Matti, sabi niya, gusto ko gumawa ng pelikula na mawawalan ng internet sa buong mundo. Sabi ko, ‘ang ganda, game!’ Ganun kaagad, ganun kabilis. So, after that, nag-assemble kami ng writers to do it, nagsulat kami ng matagal na panahon and ito na ‘yun,” director Jade Castro shares.
It’s not something that feels new, but hearing the story, your interest already amps up, you have your own theories of how people will react, what they will do and who they will turn to. But can the cast of Rekonek survive living without internet?
“Ako, I think kaya ko kasi hindi ako nasanay na lumaki sa ganyan, 26 na ako pero mas na-experience ko kasi ‘yung makisalamuha sa mga kaibigan. Pasibol pa lang ang internet, kasabay kong sumibol ang internet, so I think, hindi ko pa siya ganun kakilala and para sa akin, hindi pa ako ganun ka-invested sa digital. Pero since kailangan siya ngayon, siguro 50-50, pero sinasabi kong kaya ko, 50%, kasi ngayon, lahat umiikot na sa digital. Lahat ng gagawin mo, konektado na sa internet at nasabi kong kaya kong walang internet kasi, the usual, tayo kasi, bawat tao, hindi natin napapansin na nawawala na ‘yung presence natin sa present. So, I think, ‘yung message ng pelikulang Rekonek is related siya sa atin kaya masaya akong naging parte ako nito,” Kelvin Miranda shares.
“Yes. Actually, I have an app that can control my screen time. Kasi napansin ko, sobra na akong naa-adik sa phone ko, and it’s hard not to kasi ito ‘yung generation ko. Pinanganak akong may social media, may internet. Even my work as an actress, sa business ko din, nakasalalay sa work. Every interaction, for example may contact ako sa China, paano kami magko-connect? Kailangan siyempre makakausap ko sila online. Pwede akong mawala (sa internet) at maging productive pa din ang araw ko, meron pa din akong mga physical activities na hindi nakababad sa phone. Meron akong app na dinownload para mabawasan ang screen time ko. Parang nila-lock niya, pwede mong piliin ‘yung apps na pwedeng i-lock. Kasi ang nangyayari sa akin, napupuyat ako kaka-phone, hanggang 3AM. Nabe-brainrot na ako, nabe-bedrot na ako. Sabi ko this is not right anymore, hindi na ako nagiging healthy sa utak, hindi na ako naigiging healthy physically kasi I don’t even stand, nasa phone lang the whole time. So, kinailangan ko siyang ma-control,” Andrea Brillantes answers.
“Ako naman, naranasan ko ‘yung kaka-start lang ng internet, ‘yung dial-up pa. So, parang sanay ako na walang internet. Sa totoo lang, nahihirapan naman akong sumabay sa technology naman ngayon. ‘Yung parang lahat kasi ngayon nasa social media talaga, lahat content creator na. Nahihirapan ako sa part na ‘yun. Ako, naiisip ko din, lagi namang may way – may call and text pa din naman kahit walang internet, may landline pa din naman. Pwede pa din magsulatan,” shares Charlie Dizon, representing the millennials in the cast.
Maybe we all need to reconnect at some point?
The world has become more toxic, not just in terms of the people around you, but also in how technology has altered the environment.
But what can the audience get after watching Rekonek?
“Siguro sa perspective namin ni Charlie, sa kwento namin, sometimes saying goodbye doesn’t mean it’s goodbye. Sometimes, we have to say goodbye for our personal growth, for us to learn from the relationship. Through this experience we become better people. So, not all goodbyes are malungkot. Siyempre sa simula malungkot, but when you go through it, there’s always a silver line as long as you think of it as positive kasi there’s always a learning experience – ‘yung failure, ‘yung success. Ako, personally, I learn more from failure, ang dami kong natututunan. I learn nothing almost from success but I learn a lot through failure. ‘Yun siguro ‘yung sa amin, more on growth, more on personal growth. Not all goodbyes are malungkot,” answers Gerald Anderson.
“Ako, sa character ko, if you’re not happy where you are whether it’s a relationship, sa trabaho, don’t be afraid to move on to explore some more because God will always provide. Kasi bilog ang mundo, mage-gets nila ‘yun kapag napanood nila ang Rekonek. Bilog ang mundo, babalik din ang lahat ng nawala sa inyo,” Andrea Brillantes adds.
“Justice, I think, kasi sometimes ‘yung justice, akala natin nasa kamay ng ibang tao pero ang realization ko is nasa atin ang justice. Kailangan lang natin siyang tanggapin kasi minsan, or madalas tayong sarado sa perspective na tumatalo sa sarili natin para matanggap natin ang hustisya. ‘Yung hope sa justice,” Kelvin Miranda shares.
“Ako siguro, ang takeaway ko dito sa character is hindi ibig sabihin na magulang ka at feeling mo na ginagawa mo lahat para sa pamilya mo ay palaging tama. You also need to communicate with one another, and when I say communicate, you don’t only talk, you also listen. Siyempre, pamilya kayo, pamilya kayo dito at tsaka vloggers kami. So, hindi pwedeng lahat ng gusto ng character ko, ‘yun na lang ang masunod pero, ‘yun nga, ang sabi ko, ‘yung realization ng character ko dito ang ganda kasi na hindi sinasadya, but because nawala ‘yung internet, meron palang ganung klaseng problema na hindi pala ina-acknowldege. And from there, by accident, na-solve lahat. It doesn’t mean na pamilya ka, you know everything. Communication is the key, not only sa pamilya but sa boyfriend-girlfriend, sa magkakaibigan, communication is the key,” Carmina Villaroel says.
Rekonek stars Gerald Anderson, Carmina Villaroel, Bela Padilla, Andrea Brillantes and Charlie Dizon, with Zoren Legaspi, Cassy Legaspi, Mavy Legaspi, Gloria Diaz, Kelvin Miranda, Angel Guardian, Kokoy De Santos, Alexa Miro, Raf Pineda, and Dom Corilla. Written by Michiko Yamamoto and directed by Jade Castro from Reality MM Studios and The Third Floor Studios.
In cinemas December 25, 2025, an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Watch our coverage from the media conference below: