DRAGS TO RICHES

Drags to Riches (2026)

Directed by: Victor Villanueva

Maraming eksena na hindi mo alam kung paano nangyayari, pero matatawa ka na lang dahil sa taglay nitong kalokohan. Nagwawagi ang mga intrusive thoughts. Nagiging totoo ang hindi makatotohanan.

Marunong makisabay ang kamera sa kanilang trip. Mahilig itong mag zoom in zoom out. Na para bang importante ang kanilang ipinapakita. Yumuyugyog at gumagalaw pa ang kamera — na siyang nakakatulong sa mood na gustong ibigay ng pelikula.

May instant PowerPoint presentation na lumabas kahit hindi pinaghandaan. Parehas lang ang speed ng stairs at ng elevator. Ambilis gumawa ng international costume out of nowhere. Ang bugbugan ay napunta sa luksong baka.

Meron silang paninindigan pagdating sa mga kalokohan. Hindi nila pinapahalata ang mga jokes. Kunwari ay ang normal lang nangyayari ang lahat. Mas lalo pa siyang nakakatawa dahil seryoso ang mga aktor sa kanilang pagganap.

Kitang kita ang magkaibang atake ni Christian Bables para sa dalawang karakter. Dahil sa kanyang kilos, pananalita, at pananamit, nabigyan niya ng sariling pagkakakilanlan ang magkapatid. Hindi siya nahihirapang tumawid mula sa pagiging lalaki papunta sa pagiging babae.

There is an understated chemistry between Elijah Canlas and Iñigo Pascual. Their presence and appearance complement each other. The tension and competition between them are cute and convincing. In an alternate universe, they could easily headline a compelling BL series together.

Amid the many dramatic and serious roles he’s taken on, it’s refreshing to see Elijah Canlas deliver in comedy. His natural swag and bold performance make him surprisingly effective in the genre. May this be the start of many more comedic roles for him.

Iñigo Pascual does a pretty ok job, but there’s really no remarkable moment that allows him to truly demonstrate his acting skill and humor.

Benjie Paras fits the role and handles it naturally. The way he casually throws out homophobic remarks makes his character irritating and funny. K Brosas’ character doesn’t come across as a warm and nurturing mother. Their tandem is a wasted potential.

Macoy Averilla, aka Macoy Dubs, possesses the kind of BFF energy that complements both the lead and the ensemble. Drag Queens Deja, Mrs. Tan, and Feyvah Fatale display promising range, showcasing versatility not only in their visual styles but also in their acting performances.

Adam Domingo, aka Panginoon ng Kababawan, seems to be holding back from unleashing his full energy in his scenes. Pau Dimaranan lacks the commanding presence needed for her character. Eli Padilla, Marco Navarra, and Kobe Francisco are expendable additions to the cast, contributing nothing to the story.

Based on his brief yet impressive performance in the movie, KD Omalin has the makings of a child star capable of taking on complex and demanding roles.

It’s heartwarming when the role of family in a growing child’s life is given importance. However, moments with this level of sincerity are rare in the movie.

The script struggles to keep its story afloat, lacking focus and losing sight of its purpose.

Sabog ang simula. Nung nakapag-warm-up na, tuloy tuloy ang naging kasiyahan. Hanggang sa hindi na napagtuunan ang kwento.

Nawalan ng progress ang company at ang bar. Pilit gumagawa ng love story kahit hindi bagay. Nakaligtaan ang mga kaibigan at pamilya. Tapos malapit nang matapos, biglang na-ngarag. Nalulutas ang mga problema sa isang upuan.

Hindi malinis ang editing. Salpak nang salpak ng mga eksena. Andaming ipinapakita kahit ang gulo na tingnan. Halata kapag merong slow motion. Anlakas din ng mga tunog.

Nakakalungkot na hindi pasabog ang naging Drag Performances. Binansagang “Drag Queen” ang bidang karakter, pero bagsak ang kanyang outfit at lip sync performance. Parang ordinarong sayawan lang ang naganap.

Sayang ang opportunity to incorporate more drag elements sa pinagdaraanan ng mga karakter. Hindi napanindigan ang pamagat dahil kapos ang naging journey from Drags to Riches.

Bagamat may kaunting elemento ng drag at ng yaman, hindi sila napagtagpi nang maayos. Dinaan na lang sa narration upang ibahagi ang mensahe ng pelikula.

Even when things get messy and chaotic, the movie never drags. It remains rich in funny moments, somehow making you forget its flaws.

Much like a drag show, this movie knows how to entertain its audience, earning enough points to avoid a 𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺. It may not be a runaway winner, but it’s certainly safe from elimination.

𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒

Cast: Christian Bables, Iñigo Pascual, Elijah Canlas

With: K Brosas, Kych Minemoto, Benjie Paras, Macoy Dubs, Moi Bien, Adam Domingo, Pau Dimaranan, Deja, Mrs. Tan, Feyvah Fatalé, Kobe Francisco, Eli Padilla, Marco Navarra, KD Omalin

Written by: Alpha Habon

Presented by: Cornerstone Studios

Release Date: June 24, 2026 exclusively in SM cinemas nationwide