A new Philippine-Singapore film collaboration is bringing together some of the country’s promising young talents for One For The Road, an upcoming coming-of-age drama exploring friendship, grief, and the pressures of adulthood.
Philippine film studio Regal Entertainment Inc., through producer Keith Monteverde, is partnering with Singapore-based Mocha Chai Laboratories for the project, which will be directed by award-winning Filipino filmmaker Kip Oebanda, known for Bar Boys, Bar Boys: After School, and Liway.
Four Friends, One Journey
Leading the cast are Elijah Canlas, Gian Bernardino, Emilio Daez, and JM Ibarra, who will portray four high school best friends whose lives gradually take different directions as they navigate careers, relationships, and the demands of adulthood.
A tragic event brings the longtime friends together again, setting them on a road trip that challenges their bond and forces them to confront emotions they have long avoided.
Also joining the cast are Nour Hooshmand, Sofia Trazona, and Mika Reins.
Rather than presenting a conventional barkada movie, One For The Road aims to explore the emotional struggles of young Filipino men, including isolation, grief, and the expectations surrounding masculinity.
Kip Oebanda Explores the Struggles Men Rarely Discuss
Oebanda co-wrote the screenplay with Victor Villanueva, the filmmaker behind Patay na si Hesus.
The collaboration brings together two storytellers whose work has explored Filipino experiences through different cinematic approaches.
For Oebanda, the film examines how men are often taught to suppress their emotions and maintain an appearance of strength, even when dealing with personal struggles.
By combining humor, adventure, and emotional drama, the filmmakers hope to present a story that encourages conversations about grief and the importance of emotional connection.
A Philippine-Singapore Film Partnership
Beyond its story and ensemble cast, One For The Road represents a collaboration between two companies bringing different strengths to the production.
Regal Entertainment contributes its longstanding connection to Filipino audiences, while Mocha Chai Laboratories brings its expertise in post-production and sound design.
The film has also been selected for the International Co-Production Fund of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), which supports international partnerships involving Filipino filmmakers and producers.
Production is taking place entirely in the Philippines, with a predominantly Filipino cast and crew.
Target Release in 2027
Currently in production, One For The Road is targeting a theatrical release in the second quarter of 2027.
For Canlas, Bernardino, Daez, and Ibarra, the project offers an opportunity to portray a different dimension of friendship—one shaped not only by shared memories but also by the challenges of growing up and moving forward.
With Oebanda at the helm and a cross-border production team behind it, One For The Road is shaping up to be a character-driven Filipino drama that places emotional honesty and the realities of modern adulthood at the center of its story.
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