Authentic stories will shape the future of streaming in PH, execs say
Faithful relevance and authenticity are two key factors Prime Video has focused on in bringing locally made content to streaming, noting that stories that speak to the ordinary Filipino define their identity and transcend borders.
“With local content, what we’re trying to do is to tell stories about themselves. If it is not authentic, they will see it immediately,” said Chaitanya Divan, its head of content acquisition for Southeast Asia.
“To get that absolutely right, we have to get the best content creators in the Philippines and the best, most popular onscreen talent in the Philippines, and work with the studios to execute this scale. We can create culture-defining content for the Filipino fans,” he added.
Of course, Divan is referring to the seven original titles that the streaming giant has in store for 2026. The stories feature themes of family, humor, love, proving oneself in a diaspora, and the hidden dark side of politics, a theme that has sparked conversations about what truly defines a leader for the people.
According to Caitlin Parkinson, Prime Video’s head of programming strategy for Asia-Pacific, pushing for local stories is the most important step streaming needs to take this year.
“We would never create something for the Philippines that the local audiences don’t want to see. That’s absolutely not the approach we would take, but the last few years have been interesting for us,” she said, noting that it’s one of the lessons she took while working with filmmakers, writers, and other content creators in the Philippines.
“We’ve been surprised and [have learned] a lot of [lessons] on what kind of content transcends borders, either into Asia, the Philippines, or other markets around the world. We’re trying to make those [adjustments],” she continued.
Here are the seven original titles that will be available on the streaming giant soon:
- “LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines Season Two” with Vice Ganda – Coming from the high of season one, season two will feature 10 comedians to make each other laugh, even if they’re not allowed to even chuckle.
- “The Silent Noise” with Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo – A deaf son is faced with bitter truths after his family discovers a dead body in town.
- “Love Is Never Gone” with Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi – A passionate affair in Morocco turns sour after Teo (Garcia) discovers that his ex-lover Yana (Alawi) turns out to be a socialite.
- “The Loyalty Game” with Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, and Sofia Andres – Two women discover that the man they’re fighting over holds deeper secrets that are far from their expectations.
- “Kopino” with Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino – Two childhood sweethearts end their relationship after they get swept up in the drama of office politics in South Korea.
- “Honor Thy Mother” with Sharon Cuneta, Barbie Forteza, John Estrada, and Khalil Ramos – A CEO and her estranged daughter join forces to brave a deadly conspiracy attempting to take down the former’s company.
- “Behind Closed Doors” with Marian Rivera – A journalist bears the aftermath of being the mistress of the president of the Philippines.
Prime Video also announced that it had acquired the license of these films, which will be available for streaming.
- “Quezon” with Jericho Rosales
- “Bar Boys: After School” with Carlo Aquino, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, and Kean Cipriano
- “Open Endings” with Janella Salvador, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Klea Pineda, and Leanne Mamonong
- “Samahan ng Makasalanan” with David Licauco and Sanya Lopez
- “KMJS’ Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie” with Jessica Soho, Miguel Tanfelix, Kristoffer Martin, Elijah Canlas, Sanya Lopez, Jillian Ward, and Martin del Rosario
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