Where to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens during the Metro Manila Film Festival

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been a part of the Christmas celebration of many Filipinos. It is one of those sure things to happen every holiday season just like the parol, Christmas tree, bibingka and puto bungbong, and your ninong and ninang temporarily relocating homes.

After all, MMFF has been in existence for 41 years. Even older than your very much-married “feeling hunk” officemate who still preys helpless OJTs and new hires.

Anyways, for the curious souls, here are the eight (8) official MMFF entries (from 21 nominees) this year in no particular order (although obviously, I will mention last the one my family will watch):

Beauty and the Bestie – Vice Ganda and Coco Martin teams up with #JaDine and try to kick this action comedy to box-office success

All You Need is Pag-ibig – Kris Aquino and son Bimby brings this family/ romantic comedy with the help of Derek Ramsay’s abs.

Buy Now, Die Later – Alex Gonzaga and Vhong Navarro tries to resurrect their respective careers with this horror, suspense, thriller (terrifying redundancy with the use of words).

Haunted Mansion – Janella Salvador tries to OMG us with a cast of thousand newbies in this another horror, suspense, thriller (now It’s becoming creepier).

Honor Thy Father – John Lloyd Cruz gives everything (including his medicine kit full of Biogesic) in this (take a deep breath) action/ drama/ suspense/ thriller/ crime (breath out).

Walang Forever – Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales team up in this romantic comedy of two of the gorgeous faces in local showbiz today (I hope I did not sound bitter).

Nilalang – Maria Ozawa. Nuff said.

My Pabebe Love: #KiligPaMore – I’ll be lucky if I can get a decent seat any day during the first week showing of this first #AlDub feature. Might as well join the twitter party instead and watch on January.

Now if you feel not watching any of the films mentioned and you are about to start an online petition on for Malacañang to allow of J.J. Abram’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens to be shown during MMFF week, don’t exert any effort because I will tell you where to watch this much-awaited sci-fi giant in the Philippines this December.

Here’s a portion of the article “The Force awakens MMFF 2015” publish on The Philippine Star last November 8.  I would love to rewrite it but I got a call for a meeting now so I’ll just quote the “important” item.

“The seventh franchise of the Star Wars saga opens globally on Dec. 17 and closes on Dec. 24 in the Philippines as required by law. The MMFF opens on Dec. 25. Only new Filipino film productions are allowed to screen during its two-week run. Regular screenings resume after it ends on Jan. 7 such as The Force Awakens on Jan. 8.

With one major exemption. The Force Awakens continues screening in 3D and IMAX theaters as allowed by the MMFF rules. For about double the regular price of an MMFF ticket, it will continue to screen in IMAX Aura Premier, Cebu, Clark, Lanang Premier, Mall of Asia, Megamall, North EDSA and Southmall.”

So there you go. Now you know where to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens during the Metro Manila Film Festival.