Pinoy dramedy 'The Last BeerGin' pours truth by drop

 

From left: Zaijian Jaranilla, Mel Mendoza del Rosario, JC Santos, Cherry Pie Picache, Nuel Naval and Xyriel Manabat

If words were alcohol, we all would have gotten drunk.

That is true as far as the recent press conference for the movie "The Last BeerGin" goes. Because of the title (a popular beverage concoction) and theme of the movie, the actors Cherry Pie Picache, JC Santos, Pepe Herrera, Zaijian Jaranilla---as well as director Nuel Naval and writer Mel Mendoza del-Rosario---answered questions that range from "Naniniwala ba kayo na pag may alak, may balak?" to "Sino ang gusto niyong makainuman sa showbiz?"

For context: The film follows five strangers—each carrying emotional baggage—who unexpectedly find themselves in a moment of connection. 

As they share a drink, they begin to share something far more potent: their truths. Their stories. Their pain. And in between the shots, something stronger is served: the chance to be seen, heard, and maybe—finally—valued.

Mel revealed the story was inspired by her own experience. Although she's no heavy drinker, she has joined drinking sprees with friends where she took note of some of their stories and traits that ended up being used by the characters in the movie.

Cherry Pie said that the main cast actually drank alcohol "for immersion purposes' on the first day of shoot. At first they enjoined getting tipsy but eventually vetoed the suggestion of drinking every shoot day "kasi ang hirap mag-memorya ng linya pag nakainom!"

In a separate solo interview, we asked Zaijian to name celebrities he'd like to drink with. He named Dustin Yu and Bela Padilla.

As for Xyriel and JC, they disclosed clues when they're already past tipsy.

Madaldal na ako. Kapag ganun na, tigil na ako (sa paginom)," Xyriel said.

JC added: “I’m a happy drunk. Makwento ako. Tawa lang ako ng tawa.”

All were one in saying that their favorite drinking buddy in the cast is Pepe. They said it's because the comedian has a serious side to him; a deep thinker, actually.

It was pointed out that "The Last Beer Gin" isn’t a film about alcohol—it’s about what spills out when we finally let our guard down.

"It is a toast to vulnerability, a chaser for emotional honesty, and a reminder that sometimes, the most healing conversations happen over the simplest pulutan… and the most unexpected samahan," read part of the release.

Opening in cinemas on Oct. 1,  "The Last Beer Gin" is from Cineko Productions and Obra Cinema Productions.