"Inasal!" Gabby Padilla Shares Glimpses of 'Gitling' as It Gets Re-Released This February

Gitling will finally be getting a re-release as a double feature with Celine Song's Past Lives this February. In line with the release, Gabby Padilla shares insights about the critically acclaimed film's production with CBO.

Gitling (C) Cinemalaya

Back in August 2023, director Jopy Arnaldo introduced us to the world of Jamie (Gabby Padilla) and Makoto (Ken Yamamura). The dramedy was well-received during its premiere at Cinemalaya 2023 and even won Best Screenplay for Arnaldo.

The film, however, has not been available for viewing elsewhere since then, aside from a few screenings at various film festivals & microcinemas. The yearns to see the film again, or for the first time, only grew over the past year.

To prepare for the film, Padilla reveals that she asked director Arnaldo for a list of films she could watch, which Arnaldo seemingly granted. “It really helped me get an idea of how he wanted to pace the film and how silence played such a big role in it,” she adds in an exclusive written interview with CBO.

Chungking Express 

The films she watched before shooting were as follows:

• Columbus by dir. Kogonada
• Hiroshima Mon Amour by dir. Alain Resnais
• Beginners by dir. Mike Mills
• Happy Old Year by dir. Nawapol
• Right Now, Wrong Then by dir. Hong Sang-soo
• Garden of Words by dir. Makoto Shinkai
• C'mon C'mon by dir. Mike Mills
• Chungking Express by dir. Wong Kar-wai

For those who have already seen Gitling, they may recall the variety of national and regional languages used in the film—particularly Ilonggo. It was refreshing to see a protagonist in a film who speaks Ilonggo so naturally. According to Padilla, who was raised in Iloilo, she was able to tweak some of the script to make it flow more naturally for her.

“I think there’s a certain level of honesty that’s easier to reach when I’m talking in my first language, and that helped me as an actor, especially since that monologue was a rare moment of vulnerability for Jamie,” Padilla adds.

The film features a lot of cooking and eating, too. "Inasal!" Padilla reveals as her favorite among the food featured in the film. She is referring to the classic chicken inasal, a popular dish in Bacolod and Iloilo.

“Yung tamang inasal ah, hindi yung binuhusan ng suka,” she playfully clarifies.

Screengrab from QCinema YouTube Channel

Aside from Gitling, Gabby Padilla already boasts a diverse filmography. Her last feature, Uninvited, just finished its run in cinemas as part of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival. She received numerous praises from critics and audiences for her performance and even earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination alongside her co-star Nadine Lustre.

When asked which genre she would love to explore next, she says she would love to be a part of a big family comedy.

“Or a rom-com that ends happily for my character and the audience,” she jokingly adds.

Upcoming Screenings

The MiraNila Heritage House & Library in Quezon City will be hosting a Valentine's Outdoor Screening of Gitling and Past Lives on February 4 at 6:00 PM, programmer Jason Tan Liwag announced on his X/Twitter page.

Priced at ₱700 (₱560 for students), a ticket to the double feature will also include a Heritage House tour, a bag of popcorn, and a garden mat for two. Tickets can be purchased through 09272776335 (Robeen).

A separate screening for Living Things, Tokwifi, and Isa Pa With Feelings will also take place on February 12.

Finally public! 'Gitling' and 'Past Lives' double feature on Feb 4! Along with screenings of Living Things, Tokwifi, and Isa Pa With Feelings on Feb 12 :)

All for the benefit of MiraNila Heritage House—one of the only two heritage houses in Metro Manila! https://t.co/xhi6QEay2D pic.twitter.com/1i64en2b0X

— Jason Tan Liwag (@jaseybel) January 22, 2025

The Film Development Council of the Philippines has also recently announced that Gitling will be included in this year’s Sine Sinta from February 5–11. The lineup will be screened at select Ayala Malls Cinemas (TriNoma, Ayala Malls Circuit, and Market! Market!, according to Pelikula Mania), and Cinematheques with a ticket price of ₱200 per film.