13/08/2026
2 Valid IDs (2026)
An Official Entry to Cinemalaya 22
The usual joke when getting a valid ID is that you need a valid ID to get a valid ID. The film does not waste time showing how messed up our system is. It is tiring, stressful, and frustrating. If you do not have friends or money to help you, you have to go through everything the hard way.
The film also gives us a glimpse of the sad reality of our healthcare system. If you are poor and sick, it sometimes feels like you are already given a death sentence. You just wait for your turn and hope that the nurses and doctors will have enough time to attend to you.
This part was painful for me because I have experienced this firsthand. Seeing the camaraderie inside the hospital felt very real. Patient companions do everything they can for their loved ones, and they even help other people when they are also struggling. When someone dies, it feels heavy because somehow, it feels like you also lost a family member.
Marietta Subong did remarkably well in her role. You can feel that she is tired, but she knows she has to keep fighting every day. She does not need big dramatic moments because even through her smallest gestures, you can already feel everything her character is going through.
Joey Marquez also did a great job. You can feel his frustration and how badly he just wants everything to end. Zaijan Jaranilla and Meryl Soriano also gave remarkable performances. They brought more life and color to the story while making their characters feel real.
Overall, 2 Valid IDs is a must watch. I hope our politicians can take 90 minutes of their time to watch this film. This is not just a movie. It is a representation of the ordinary Filipino who continues to suffer because of a broken and corrupt system. Kudos to Direk Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagรฑalan and team!
Now Showing in Selected cinemas from August 6-18
