What to expect at MMFF 2025 Parade of Stars

December 19 ------ The Metro Manila Film Festival’s (MMFF) 51st Parade of Stars will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Makati City, with the parade route beginning along Macapagal Boulevard and ending at Circuit Makati. The Parade of Stars marks the beginning of the film festival, which features select local films to be shown in cinemas for two weeks, beginning on Christmas Day. No foreign films will be shown in theaters on these dates.

The parade traditionally features decorated floats for each official MMFF entry, carrying the principal cast and production teams. For 2025, the MMFF has announced eight official entries. Most of these films were given a “Parental Guidance” rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), one with a PG-13 rating, and only one was given a “G” or “General Audiences” rating.

MMFF official entries

The 8 MMFF official entries are the following:

• Bar Boys: After School (PG)

• Rekonek (PG)

• Love You So Bad (PG)

• Call Me Mother (PG)

• Manila’s Finest (PG)

• Unmarry (PG)

• Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins (PG-13)

• I’mPerfect (G)

Road path and closures

Expect heavy traffic to build up along major Makati thoroughfares and the vicinity due to the volume of vehicles that would be caught in the gridlock, as some roads will be closed for several hours.

Floats will begin assembly at the World Trade Center in Macapagal Boulevard at 1 p.m. before moving through major Makati thoroughfares, including Buendia Avenue, Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, JP Rizal Street, and A. Reyes Avenue, culminating in Circuit Makati. The 8.4-kilometer route is expected to take roughly one hour and 40 minutes to complete.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has published a traffic scheme and alternate routes for motorists in Makati and surrounding areas as temporary lane closures and a “stop-and-go” scheme will be in effect from 12:01 p.m. until about 10:00 p.m. on the streets along the route.

The MMDA is expected to deploy at least 1,000 personnel composed of traffic personnel, motorcycle unit, and mobile patrol units, towing and impounding group, Road Emergency Group, Public Safety Division, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, and traffic engineering center. Motorists are advised to plan their trips and use alternate routes. The Circuit Makati also announced that their Open Carpark will be temporarily closed by 10 PM starting Dec. 17 and will resume normal operations on Dec. 21 to give way to the parade.

Who will attend the parade?

The Parade of Stars traditionally features elaborate themed vehicles for each official MMFF entry, carrying the films’ principal cast and production teams. For 2025 the MMFF has announced eight official entries: “I’mPerfect” — Krystel Go, Earl Amaba; “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” — Carla Abellana, Francine Diaz, Richard Gutierrez, Ivana Alawi; “Call Me Mother” — Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre; “Love You So Bad” — Dustin Yu, Bianca De Vera, Will Ashley; “Bar Boys: After School” — Carlo Aquino, Kian Cipriano, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda; “Manila’s Finest” — Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil; “Unmarry” — Angelica Panganiban, Tom Rodriguez, Zanjoe Marudo, Solenn Heussaff; and “Rekonek” — Gerald Anderson, Bela Padilla, Andrea

After-motorcade party

A music fest will be held at Circuit Makati Open Park with performances and special appearances from River Joseph, Brent Manalo, Mika Salamanca, Bamboo, Angeline Quinto, BGYO, Enchong Dee, Jervi Wrightson aka KaladKaren, Jhaillo, and Eisel Serrano. The gates will open at 3:00 PM.

Do’s and don’ts

MMDD chair Don Artes reminds the attendees that teams on board the floats are still not allowed to throw t-shirts, candies, or any souvenirs to the crowd. “Dinidiscourage po natin ‘yan dahil baka dumugin ang float. Baka makaaksidente (We discourage that because the float might get mobbed. It might cause an accident),” he told select reporters during the MMFF second celebrity golf tournament.

Gabi ng Parangal

The awarding ceremony will be held on December 27 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, also in Makati. Nominations for various categories will be announced earlier on the same day.

Source: inquirer.net