Marietta Subong’s ‘2 Valid IDs’ hopes to spark change in healthcare system

MANILA, Philippines — Patience is a must when you have to stand in a long queue to get an identification card, according to “2 Valid IDs” actress Marietta Subong, also known as Pokwang.

“First of all, you need to have a lot of patience. Why? Because the line is really long. And even after waiting in line, you won’t be able to get it right away. Sometimes, you already have a certain type of ID, but when you get there, you find out that it’s not the one they require,” Marietta pointed out during the presscon for Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan’s “2 Valid IDs.”

“You just wasted your time waiting in line. It’s difficult because you have to go through so much. In the film, yes, they will learn how to get two valid IDs,” she added.

Due to public demand, the social drama, which earned Marietta a Best Actress award, as well as the Audience Choice Award and Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, will be screened in cinemas nationwide starting Oct. 14.

Marietta said she felt ecstatic and nervous at the same time knowing that the movie will be shown nationwide. She also emphasized the importance of sharing the message of “2 Valid IDs” with Filipinos here and overseas, adding that the film will soon have international screenings.

Written by Abet Pagdagdagan Raz, the film also features Meryll Soriano, Joey Marquez and Zaijian Jaranilla.

“2 Valid IDs” tells the story of Sylvia (played by Marietta), a poor farmer who is unable to claim a remittance because she lacks the required two valid IDs. She finds herself in a situation that challenges her character, beliefs and morality.

‘2 Valid IDs’ screenwriter Abet Pagdagdagan Raz (not in photo) and director Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan share their hopes for the film during an interview with The STAR.

As a comedian taking on a dramatic role, Marietta admitted that every scene was a challenge for her. She told The STAR, “But ang pinaka gustong-gusto ko dito yung mukha ng buhay kung papano ko ibibigay bilang komedyante. Papano ko ibibigay sa kanila yung seryosong pinagdadaanan ng bawat character especially sa sistema ng medical, hindi lang sa bureaucracy natin.

“But with the help of our director, I made a lot of changes, particularly in the nuances of my character. I play a 59-year-old farmer in the film. Ang dami kong binago din para wag lumabas yung Pokwang. It was very challenging for me.”

She also used her real name, Marietta, in the film instead of her stage name, Pokwang, to emphasize the seriousness of her role as an actress.

“Kasi sabi nga nila pag Marietta na ginamit nito, seryoso na. And lahat ng pinagdaanan ni Sylvia dito seryoso. That’s why I use Marietta here. Seryosong pagod, seryosong hirap ang pinagdaanan ni Sylvia. Pag Marietta na, award-winning,” she said, laughing. “Nakailang award na po ako using my real name and in all fairness naman, hindi nasayang.”

However, she admitted that both comedy and drama roles can be challenging.

“In comedy, it’s also challenging, baka mamaya hindi mo mapatawa yung tao… In drama, you really have to feel the scene and not just the technical aspect of it. Because when people watch a film, they will look at how you act. So you really have to feel the character, every scene and every line.”

She added that her favorite scene in the film was her “painful” scene with Joey on the rooftop.

But beyond the difficulty of obtaining valid IDs, “2 Valid IDs” also tackles the challenges faced by the country’s medical system, Marietta noted. She could easily relate to the film’s message, having experienced similar difficulties in real life when her son died.

Pokwang plays Sylvia, a poor farmer who is unable to claim a remittance because she lacks the required IDs, in ‘2 Valid IDs.’ She shares a scene with Joey Marquez, who plays her husband Ramon, and Zaijian Jaranilla, whose character will help the couple in the film.

“I was not yet an actress that time. Naranasan ko yung pagpila-pila, paglapit sa government to ask for financial assistance when my son had a brain tumor. We lined up, but namatay, namatay yung anak ko hindi naman namin na-ano yung tulong (But my son died before we could receive any assistance),” she recalled.

She lost her six-year-old son, Shin, in 1998 while she was working as an overseas Filipino worker.

Meanwhile, screenwriter Abet shared with The STAR in a separate interview that he drew inspiration for the film’s premise while caring for his mother in the hospital. “The medical aspect of it. Nagbantay ako sa nanay ko before she passed away. I saw how the system works, so I told myself to make a film out of it.”

For direk Ma-an, she hoped that the film’s valuable message would reach not only moviegoers but also policymakers.

“After watching the film, I want them to realize that the majority of Filipino people, especially the marginalized, are experiencing this in the identification and health care system. I also hope that they educate fellow Filipinos about the importance of having an ID. Lalo na kung ang mga karamihang mamamayan sa malalayong lugar eh busy mag-survive sa pang araw-araw ng buhay. Hindi nila iisipin ang pagkuha pa ng ID,” she said.

She also wished that the film would serve as a reference for future generations, giving them a glimpse of how the system works today. “Para at least unting-unti nagbabago. The film is not just about poverty; it’s also about human rights. For me, every Filipino in the country has the right to have identification. You feel you belong to the society and at the same time, all the taxes that the middle class are paying, I just feel that we deserve more than this, especially in our health care system.”

“Kumbaga, they have the power to initiate change,” Abet said, referring to the policymakers and lawmakers. “Nagbubulabog lang kami talaga. Kumbaga nag-spark lang kami ng conversation and nag-i-ignite ng fire.”