Edward J. Mallillin

Brown Soup Thing is a comedy-drama about the Mansaluds - a comfortably disconnected Pilipino American family who puts the “fun” in dysfunctional.

In order to raise her unacceptable “A-“ grade average at school, the youngest Mansalud, 10 year-old Lita (Sari Arambulo), must submit a video project about “what it means to be a Pilipino in America”. Luckily for her, Lita’s upcoming birthday provides the perfect setting to unite everyone: parents Alfred (Russ Bautista) & Philomena (Anne Santiago), brother Jude (Wil Olandria), sisters Fely (The Flip Side’s Rona Par), Maria (Kimee Balmilero from Hi-5), & Shana (The Bold & The Beautiful’s Cheryl Noe), an array of cousins including Cousin Jenilee (Jenilee Reyes from Deal or No Deal), Cousin Bong-bong (Room to Improv’s Earl Baylon, Cousin Joey (Joey Guila from HBO’s P Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy), and her Lola (grandmother) who just wants to cook a myriad of mouth-watering delicacies, including the movie’s titular dish – the Brown Soup Thing.

Words & Images by Edward J. Mallillin

Seven course meal.  Yes, seven courses.  What Rene Emmanuel Villapando did to our collective (now bigger) gut was simply criminal.  But his customers didn't seem to mind, as they kept coming back for seconds.  And thirds.  And so on.  Rene Emmanuel Villapando's Asian Soul Food Tasting Party was a huge hit with a packed crowd this past month in Studio City.

Acclaimed Brown Soup Thing, featuring Manny Pacquiao, is official selection for Filipino International Film Festival in Los Angeles October 17th. Film's stars will walk red carpet, including Jenilee Reyes, Bernardo Bernardo, Earl Baylon, and Kimee Balmilero, along with writer/director Edward J. Mallillin. Legendary actor Eddie Garcia to receive a lifetime achievement award prior to screening.

Words by Edward J. Mallillin

There's been a wave of hilarious Pilipino American comics in the last several years.  Jo Koy, Justin Rivera, and Joey Guila especially come to mind.  But before all of them, there was Rex Navarrete, who has been making audiences laugh for two decades with his signature brand of comedy geared towards Philippine Americans.

You might say he's the comedian for us.