There is a lot of charm in Renei Dimla’s ‘Republika ng Pipolipinas.’ A seasoned scriptwriter with over a decade of experience and a Palanca Award under her belt for her screenplay of ‘Katay’, Dimla marks her debut as director with this film and while the script is funny and passionate about its subject matter while the direction could still use a bit of tightening up in some parts – comedy is very tricky to pull off, after all – but for a first time director, it’s quite laudable.

‘Republika ng Pipolipinas’ is a mockumentary that follows the story of Cora Vitug (Geraldine Villamil), who decides to give up her Philippine citizenship and decides to start her own country, Pipolipinas. Cora has lost her land through some political maneuvering, and she now stands firm in not giving up her farm and establishing her micronation. As her story goes viral, she finds other people willing to join her micronation, including the actress Alessandra De Rossi (playing herself), and the fight for her right to keep what her family has worked on for several generations start to escalate as evidence of corruption starts to appear.

As a mockumentary, ‘Republika ng Pipolipinas’ takes on a documentary approach to the telling of the story, though at times, the film takes on an omniscient point-of-view in order to capture some of the funnier moments through cinematic frame rather than the personal, documentary style. The inconsistency of the mockumentary style weakens the overall delivery of the message as some parts hits hard because of the aesthetic and then, as it shifts to a more narrative POV, it tends to lose that bite in favour of its more comic moments.

And this is also where Dimla’s inexperience comes in. Comedy is all about timing. It’s about setting up the joke, making the punchline land, and then moving on to the next scene. There are moments when the scene lingers, allowing the punchline to settle, which kills the comedy. There are lines and actions that could have been funnier if the edit was quicker, snappier. Comedy is all about timing and ‘Republika ng Pipolipinas’ would benefit for not underlining the jokes. 

But with that being said, there’s a lot to enjoy in the film. When the jokes land, it lands hard. The whole ensemble is fun to watch as they are obviously having fun with the material themselves but it never feels like an inside joke.

Villamil is excellent as Cora Vitug, giving off a fiery temperament as she goes head-to-head with the local government but softens when she takes care of the people around her.

And the film is not without its hard-hitting political messages, these moments of insight about the failure of our government to protect its people and the interest of the citizens, that works well within the framework of the mockumentary aesthetic. It’s why the consistency of the form would have been preferred.

‘Republika ng Pipolipinas’ feels big and manages to make a mountain out of this tiny micronation in the middle of the rural area of the country. Villamil and the rest of the brilliant cast help create a believable struggle that is a shared struggle with every other Filipino. It is so timely with the issues currently at hand in government with corruption in every corner. Its timeliness supersedes its little flaws because its heart is as big as its rather moving ending.

Republika ng Pipolipinas is showing on the big screen! Check cinema showtimes near you and grab your tickets today!

This year, don’t miss Cinemalaya 21: LAYAG sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos happening from October 3-12, 2025! Witness another stellar lineup of stories that will move you and showcase the brilliance of Philippine cinema. Follow the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Cinemalaya for updates!