Welcoming Pinoy vertical entertainment

On TikTok, Instagram Shorts and Reels, Drama Box, Reddit and Reel Shorts, to mention a few, serialized short dramas in vertical form are now considered by many as immensely addictive and popular. This is why many artistic and production houses are shifting gears and joining the vertical entertainment bandwagon.

Cignal Play bankrolled, gambled and launched its vertical entertainment offerings with Cignal Play Microdrama.

This entertainment digital innovation gives emotionally-charged, under-five-minute vertical dramas designed for fast-paced, mobile-connected demographics.

Vertical is now

The launch of Cignal Microdrama is proof that in the Philippine entertainment landscape, vertical format is here — it’s an artistic and creative challenge, and yes, it is here to stay.

“It forces you to reimagine how stories are told, how visuals are framed, and how you hold a viewer’s attention,” said Derick Cabrido, director of 3 Queens and A Baby and A Cure Called Love, two of the current original Filipino content on Cignal Microdrama. “Since most of the media I worked on, films and TV, are always a horizontal medium, with this reality, now I have to think tall. This narrower frame demands smart composition — close-ups, tight angles, bold text overlays, and center-focused visuals.  It pushes you to be more inventive.”

 Cabrido added: “Vertical video also feels more personal. It fills the screen in an immersive way, almost like a FaceTime call. That intimacy helps draw people in—it’s as if the viewer is part of the moment, rather than simply watching from a distance.”

For actor Christian Bables, lead star of the Cabrido-directed 3 Queens, “One of the biggest challenges is to underact. No big and unnecessary movements. As an actor, another challenge is to make sure of what you do and give justice to the narrative of your content. That’s because of how I give life to my character, it grabs the attention of your audiences within the first few seconds, and hindi na sila bibitaw (and they will not stop watching it). With this vertical format, you have become closer to your viewer, both visually and emotionally. It feels like you’re talking to the viewer one-on-one. It’s a different way of connecting. And it’s proving to be incredibly effective.”

MediaQuest and Cignal president and chief executive officer Jane J. Basas said: “We believe that storytelling has the power to connect, inspire and transform. With Cignal Play Microdrama, we’re bringing a new dimension to Filipino content that is short, impactful and relatable.”

Now showing

Currently streaming on the Cignal Play app are four must-watch micro-series, each crafted to match the different preferences of Filipino viewers:

The first is I See You, directed by Crisanto B. Aquino, a chilling thriller with Dimples Romana as a powerful businesswoman whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when she goes blind, yet clearly sees the betrayal of the people closest to her.

Giving Romana tough love and resolve in this micro-drama are Joem Bascon, Cedrick Juan, Pearl Gonzales, Glenda Garcia and Zion Cruz. 

Second in the lineup is Bjoy Balagtas’ My Father’s Last Wish, a family tear-jerker drama with MediaQuest major talent Dylan Menor in the title role, together with Johnny Revilla, Gerald Madrid, Alex Medina and Dawn Chang.

Bird Cage mashed up with Three Men and a Baby, but with a Pinoy twist, is 3 Queens and a Baby, Derick Cabrido’s laugh-out-loud comedy series starring Christian Bables as part of a fabulous drag trio navigating love, chaos and an unexpected baby.  Completing the cast are TJ Valderrama, Iyah Mina, Daniela Stranner, Donna Cariaga, Christian Vasquez and Iven Lim. 

A Baker’s Heart, by director Omar Deroca, is another offering that is described as a romantic tale fresh from the oven. Set in a neighborhood panaderia (bakery), this series serves sweetness and second chances with Queenay Mercado and Paulo Angeles as its main attractions.

Rounding up the set of initial content is another Derick Cabrido-directed mini-series, A Cure Called Love, which serves as the second micro-drama with Dylan Menor as its main protagonist. It is a kilig-filled romance that asks: “Can love heal all wounds?” This micro drama also stars Dylan Menor, Micah Santos, Gelli De Belen, Matthew Mendoza, Pinky Amador and Jeff Tam. 

Apart from its Filipino content, Cignal Play Microdrama also showcases vertical dramas from its partner, Dashflix, a mobile-first short-form video producer known for its focus on bite-sized, high-quality content designed for viewers who are always on the go.

“We’re proud to offer this innovative format that delivers authentic stories that resonate with our Filipino audiences,” said Cignal chief revenue officer Gerard Milan.