Director Darryl Yap has set aside his personal disagreements with comedian-actress Pokwang to publicly praise her performance in the film ‘2 Valid IDs’, which has reportedly surpassed ₱50 million at the box office.
During an intimate media interview attended by LionhearTV on Sunday, October 25, 2026, Yap admitted that although he had previously taken issue with Pokwang’s remarks about his friend Ella Cruz, he could not ignore the actress’s talent after watching her latest movie. Yap, known for his outspoken opinions and controversial films, candidly discussed his admiration for Pokwang, whose real name is Marietta Subong.
“Pokwang said a lot of nasty things to Ella Cruz, and Ella is a very good friend of mine,” the director said. “Though I didn’t like her attitude, I was moved by her performance.”
Despite their differences, Yap revealed that he personally reached out to Pokwang to congratulate her.
“Out of the blue, I just can’t let it go, I messaged her. I just congratulated her. I don’t know kung mababasa niya.”
The filmmaker explained that recognizing an artist’s talent should not depend on whether they share the same political beliefs or personal views.
“Not for anything but hindi ko pwedeng palampasin when I see greatness and talent,” he emphasized.
“Though magkaiba kami ng views, I have to be fair. If naging unfair ako sa talent ‘di naging kagaya na nila ako na just because of political stand you overlook someone’s talent.”
Yap said he was so impressed by Pokwang’s acting that he decided to send her a private message despite their history of disagreements. However, he was unsure whether the actress had seen it.
“Pokwang, i-seen mo naman. Kahit seen lang. Kahit huwag ka nang mag-reply. Charot!” he joked.
He went on to praise both Pokwang’s performance and the film itself.
“She was great. The movie was great. 2 Valid IDs. It’s really, really something.”
For Yap, a strong performance deserves recognition regardless of the personalities involved.
“Not because hindi kami okay or we’re not acquainted eh hindi ko sasabihin? Maganda! ‘Pag maganda, maganda talaga,” he stressed.
His comments were particularly noteworthy given his acknowledgment that he and Pokwang have differing political perspectives. Rather than allowing those differences to dictate his assessment, Yap said he chose to recognize what he considered an exceptional performance.
Interestingly, Yap also revealed that he watched ‘2 Valid IDs’ before seeing the Philippine adaptation of ‘Pee Mak’, despite the latter being produced by Viva Films, the studio with which he is closely associated. The Filipino adaptation of the Thai horror-comedy stars Bea Binene and Wilbert Ross.
Meanwhile, ‘2 Valid IDs’, headlined by Pokwang, has reportedly earned more than ₱50 million at the box office, reflecting the film’s commercial success alongside the attention generated by its performances. Yap’s enthusiastic assessment added another endorsement to the movie, particularly coming from a filmmaker who has publicly acknowledged his differences with its lead actress.
Yap is also preparing for the theatrical release of his first horror film, ‘VHS: Viva Horror Stories’, which opens in cinemas nationwide on October 28, 2026. The film features Sarah Lahbati, Ella Cruz, Sachzna Laparan, McCoy de Leon, Kit Thompson, and Isay Alvarez.
‘VHS’ is part of SM Cinema’s ‘Sine Sindak: The 7th Cycle’, where it represents the Philippines alongside international horror titles.