‘2 Valid IDs’ REVIEW: Time Is a Luxury and Privilege That Not Everyone Can Afford
‘2 Valid IDs’ REVIEW: Time Is a Luxury and Privilege That Not Everyone Can Afford
WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ‘2 VALID IDS’ (2026)
Applications for government-related transactions have long been a test of patience in the Philippines. Think back to the last time you applied for a National ID. How long did it take before you finally received it? Better yet: have you even received it at all?
What lies behind these traits reveals a broken system that only Filipinos could ever endure in the most crucifying, humiliating, and wrecking way. When a “simple” two-document requirement is presented in front of you, and a deadline is yet to approach, it becomes a game of tug-of-war. Who will win in a system so flawed that even through death, government documents become crucial?
Directed by Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan, 2 Valid IDs is an entry to this year’s Cinemalaya film festival that steps beyond a reality that Filipinos chronically face in almost all daily transactions, where one must endure an excruciating process of bureaucratic red tape to prove one’s identity by presenting not just one, but two identification cards.
Sylvia (Marietta “Pokwang” Subong) in 2 Valid IDs | Still courtesy of Cinemalaya
The logic behind this system may seem reasonable to some: to stop the use of fake identities, especially given the prevalence of many “businesses” that make fake identification cards. But think about it again, and you will find yourself laughing at the very core concept of applying for an I.D., but the first requirement is another valid I.D.
The story centers on Sylvia’s (Marietta “Pokwang” Subong) journey to apply for two valid IDs, which were a requirement to claim a large sum of money to cover the hospitalization expenses of Ramon (Joey Marquez), who is suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Over the course of the film, she faces many obstacles to obtaining an ID: a rich woman who gets to skip the long lines to apply for a barangay I.D., the minimum expenses required to claim your I.D., and fixers.
On the other hand, we see the horror of public hospitals: the lack of facilities and staff, and institutional negligence stemming from a corrupt administration. It has come to a point where patients are forced to share medicines due to financial constraints, while even basic medical care is compromised. Doctors are stretched so thin by the overwhelming number of patients that some are left unattended during rounds, effectively leaving them without the care they need.
The film leaves us with more than a reflection of what Filipinos face on a day-to-day basis. Thus, with more than just a human’s agency to make decisions for themselves, what else should we actually look into more?
Sylvia (Marietta “Pokwang” Subong) in 2 Valid IDs | Still courtesy of Cinemalaya
During the first 30 minutes of the film, the audience is already introduced to Sylvia and Ramon’s core struggles. As Sylvia fights her way through the process of numerous applications, Ramon constantly convinces her to go home to their province, as he did not want to spend his birthday at the hospital.
What made these scenes intense was the background noise during the quiet conversations between the couple: the beeping of numerous hospital monitors, the loud asthmatic breath of another patient, and the death of another patient in the room. As their relatives continue to urge the doctors to keep trying, they are met with nothing more than a simple announcement of their loved ones’ time of death, as if three months of fighting to keep them alive could be reduced to a mere timestamp.
An even more frustrating scene unfolds as the doctors pressure Ramon to be transferred to a semi-private hospital, as Sylvia constantly explains that they cannot afford the costs. A simple head shake from Ramon and a sad glance from Sylvia — their performance goes beyond this hurtful reality.
Sylvia (Marietta “Pokwang” Subong) and Ramon (Joey Marquez) in 2 Valid IDs | Still courtesy of Cinemalaya
The film also highlights another crucial divide within urban and rural communities in the country. As Sylvia explains the process of obtaining two valid IDs, Ramon reminds her that their lack of these documents is not their fault. Having grown up in the province, they were never taught about these requirements in the first place. We also see Ramon’s persistence in going back to the province instead of “wasting” his time in the hospital. He reasons, “Sa atin, magsipag ka lang, ‘di ka magugutom. Sa Maynila, bawat galaw, may pera.”
The burden of having to go through these transactions adds up not just to Sylvia’s mental health, but even to Ramon’s condition. The longer the process, the less chance he has of completing his medications. The cyclical process of applying and waiting for her documents greatly mirrors the systemic neglect they face within and outside the hospital.
In the end, we cannot blame the underpaid and overworked employees in the institution, nor the people who are simply navigating an unfamiliar system around them. The ones left suffering because of this neglect are the citizens who strive to play fairly in an unfair game.
By the latter part of the film, Mercy (Meryll Soriano) introduces fixers to Sylvia — an “unauthorized,” paid person hired to make transactions easier, faster, and more convenient than the usual process. As Sylvia explores her options, she is left with no choice but to give her extra allowance for a voter’s certification, which will serve as her second I.D.
Alternatively, she continues looking for extra income by personally knocking on politicians’ doors for donations. She then receives 500 pesos from their mayor, along with Meryll’s support that she can go further if she gets to talk to more politicians in their community. Sylvia’s sense of dignity is brought up in this part of the film, where she remains conflicted between saving her husband’s life and still having a little bit of pride.
Ramon, with a strict sense of morality, questions Sylvia’s choices. Even with their financial constraint and Ramon’s worsening condition, this is something he would never let anyone do just for his sake. Yet again, we circle back to the question of morality versus dignity. In situations where one must choose between survival and dignity, can morality remain absolute?
Sylvia (Marietta “Pokwang” Subong) in 2 Valid IDs | Still courtesy of Cinemalaya
2 Valid IDs is not just a film about looking at the line between right and wrong, especially when systemic incompetence is put in the picture. Filipinos suffer for a reason, and the poor can never be blamed for their daily hardships, nor for the choices that are only available to them. The film does not ask us to justify these wrongdoings, nor to look at this illegality as absolute evil. It asks us to paint the bigger picture and identify who is to blame.
By the end of the film, you will be left pondering many questions about inequalities and injustices in the country. Many Filipino films have already tried to portray the same themes through historic events, political conflicts, and various narratives of oppression. 2 Valid IDs changes this pattern with a twist, finding its strength in something far more ordinary. The horror of inequality stems from a policy that not everyone can afford, not just financially, but also through time, accessibility, opportunity, and, most importantly, dignity.
‘2 Valid IDs' is one of the selected full-length feature films for the 22nd edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.
