Yani Villarosa Stars in Filipino Gothic Horror Short ‘Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom,’ Now Streaming on YouTube
SINEGANG.ph published this press release by Puregold Cinepanalo. No staff writer participated in writing this article.
Following its selection at the 2025 Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival and multiple wins at the CineMapua Student Short Film Festival, Sean Romero’s short film explores the intersection of religious fervor, fear, and media manipulation.
Filipino Gothic horror short film Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom is now streaming for free on YouTube through the Kuro-Kuro channel, bringing its unsettling story of faith, fear, and an impending apocalypse to a wider audience.
Written and directed by Sean Romero (Cut/Off, The World We Left), the film was selected for the 2025 Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival and received multiple awards at the 2025 CineMapua Student Short Film Festival, including Third Best Picture and Best Female Performance in a Leading Role for Yani Villarosa.
Adding to its growing list of accolades, Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom is officially nominated in two categories at the 41st PMPC Star Awards: Short Movie of the Year and Short Movie Director of the Year.
Set against the looming threat of the apocalypse, Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom follows Anak (Villarosa), the meek yet resilient daughter of Ama (Joel Saracho), a leader of a doomsday cult. As father and daughter prepare for the end of the world, a series of sinister events leads Anak to question the teachings she has long been raised to believe.
Drawing inspiration from the 2012 apocalypse hoax, Romero examines how religious authority and media narratives can shape human behavior during times of uncertainty.
“As someone who has become critical of the provisions of religion and media, I wanted to show how humanity could be vulnerable to such influences when they are fueled by fear and panic,” Romero said.
The film is led by Villarosa and Saracho, whose characters anchor a tense relationship shaped by belief, authority, and growing doubt. Villarosa also reflected on her experience working on the student production, saying, “Sobrang happy ako na naging part ako ng thesis film na ’yon, sobrang special nun to me.”
Produced by Ryem Panganiban and Pearl Barcos under Mapúa University’s Digital Film Program, Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom brings together a creative team that includes Allen Saflor (Occupied) as director of photography and Vahn Leinard Pascual (Status: Rejected) as production designer.
With its Filipino Gothic sensibilities and heavy religious imagery, the film offers a chilling look at how fear can become a tool of control, and how faith can be tested when the promised end draws near.
Sa Oras ng Paghuhukom is now available to watch for free on the Kuro-Kuro YouTube channel.
