Why Jodi Sta. Maria’s ‘Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon’ will hit you right in the heart

Jodi Sta. Maria and Agot Isidro open up about abandonment, rejection, and the strong women we become.

For Jodi Sta. Maria, her next dramatic project, “Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon,” is a story for anyone who has ever carried the weight of abandonment or rejection.

The film dives headfirst into the chaos of a family reunion where initial celebrations give way to the reopening of old wounds and long-buried grievances. At its heart is the tension between past hurts and the possibility of understanding and healing.

Exploring the weight of abandonment

Sta. Maria opens up about her character. “She’s accomplished. She’s intelligent. She’s very strong. But the question is, why? What motivated this character to be the way she is?” Sta. Maria said during a recent media gathering organized by Netflix.

“If you look back, it’s because this strong, independent woman had to be that way. She didn’t have anyone to guide her during her growing-up years. That’s the kind of bubog she carries. I believe there are people who can relate to her—those who carry abandonment and rejection issues.”

Opposite her is the equally compelling Agot Isidro, who plays a character that kept her on her toes: “Paz is definitely very complicated. When Director Cholo (Laurel) sent me the script, I was so excited—but then I was like, ‘How am I going to play her?’ She’s really difficult, really complicated, a bit narcissistic.”

Isidro said she didn’t have to look far to find someone similar in real life. “We all have someone in mind, maybe in our family or in our circle of friends. I could relate to Paz because I could relate to my mom. Not exactly the same, but similar enough,” she added. “That gave me a deeper understanding—not just of Paz, but of my mom too. I saw her frustrations, her insecurities. And that made me understand that it’s her defense mechanism. She’s not a bad character. She’s just complicated.”

Navigating the friction of kinship

Director Laurel (“Wherever You Are (2005) and “After Life” (2021)) returns to deliver this grounded exploration of familial friction, reminding audiences that coming home isn’t always easy and confronting the past is never simple. 

With seasoned performances anchoring the story, “Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon” promises to be both emotional and relatable, focusing on the messy, inevitable friction of kinship and the courage it takes to heal. The film streams on Netflix starting August 13, 2026.

 

 

If you look back, it’s because this strong, independent woman had to be that way. She didn’t have anyone to guide her during her growing-up years. That’s the kind of bubog she carries.

Jodi Sta. Maria

 

 

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