Yassi Pressman finds peace in engagement to Luigi Villafuerte

Actress Yassi Pressman has another reason to celebrate this Christmas as her latest film project, “Little Hope,” earns a spot in the 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) lineup, adding to an eventful year that also saw her get engaged to longtime boyfriend Luigi Villafuerte.

Yassi couldn’t hide her excitement as she and her co-stars introduced the film, which she also co-produced, marking another milestone in her entertainment career.

Starring alongside Pepe Herrera and young actress Cailey Magno as Hope, the film follows a young girl diagnosed with cancer who hopes to find someone who will take care of her father. The cast also includes Isay Alvarez Sena, Robert Sena, Empress Schuck, Adam Buck, Gardo Versoza, and Althea Ruedas.

For Yassi, making it to this year’s MMFF lineup was an unexpected honor, especially since the team had no initial expectations of joining the festival.

“Walang hanggang pasasalamat sa mga parte po ng MMFF na nakapanood po ng pelikula namin noong final cut. Noong nag-decide kami na puwede kaming sumali sa festival na ‘to, it’s such an honor. Sana marami kaming ma-touch na mga puso this Christmas,” she shared.

The film’s inclusion also meant adjusting their Christmas plans, with the cast expected to juggle work commitments and time with their families.

“Yes. Pero ang plano po namin ay magtrabaho, just to be with our families,” Yassi said.

“Kung hindi po kami nasa probinsya, we’re gonna start po sa Manila sa 25 and 26. Baka nasa probinsya kami, and 27, back na naman kami sa Manila,” she added.

Yassi finds peace in her engagement

The media gathering also gave Yassi a chance to reconnect with members of the entertainment press, who naturally asked about her engagement to her longtime partner, Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luigi Villafuerte.

The actress happily shared how much this new chapter means to her, describing herself as grateful and at peace.

“Yes, I’m very, very happy po and grateful. Panatag ang loob, ang puso payapa. Couldn’t ask for more,” she said.

She also considers the engagement a significant step toward maturity and embracing a new phase of her life.

“Very grateful, and I feel like baka malaking step into maturity po talaga,” she added.

While she has been less visible in the entertainment spotlight, Yassi explained that she has become more selective about the projects she takes on, choosing stories that align with her interests and the kind of work she wants to pursue.

“Wala naman po sa connections sa love life ‘yon, pero sa akin po bilang artista, bilang tao, mas pinipili ko na po ang mga kuwento na naaayon sa kung ano ang gusto kong gawin,” she explained.

Double wedding with Issa?

With Yassi now engaged and her sister Issa Pressman rumored to be heading toward an engagement with actor James Reid, the possibility of a double wedding between the sisters also came up during the interview.

Yassi responded with a playful question when asked about the speculation.

“Bawal po mag-lunch lang?” she quipped.

She explained that a simple gathering may be enough, emphasizing that the people they share the occasion with matter more than an elaborate celebration.

“Simple lunch lang po talaga, and higit po sa lahat ay ang taong kasama namin sa lunch na ‘yon. ‘Yong taong hindi po namin nakasama for the past while, and ang pinaka-importante is ‘yong oras po namin moving forward we’ll have together,” she said.

Film producing is harder than expected

Aside from starring in the film, Yassi also stepped into the role of co-producer, an experience that gave her a firsthand look at the challenges of bringing a project from concept to the big screen.

She believes “Little Hope” does not need an extravagant production to make an impact, as its greatest strength lies in its heartfelt story.

“Naniniwala po kasi talaga ako sa magandang kuwento. Hindi po siguro ito ang engrandeng pelikula na mapapanood ninyo. Ang kuwento po nito is talagang nasa laman ng puso at sa istorya. And feeling ko nagawan po namin ng justice ang kuwento ni Direk Benedict without it being super extraordinary. So we just want to do it well, to cast well, to shoot well, and sana maihatid namin ‘yon sa mga Pilipino,” she shared.

However, the experience also made her realize just how demanding film production can be.

“Ang hirap po pala. Parang hindi po yata ito magiging madalas,” she joked.

Asked whether she would consider producing another movie, Yassi admitted that she is not quite ready to take on the challenge again.

“Parang hindi ko pa po ata kaya ‘yon, pero never say never. Pero sa ngayon, hindi pa po talaga,” she said.

As the 2026 MMFF opens this Christmas, Yassi and the “Little Hope” team hope to touch Filipino hearts with a story of family, love, and compassion.