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In 2014, Giancarlo Abrahan wrote and directed "Dagitab," a film about a middle-age couple and how their love had evolved over the years. This year, Abrahan continued on the same theme and took it a step further to tackle the relationship of a senior citizen couple whose marriage of 50 years teetered on the edge of ending. The simple Filipino one-word title "Paki" is translated in two ways, as "please" and as "care" -- and that point alone already captured my attention.

After 50 years of living together as a married couple, 69-year old Mrs. Alejandra Molina Sanchez suddenly decides that she had had enough of her husband Uro's incurable womanizing ways. She seeks refuge with her daughters but everyone has their own issues about her. Eldest daughter Mercedes (Des) constantly hounds her about her health. Second daughter Marcella (Ella) follows her mother's footsteps in local politics, but could not stand her interference. Youngest daughter Miranda (Randy) broke her mother's heart when she revealed she was a lesbian.

After all these years as a character actress in supporting roles, Dexter Doria finally steps up to the plate in a lead role as the disgruntled wife and mother, Alejandra. Doria played her role in an understated and quiet manner. The battles and demons Alejandra fought were internal, and Doria successfully expressed them eloquently with her face and body language only, no hysterics nor caterwauling.

Even if he was supposed to be bad husband, Noel Trinidad played Uro so likably it was not too easy to side against him. It was actually his scenes singing karaoke during their beach reunion which got me misty-eyed. His scene with his great-grandchild Chester at the seashore where he left something behind in the sea after snorkling was the hands-down funniest one in the whole film.

Shamaine Buencamino played eldest sister Des as the typical busybody fussbudget. Separated from her husband, she has a gay son Raymond (Miguel Valdes), who is living with a celebrity health nut Gab (Paolo Paraiso). Eula Valdez played Ella as a hard and unforgiving woman as only she can. It was good to see Ricky Davao play it subdued for a change as Ella's docile husband Delfin. They have a daughter Lara (Sari Estrada) who is an unwed mother to cute little boy Chester (Dravin Angeles). The attractive lesbian couple Randy and Leni were stylish beauties as played by Cielo Aquino and Ina Feleo.

Overall though, this family drama is well-written and engaging, occasionally cluttered with extra detail. I wonder what point director Abrahan wished to push when he made Doria wear over-the-top ensemble with chunky jewelry and a feathered fascinator on her head on the day she left her house, because it did not ring true at all. The final scene with the flat tire was rather awkward in execution, and did not come across too naturally. It was nevertheless very interesting to see Abrahan's portrait of an all-inclusive modern Filipino family in flux. 7/10

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."