Disney’s Snow White officially arrived in Philippine theaters on Wednesday, March 19, offering an interesting take on its 1937 animated classic. Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, the 2025 live-action adaptation has sparked excitement among Filipino celebrities and personalities.

During the Philippine premiere on Sunday, March 16, PUSH ABS-CBN caught up with several attendees who shared their thoughts on the film.

READ: Disney drops teaser trailer for ‘Snow White’ live-action movie

Kapamilya singer Elha Nympha said, “To be honest, it healed my inner child. And, siyempre growing up, I used to watch mga Disney movies, and one of [them] is Snow White.”

Elha said that she appreciated how the live adaptation felt more humanized, musical, and relatable. “The message of the movie is really moving, and parang talagang napakita nila na everyone is valid, lalo na si Grumpy, naiyak ako kanina,” she recalled, sharing that Grumpy is one of her favorite characters alongside Snow White. “Grumpy is also misunderstood but at the end of the day, minsan kailangan lang natin ng words of affirmation,” she said.

“I think the message of the movie is you have to be true to yourself. Be brave,” Elha added.  

Just like in the movie, if given the chance to speak to the magic mirror on the wall, she would ask, “How tough can I become in the future?” She said she hopes it would answer, “Sana mas tough ako and ma-achieve ko ‘yung mga dreams na gusto kong ma-accomplish."

Meanwhile, content creator Abi Marquez described Snow White as talented, kind, and opinionated. Known for her online moniker ‘Lumpia Queen,’ Abi jokingly quipped, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, what happens if you wrap Snow White in a lumpia roll?”

When asked how she finds the live action movie, Abi mentioned that she grew up watching the original animated film countless times. “The live action, I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time, and I can say it’s really different. It’s really interesting. I watched ‘yung animated one, maybe hundred times growing up and it’s really refreshing to see what kind of treatment that they brought in. So, [it’s] a lot of laughs, teary-eyed moments and really empowering.”

She particularly loved the ‘Whistle While You Work’ scene, saying, “Ang pinaka-favorite scene ko is the ‘Whistle While You Work’ scene. It’s purely out of the entertainment value and also, the artistic approach to the dances… So satisfying.”

TikToker Risha Rodriguez also described the film as, “Very visual, very nostalgic, and it connects with me.” She appreciated how the live-action version gave the dwarves more depth in terms of their personalities, making them more than just their names or titles. She also appreciated the iconic Heigh Ho scene, where the dwarves approached work with joy and enthusiasm.

Likewise, celebrity couple Nash Aguas and Mika dela Cruz also shared their key takeaways from the film. Nash said, “For me, kindness trumps all evil, and it's really amazing to see ‘yung dating animated lang, to see it in live action. It's very refreshing and nostalgic at the same time.” Mika, for her part, praised the actress who played the role of Snow White. “Sobrang galing po ni Rachel. She really did a good job. Grabe, naiiyak po kami. Galing acting, her voice,” she said.  

Highlighting Snow White’s courage, Mika relayed, “For me po, I think yung braveness. Noong una, nahihirapan siya to find it, but it was within her all along. She just had to unlock it and face her fears. So sa akin yung braveness, ‘yung pureness ng heart niya, and I think joyfulness. She's also a very joyful person.” Nash echoed Mika’s sentiments, saying, “Same, pero isa sa mga pinaka-standout sa akin is yung sinabi niya na, lead, not be led.”

Mika also talked about how she resonates with Snow White. “Siguro po, ako medyo nakaka-relate ako sa kanya in terms of sometimes, mga babae, mahilig tayong mag-isip. There are a lot of women who struggle with being held back by their fears, being held back by the way that they think, the way that others or people think about them. So I think it really ties dun sa theme ni Snow White. Eventually, she looked inward and with the support ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya, she was able to find ‘yung braveness, ‘yung totoong siya. Di ba, kinakanta niya nga ‘yung ‘will I become my father's daughter?’ Kasi ever since naman, she has it within her. So, grabe nakakatuwa po makita ‘yun sa isang pelikula.”

Likewise, celebrity mom Say Alonzo shared her love for Snow White’s bravery. “She is someone na stands for what she believes in and then she fights for it. So fighter siya.” She also praised actress Gal Gadot for her portrayal of the Evil Queen, “Ang ganda-ganda niya.”