Darryl Yap

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Balingit and the surname or paternal family name is Yap.
Darryl Yap
Born
Darryl Ray Spyke Balingit Yap

(1987-01-07) January 7, 1987 (age 38)[1]
Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
Education
Occupations
  • Director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active2017–present

Darryl Ray Spyke Balingit Yap (born January 7, 1987) is a Filipino film director, screenwriter and producer.[2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Yap was born on January 7, 1987 in Olongapo, Zambales to his parents who are high school teachers. He has a sibling.[3]

He graduated in Manila's Centro Escolar University with a mass communication degree and later enrolled at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to pursue a degree in public administration.[3]

Career

[edit]

Yap started his directing career with the short film Squatterina that highlighted the similarities between a typical illegal settler in Olongapo and the disciplines of ballet.[4] It was followed by his first full film #Jowable in 2018 which is about a troubled young woman named Elsa (starring Kim Molina) who yearns for a mature and intimate relationship.[5] The film gained mixed reviews from critics.[5][6][7]

In May 2020, Yap released a television series entitled Sakristan about two men coming to terms in finding love despite being church servants.[8] He received widespread criticism before the series' release due to the nature of the title and posters.[9] There were online demands to cancel Sakristan due to its disrespectful and offensive content to the Catholic Church.[10][11] The series was released through YouTube.[12][13]

In January 2021, Viva Films released Paglaki Ko, Gusto Kong Maging Pornstar, directed and written by Yap. It tells the story of a group of former pornstars gathered to teach an aspiring teen actress on how to be a pornstar, with a cash reward should the actress be launched.[14] The film was prohibited to be shown to the general public by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) due to its sexual and explicit content.[15] A sequel titled Pornstar 2: Pangalawang Putok was released on December 3, 2021, on Vivamax.[16]

In July 2021, Yap released another film entitled Gluta, about an Aeta girl who dreams of winning the Miss Universe pageant but faces discrimination from her own indigenous community.[17][18] In August 2021, Yap also released an erotic comedy film, Revirginized, about a mother (played by Sharon Cuneta) who never had a proper coming of age experience.[19][20]

Yap was declared persona non grata in June 2022 by the Quezon City Council for an episode of VinCentiments where the Seal of Quezon City was defaced and actress-comedian Ai-Ai delas Alas portrayed as Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte in a negative way.[21][22]

The period historical revisionist drama film Maid in Malacañang was written and directed by Yap, and tells the story of the Marcos family's last three days in the Malacañang Palace before they were forced to flee to Hawaii during the People Power Revolution in 1986.[23] The film released in July 2025 received numerous negative reviews from critics and audiences due to its controversial portrayal of the Marcos family and of People Power Revolution figurehead Corazon Aquino.[24][25][26][27] A second installment film Martyr or Murderer was released in 2023.[28][29]

In 2024, Yap released a romantic comedy film, titled Seoulmeyt, about a Filipina fan of Korean dramas meets with the man of her dreams until she discovers his fake personality.[30][31] Starring Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles,[32] and also shot in South Korea,[33] the film received positive reviews.[34][35]

In October 2024, it was reported that Yap is planning to do an upcoming movie about the late Filipino actress Pepsi Paloma.[36] The film hinted to revolve around Paloma's alleged rape and subsequent suicide was entitled The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma and was set to be screened in February 5, 2025 before its release was halted by a court order.[37][38] Vic Sotto, one of the alleged suspect of the abandoned rape case, filed libel charges against Yap for the unreleased film shortly after the trailer's release in January 2025.[39][40]

After the averted screening of Pepsi Paloma, Yap started working on the film Ngongo. The film already received criticism from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Council on Disability Affairs for its title and promotional materials which had execution which they deem deragatory towards people with disabilities.[41][42]

Personal life

[edit]

Yap is a bakla or a gay man.[43][44] He came out in his college years when he had a boyfriend for five years. Yap admitted to being in a straight relationship during high school recalling how his mother is opposed to him having a girlfriend already suspecting he is gay.[43]

Sexual assault and pedophilia claims

[edit]

In 2020, Yap drew controversy for his film Ayudamn, which was condemned on social media for having an offensive remark to single parents. A social media user posted a thread showing supposed screenshots of grooming him when he was 16 years old. The user also claimed that Yap's videographer Vincent Asis also had relationships with minors.[45]

Yap responded to the claim with a similar thread of screenshots, claiming that during the conversations, the user was allegedly telling him that he was a rape victim. He stated that the user had edited and manipulated the screenshots to maliciously portray him as a child groomer.[45]

A Facebook user also accused Yap of perpetuating pedophilia and child abuse amidst the lockdown put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yap threatened to file legal complaints against the Facebook user for spreading false information, asserting that he is not a pedophile nor has abused children.[45]

Yap also drew backlash for an old tweet in 2017 which he stated "masarap ang bata" (lit. 'Children are delicious'). Among them was former Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who called on the public to boycott Yap's movies and report him to his films' financiers.[45]

Filmography

[edit]

Feature films

[edit]
Table featuring films directed by Darryl Yap
Year Title Director Writer Producer Genre
2019 #Jowable Yes Yes No Comedy
2021 Paglaki Ko, Gusto Kong Maging Pornstar Yes Yes No Comedy
Tililing Yes Yes No Comedy
Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam Yes Yes No Comedy
Gluta Yes Yes No Drama
Revirginized Yes Yes No Comedy
69+1 Yes Yes No Comedy
Ang Manananggal na Nahahati ang Puso Yes Yes No Comedy
Sarap Mong Patayin Yes Yes No Comedy
Barumbadings Yes Yes No Action comedy
Pornstar 2: Pangalawang Putok Yes Yes No Comedy
2022 Maid in Malacañang Yes Yes No Political drama
2023 Martyr or Murderer Yes Yes No Political drama
2024 Seoulmeyt Yes Yes No Romantic comedy
Unreleased The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma Yes Yes Yes Crime drama

Television series

[edit]
Table featuring television series directed by Darryl Yap
Year Title Director Writer Producer Genre
2020 Sakristan Yes Yes No BL drama
2021 Kung Pwede Lang (KPL) Yes Yes No comedy

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Murcia, Alvin (January 10, 2025). "Vic Sotto files cyberlibel case against Darryl Yap over Pepsi Paloma teaser". Daily Tribune. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  2. ^ "Vic Sotto's writ of habeas data petition against Darryl Yap granted by court". PEP.ph. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Nick Aguila (June 10, 2022). "Who Is Darryl Yap and What Do We Think of His Brand of 'Shock' Videos?". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Squatterina (Short 2017)". VinCentiments. October 27, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Oggs Cruz (September 29, 2019). "'#Jowable' review: Funny to a fault". Rappler. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Jocelyn Valle (February 27, 2019). "REVIEW: Jowable lacks cohesiveness but provides plenty of laughs and insights about love". pep.ph. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Fred Hawson (September 29, 2019). "Movie review: Kim Molina is distressingly desperate in 'Jowable'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Laurena, Kobe Adam Joshua. "Jowable director Darryl Yap to helm and write Filipino boys love (BL) limited series". pikapika.ph. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Series “Sakristan”, Darryl Yap Biography-Director Behind Controversial BL (June 16, 2016). "Darryl Yap Biography - Director Behind Controversial BL Series "Sakristan"". Philippine News. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Balleras, Care (June 2, 2020). "Sakristan: Forbidden love and religion". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Salterio, Leah C. (June 6, 2020). "'Jowable' director Darryl Yap courts controversy anew with LGBT online series". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Salterio, Leah C. "Darryl Yap on Sakristan series: 'I'm ready for backlash'". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Eusebio, Aaron Brennt. "LIST: Boys Love-themed series worth watching". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Different generations of daring actresses to star in a new movie 'Paglaki ko, gusto kong maging Pornstar'". LionhearTV. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Director Darryl Yap hindi naniniwalang laos na ang mga bida niya sa Pornstar". PEP.ph. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Paglaki Ko Gusto Kong Maging Pornstar sequel, umarangkada na". PEP.ph. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Darryl Yap redefines beauty in new film 'Gluta'". Manila Standard. July 13, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  18. ^ Jan Milo Severo (June 5, 2021). "Darryl Yap under fire anew for his movie 'Gluta'". philstar.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  19. ^ Dumaual, Mario (February 28, 2021). "Sharon Cuneta takes on 'bold' role in new movie 'Revirginized'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  20. ^ Wang, Nickie (August 12, 2021). "Darryl Yap reveals real inspiration of Carmela in 'Revirginized'". Manila Standard. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  21. ^ Kristofer Purnell (June 8, 2022). "Ai-Ai Delas Alas, Darryl Yap declared persona non grata by Quezon City Council". philstar.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "Ai-Ai delas Alas, Darryl Yap declared personae non grata in Quezon City". Rappler. June 8, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  23. ^ VIVA Films (June 26, 2022). "Maid in Malacañang Digital Media Conference | July 20 In Cinemas Worldwide". Facebook. Facebook, Inc. Event occurs at 0:24. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Yong Ping, Teng (July 19, 2022). "Cory Aquino scene in Maid In Malacañang trailer shown to be inaccurate". Yahoo! News. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  25. ^ "Nuns with Cory during Edsa 'not amused' with 'Maid in Malacañang' trailer". CNN Philippines. August 1, 2022. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  26. ^ Vestil, Justin K. (August 1, 2022). "Nuns with Cory during Edsa 'not amused' with 'Maid in Malacañang' trailer". SUNSTAR. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  27. ^ Jomar Canlas (August 8, 2022). "'Maid in Malacañang a malicious attack on nuns'". Manila Times. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  28. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (November 22, 2022). "'The Filipino is worth dying… INSIDE': Isko Moreno to play Ninoy Aquino in upcoming Darryl Yap movie". The Philippine Star.
  29. ^ Liao, Archie (February 10, 2023). "Direk Darryl Yap insists his Martyr or Murderer movie is not a political movie; 'it's a family-in-crisis movie.'". pikapika.ph.
  30. ^ VinCentiments (May 9, 2024). "#SEOULMEYT OFFICIAL TRAILER". Facebook. Facebook, Inc. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  31. ^ "Seoulmeyt". FILMLINE. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  32. ^ Santiago, Ervin (May 14, 2024). "Kim kay Darryl: Gusto ko siyang yakapin pero gusto ko rin siyang sapakin". Bandera. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  33. ^ "Darryl Yap, ikinuwento kung gaano kahirap maghanap ng location sa South Korea". Philippne Entertainment Portal. May 17, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Mayo, Stephanie (June 1, 2024). "REVIEW: Jerald Napoles is a funny oppa in 'Seoulmeyt'". Daily Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  35. ^ "Seoulmeyt". Kritikultura. May 25, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  36. ^ Santiago, Ervin (October 30, 2024). "'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma' next movie ni Darryl Yap, sino ang bida?". Bandera. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  37. ^ De Leon, Richard (January 2, 2025). "Vic Sotto, trending matapos mabanggit sa teaser ng 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma'" [Vic Sotto, trends after mention in teaser of 'The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma']. Balita (in Filipino). Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  38. ^ Alpad, Christina (February 3, 2025). "Darryl Yap's 'Pepsi Paloma' film to miss Feb. 5 opening". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  39. ^ Reyes, Juno (January 9, 2025). "Vic Sotto files complaint vs Darryl Yap for Pepsi Paloma movie trailer". Rappler. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  40. ^ Javier, Paige (January 9, 2025). "Vic Sotto files complaint vs Darryl Yap over Pepsi Paloma movie". ABS-CBN News.
  41. ^ "DSWD, NCDA criticize film 'Ngongo'". News5. November 28, 2025. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  42. ^ Evangelista, Jessica Ann (November 26, 2025). "Gov't body condemns Darryl Yap's film 'Ngongo' over 'derogatory' portrayal of PWDs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  43. ^ a b "Direk Darryl Yap inaming nagka-girlfriend bago siya nag-out" [Director Darryl Yap admits having a girlfriend before coming out]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. December 10, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  44. ^ "What Maui Taylor did to make Darryl Yap doubt his sexual orientation". Manila Bulletin. June 26, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  45. ^ a b c d "Local director Darryl Yap addresses 'pedophile' accusations". Interaksyon. May 28, 2020.
[edit]