Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 108 mins · Tagalog
Directed by
Mark A. Reyes
Starring
Lovely Abella, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, Archie Adamos, Alden Richards, Al Tantay

Lola Nidora, Lola Tinidora, and Lola Tidora, along with their niece Charmaine, find themselves facing a terrifying zombie outbreak. This comedic film follows their chaotic attempts to survive the undead, blending humor and thrilling action as they navigate the escalating crisis and fight for their lives.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (13)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies
  7. 7 Every angle

13 main characters · contains spoilers

Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Charmaine Castillo (Caprice Cayetano)

    Charmaine is the young granddaughter whose birthday gathering catalysts the group's journey. She remains hopeful and brave, balancing innocence with resilience as chaos erupts around her. Her presence serves as a catalyst that unites the Lolas and their friends, emphasizing family bonds under threat.

    • 💖 Compassionate
    • 🧭 Resourceful
    • 👧 Family-first
  • Abegail 'Abe' Salazar (Lovely Abella)

    Abe is the practical, quick-thinking companion who helps keep the group oriented during the chaotic escape. She stays calm under pressure, prioritizes safety, and acts as a stabilizing presence on the bus and during the plan to reach safety. Her steady presence helps the group navigate sudden dangers.

    • 🧭 Calm under pressure
    • 🚶‍♀️ Practical
    • 🤝 Loyal
  • Lola Nidora (Wally Bayola)

    Lola Nidora is the matriarchal figure, offering guidance and protection to the group. She embodies care and resolve, even as the outbreak tests everyone’s limits. Her arc includes risk and sacrifice as the crisis unfolds.

    • 💪 Matriarch
    • 💖 Caring
    • 🧠 Wise
  • Loid (Archie Adamos)

    Loid is an escaped prisoner posing as a jail guard, whose street-smarts and resourcefulness prove crucial for the group. He navigates moral ambiguities to keep survivors alive and ultimately aids in their escape, paying a personal price.

    • 🧭 Resourceful
    • 🗡️ Calculated
    • 🤝 Helpful
  • Jordan (Arthur Solinap)

    Jordan is the tour bus driver who becomes a lifeline for the fleeing survivors. He exhibits courage and responsibility under pressure, ultimately revealing his feelings for Abe and playing a key role in the group’s attempts to reach safety.

    • 🚗 Driver
    • 🛡️ Protective
    • 💬 Dependable
  • Eva Flores (Angelika dela Cruz)

    Eva starts as a prickly, no-nonsense presence who pushes the group to stay alert. Her arc includes a stark moral choice when she witnesses danger around her and makes a sacrifice that underscores the cost of survival.

    • 💢 Tough
    • 🕊️ Sacrificial
    • 🧠 Calculating
  • Aladin Galvez (Kenneth Medrano)

    Aladin is a loyal, protective presence who helps organize the group’s movements and defends them during close encounters. He demonstrates steadfast courage and familial loyalty as danger closes in.

    • 🛡️ Protective
    • 💪 Courageous
    • 🤝 Loyal
  • Irish 'Rish' del Rosario (Taki Saito)

    Irish is a quick-thinking, loyal friend who navigates treacherous environments with a practical mindset. She supports the group and helps maintain morale during tense moments.

    • 🧭 Quick-thinking
    • 🧡 Loyal
    • 🌟 Spirited
  • Catherine 'Cath' Lacerna (Shaira Mae dela Cruz)

    Cath is brave and resourceful, repeatedly showing resolve under pressure. She makes concerted efforts to rescue teammates and keep the group cohesive as threats mount.

    • 💪 Brave
    • 🧠 Clever
    • 🤝 Determined
  • William 'Will' Robles (Miggy Tolentino)

    Will is a friendly, dependable presence who forms bonds with the group. He faces the outbreak with optimism but ultimately succumbs to the evolving danger, becoming a casualty in the fracturing world of the crisis.

    • 😊 Friendly
    • 🤝 Loyal
    • 🌀 Recurring
  • Marcelina 'Marcy' Dimacuycoy (Ryzza Mae Dizon)

    Marcy is the young sister-like figure in the group, full of curiosity and warmth. Her presence highlights the protection of the younger generation amid a chaotic world.

    • 🧒 Young
    • 🧭 Curious
    • 👧 Family-first
  • Melo (Jhayvot Galang)

    Melo is brash and impulsive, but his arc reveals the fragility of life in the outbreak. His actions escalate danger, leading to a pivotal moment that shifts the group's dynamics.

    • 🔥 Impulsive
    • ⚠️ Reckless
    • 💀 Tragic
  • Charmaine's Mother (Maine Mendoza)

    Charmaine's Mother provides a reassuring, guiding voice from the outside world, offering emotional support and hope through a voice cameo. Her presence anchors the family's concerns and reinforces the stakes for Charmaine.

    • 🗣️ Voice of reason
    • 💖 Family-first

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:04

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies Take Place?

The setting of Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present-day

Set in contemporary times during a sudden zombie outbreak, the events unfold across bustling urban spaces and ordinary transport routes. The characters race against the clock as the horde expands, forcing rapid improvisation and makeshift safety measures. The film uses modern settings to heighten immediacy and relatability.

Location

Restaurant, Gas Station, Private Air Field, Bus, Abandoned Mechanic Shop, Private Airport, Military Safe Zone, Rescue Boat, Sea

The story moves through a sequence of everyday spaces turned danger zones: a bustling restaurant where the outbreak begins, a gas station, and a private air field used in the pursuit. The survivors traverse a cityscape that funnels them from a bus shelter to an abandoned workshop, then toward a private airport and a military safe zone. The final escape unfolds at sea, aboard a rescue boat while the world outside descends into chaos.

  • 🍽️ Restaurant
  • ⛽ Gas Station
  • 🛫 Private Air Field
  • 🚌 Bus
  • 🛠️ Mechanic Shop
  • 🛡️ Military Safe Zone
  • 🚢 Rescue Boat
  • 🌊 Sea

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:04

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    In the midst of chaos, the group must improvise, scavenge, and prioritize safety to stay alive. Strategic choices about whom to trust, what to leave behind, and when to fight shape the night. Courage and resourcefulness become the currency of survival as the characters push toward safety.

  • Family

    The crisis binds generations of the Lolas and Charmaine, highlighting the power of chosen kinship. The elders’ experience and the younger characters’ hope create a dynamic where care trumps fear. The group fights to protect their own, even when it costs them dearly.

  • Courage

    Individual acts of bravery accompany collective strategy, from calm leadership to quick, selfless decisions under pressure. Characters risk themselves to shield others and to keep the escape plan on track. The crisis reveals who steps forward when danger is imminent.

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:04

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The film takes place in contemporary urban Philippines, with the story unfolding across everyday locations like a restaurant, gas station, bus, mechanic shop, private airport, military safe zone, and eventually a rescue boat at sea. These ordinary spaces transform into danger zones as the zombie outbreak escalates.

  • setting
  • locations
  • philippines
  • urban
Q2

What time period does the story take place in?

The movie is set in present-day contemporary times during a sudden zombie outbreak. The modern urban setting emphasizes immediacy and relatability, with characters using everyday transport and communication as the crisis unfolds.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • modern era
Q3

What are the main themes in the film?

The movie explores three core themes: Survival, which focuses on improvisation and resourcefulness during crisis; Family, highlighting the bonds between the Lolas and Charmaine as chosen kinship; and Courage, showing individual acts of bravery under pressure. These themes interweave as the group races toward safety.

  • themes
  • survival
  • family
  • courage
Q4

Who are the Lolas in the story?

The Lolas are three elder women, Lola Nidora, Lola Tinidora, and Lola Tidora, serving as the matriarchal figures who guide and protect the group. Lola Nidora, portrayed by Wally Bayola, embodies care and resolve, leading the family through the crisis despite testing everyone's limits.

  • lolas
  • characters
  • family
  • elders
Q5

What role does Charmaine play in the movie?

Charmaine is the young granddaughter whose birthday gathering triggers the group's journey. Her presence acts as a catalyst that unites the Lolas and their friends, emphasizing family bonds under threat. She balances innocence with resilience throughout the chaotic outbreak.

  • charmaine
  • character
  • granddaughter
Q6

Is this a horror movie or a comedy?

The film blends both genres, it features genuine zombie threat and frequent character deaths (HIGH intensity), but maintains a LIGHT comedic tone through absurd situations like grandmothers fighting zombies. The humor prevents the subject matter from feeling heavy, resulting in a comedic spoof rather than pure horror.

  • tone
  • horror
  • comedy
  • genre blend
Q7

How does the movie handle the zombie outbreak?

The outbreak begins suddenly in a bustling restaurant and spreads rapidly across the city. The film presents a frantic survival scenario with constant zombie attacks, quick decisions, and makeshift safety measures. The pace is fast, with new threats and deaths occurring rapidly as characters race against the clock.

  • zombies
  • outbreak
  • premise
Q8

How do the characters survive the zombie apocalypse?

Characters must improvise, scavenge, and make strategic choices about trust and resource allocation. The group navigates multiple danger zones, from buses to mechanic shops to airports, constantly adapting. Street-smarts and collective strategy prove crucial, with characters like Abe providing calm leadership under pressure.

  • survival
  • escape
  • strategy
Q9

How does the film portray family relationships?

The crisis binds generations together, with the Lolas' experience and the younger characters' hope creating a dynamic where care trumps fear. The group treats each other as chosen family, fighting to protect their own even at great cost. This theme emphasizes that familial bonds strengthen rather than break under pressure.

  • family
  • bonds
  • relationships
  • generations
Q10

What does the movie say about courage?

Courage appears through individual acts of bravery and collective strategy, characters risk themselves to shield others and keep the escape plan moving forward. The crisis reveals who steps forward when danger is imminent, showing courage as both calm leadership and quick, selfless decisions under pressure.

  • courage
  • bravery
  • heroes
Q11

Who are the main survivors in the film?

The core group that survives includes the three Lolas, Charmaine, Abe (the practical companion who keeps the group oriented), Jordan (the tour bus driver who becomes a lifeline), and several other companions. Most main characters reach safety in the rescue boat, with a convenient cure found by the end.

  • survivors
  • characters
  • escape

Movie threads

More Movies Like Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Frantic Horror Comedies with Elderly Heroes like Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies

Chaotic blends of high-intensity horror and lighthearted humor featuring unlikely senior protagonists. If you enjoyed the chaotic blend of zombie action and grandmotherly comedy in Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies, you'll love these movies. This thread features horror comedies where unexpected senior heroes face terrifying threats with humor and heart, perfect for fans of campy, high-energy survival stories with a lighthearted touch.

  • campy
  • granny power
  • humorous
  • action-packed
  • lighthearted
  • chaotic
  • Tone: light, humorous
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a group of elderly characters who are thrust into a dangerous, high-intensity situation, often a monster or zombie outbreak. The narrative focuses on their chaotic, improvised attempts to survive, using their unique perspectives and unexpected skills to overcome the threat. The journey is fast-paced, filled with comedic mishaps and tense action sequences, ultimately leading to a triumphant or happy ending that celebrates their resilience.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a unique tonal blend: high-intensity horror scenarios are played for laughs through the lens of elderly protagonists. The shared elements of frantic pacing, campy humor, 'granny power' themes, and a light tone despite high stakes create a coherent and highly specific viewing vibe.

Chaotic Road Trip Survival Stories like Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies

Fast-paced stories of makeshift families fighting for survival on a dangerous journey. Looking for more movies like Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies? This thread gathers films about chaotic journeys and frantic road trips where a found family must survive against overwhelming odds. If you enjoyed the fast-paced escape, zombie threats, and lighthearted bonding in Trip Ubusan, you'll find similar thrilling and humorous survival adventures here.

  • frantic
  • tense
  • road trip
  • found family
  • action-packed
  • survival
  • Tone: tense, lighthearted
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a group of characters, often strangers or a makeshift family, forced to embark on a perilous journey to reach safety. The plot is linear and straightforward, moving rapidly from one dangerous encounter to the next. Character development happens on the fly through shared crises, with themes of sacrifice and loyalty emerging naturally from the need to survive together.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their core structure: a fast-paced, linear journey narrative set against a catastrophic backdrop. They share a specific mix of high tension from constant danger, a frantic pace that leaves little room to breathe, and an emotional throughline of found family bonding that provides heart and humor amidst the chaos.

If you liked this

Movies Like Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies

Similar movies to Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs Zombies in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app