From KathNiel’s first-ever solo feature film to a heartbreakingly beautiful indie gem, here are some Pinoy romantic movies that have been breaking and mending our hearts for 10 years already.
A wise woman once said, “love moves in mysterious ways.” And true enough, no matter how hard we try to make sense of it, love, in one way or another, continues to surprise us with its wonders. From the butterflies in our stomach or that moment you go head over heels for someone for the first time, there is nothing quite like it.
Just like in the movies, when you watch a love story unfold, you get overwhelmed with feelings over this inexplicable chemistry between the characters or a story that, even when you haven’t been in a romantic relationship before, curiously tugs at your heartstrings. Below are some of the Pinoy romantic movies that have been doing just that for the past ten years already; making us cry, laugh, and get frustrated over that crazy little thing called love.
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It Takes A Man and A Woman
Probably the most entertaining Filipino break-up movie of all time, It Takes A Man And A Woman finds Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz in a bitter yet endearing cat-and-mouse dynamic as conflicted lovers Laida Magtalas and Miggy Montenegro. A follow-up film to A Very Special Love and You Changed My Love, this Cathy Garcia Molina-helmed rom-com is an enjoyable romp that’s got all the romantic quotable quotes you need for when you’re in a petty fight with your special someone. “Trust, wow, big word.”
Must Be…Love
The movie that started it all, Must Be… Love marks 2013 as the year where the KathNiel fairytale began. The first solo film of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla as a love team, Must Be… Love follows Kathryn’s Patchot, a tomboy who develops romantic feelings for her childhood best friend, Daniel’s Ivan, only to be complicated by another girl, Angel (played by a young Liza Soberano). Another blockbuster Cathy Garcia-Molina offering, Must Be… Love is an ever-nostalgic romantic piece that still gives that KathNiel magic today.
Four Sisters And A Wedding
One of those rare Pinoy romantic-comedies that have become an iconic cultural phenomenon in itself, Four Sisters And A Wedding is equal parts chaotic, funny, relatable, and emotionally moving. A story that’s ostensibly about four Salazar sisters trying to dissuade their younger brother from getting married, Four Sisters And A Wedding also delves into the meanings of family, friendship, and most importantly, the pain and profundity of sibling love. Ten years have passed and this largely impactful movie will still make you laugh, cry, and, well, love.
She’s The One
The first movie project of Dingdong Dantes and Bea Alonzo, She’s The One is about two best friends who find themselves entangled in a complicated romantic situation. Also starring Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano, this romantic drama is about people looking for love in the wrong people and failing to find it from the ones already close to them. Sounds familiar? She’s The One ultimately, as the trailer emphasizes, will make you appreciate what you have before it turns into “what you had.” Immerse yourselves in some feels this love season as She’s The One streams for free on Star Cinema’s Youtube channel.
Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?
Before they became real-life couples, Xian Lim and Kim Chiu first spread and found love in Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?. A film adaptation of Ramon Bautista’s self-help book of the same name and directed by Binibining Joyce Bernal, this rom-com centers on the brainy but romantically challenged Sandy who, while wallowing in her break-up and feeling of being unwanted, strikes a friendship and later falls in love with a dashing businessman. Released in 2013 as part of Star Cinema’s 20th anniversary, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? hits different today knowing that Xian and Kim turned a fictional love story into reality. Who knows, maybe you’ll get the same fate after rewatching this?
A Moment In Time
Prior to becoming a primetime love pair in Ang Probinsiyano, Coco Martin and Julia Montes first flexed their undeniable chemistry and connection in their debut feature film A Moment In Time. Coming off of the success of their tv series Walang Hanggan, A Moment In Time stars Coco as Patrick, a self-employed painter who finds true love in his new muse Julian, played by Julia, only to discover something about their past that will shatter their seemingly perfect fairytale. Shot in Amsterdam and in Paris, A Moment In Time served as Star Cinema’s opening salvo in 2013 and was a fitting Valentine’s Day offering at the time, with a story that is as dreamy as it is hurtful. Relive all of it here.
Sana Dati
Written, directed, edited, and scored by Jerrold Tarog, Sana Dati is an award-winning indie romance about a woman named Andrea who is forced to confront a lifetime of choices in a single day when a mysterious man arrives at the time of her impending marriage and reminds her of the person she truly loves. Starring Paulo Avelino and Lovi Poe, Sana Dati won eight awards at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2013 including best picture. Beware, this film has been breaking innocent hearts for the past 10 years now. Watch at your own risk.
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