Looking for local films to explore? Aside from recent hits and Netflix trending recos, how about starting with rom coms or Pinoy romance movies from the '90s, and working your way through the aughts?
Below, the best Pinoy romantic movies to see, according to these six filmmakers:
Quark Henares
Executive Producer, Dead Kids, LSS, Kuwaresma, and more
Always Be My Maybe
Year: 2016
Directed by: Dan Villegas
Starring: Gerald Anderson, Arci Munoz
That Thing Called Tadhana
Year: 2014
Directed by: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman, Joem Bascon
"Because they are amazing movies but also because I’m a fan of the real love story that is #Danette."
(ICYDK, Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone are a real-life couple).
Antoinette Jadaone
Director, Alone/Together, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, and more
Minsan Minahal Kita
Year: 2000
Directed by: Olivia M. Lamasan
Starring: Sharon Cuneta, Richard Gomez, Edu Manzano
Mihk Vergara
Director, Patintero: Ang alamat ni Meng Patalo, Alex and Amie, and more
Billie and Emma
Year: 2018
Directed by: Samantha Lee
Starring: Gabby Padilla, Zar Donato, Beauty Gonzalez
"Sam Lee’s excellent coming of age tale falls under the Rom Com spectrum, and even if it didn’t I’d still put it on this list. Lee’s sophomore effort is an absolute joy from start to finish in no small part to Zar Donato and Gabby Padilla’s chemistry as the titular characters."
Relaks, It's Just Pag-ibig
Year: 2014
Directed by: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: Sofia Andres, Inigo Dominic Pascual, Julian Estrada
"For my money, one of Antoinette Jadaone’s lesser known efforts, and another coming of age tale. It’s a road trip this time, where, for the kids involved, the stakes and everything else are larger than life."
Elise
Year: 2019
Directed by: Joel Ferrer
Starring: Janine Gutierrez, Enchong Dee, Victor Anastacio
"Joel Ferrer’s Enchong Dee led film is a rumination of the people that come in and out of our lives, and what we choose to do with those experiences. A really sweet film."
Mycko David
Director of Photography for Eerie, Dead Kids, and more
Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story
Year: 2018
Director: Irene Emma Villamor
Starring: Anne Curtis, Dingdong Dantes, Gabby Eigenmann
"Economy and relationships in 94 minutes"
Billie & Emma
"A '90s world escape film about two young brave souls discovering who they are."
Never Not Love You
Year: 2018
Directed by: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Yayo Aguila
"Two people in a contemporary, raw relationship set in Makati, Zambales and London"
Hello Love Goodbye
Year: 2019
Directed by: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Starring: Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, Maymay Entrata
"My favorite Cathy Garcia-Molina film. The modern OFW dealing with different cultural backgrounds and landscapes"
Tey Clamor
Director of Photography, Isa Pa With Feelings, and more
Sana Maulit Muli
Year: 1995
Directed by: Olivia M. Lamasan
Starring: Aga Muhlach, Lea Salonga, William Martinez
"I love how they tackle the issues of a long distance relationship. Plus I'm a fan of Lea Salonga and of course inang Olive."
That Thing Called Tadhana
"I think this film is pivotal on how rom coms are made in the Philippines. No quotable quotes, no family issues and no sounding board. I think the mumblecore subgenre was popularized bec. of this film."
Sleepless
Year: 2015
Directed by: Prime Cruz
Starring: Glaiza de Castro, Dominic Roco, TJ Trinidad |
"Kinda biased about this because I was a part of the team who did this, but I really like the story and how this is really not a love story but a friendship and finding oneself story."
Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang?
Year: 1998
Directed by: Jerry Lopez Sineneng
Starring: Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin, Hilda Koronel
"My number 1. This film is nostalgic for me. Its a classic friends falling for each other but the chemistry of Marvin and Jolina are magical."
Kailangan Kita
Year: 2002
Directed by: Rory B. Quintos
Starring: Aga Muhlach, Claudine Barretto, Johnny Delgado
"I love the aesthetics of this film. Specially the visuals of DP Ms. Shayne Sarte. I love how food became an visual element to tell the story of the two characters."
Dan Villegas
Director, Hintayan ng Langit, Exes Baggage, The Breakup Playlist, and more
A Very Special Love
Year: 2008
Directed by: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Starring: John Lloyd Cruz, Sarah Geronimo, Dante Rivero
"Pound for pound, the best Filipino Romcom"
May Minamahal
Year: 1993
Directed by: Jose Javier Reyes
Starring: Aga Muhlach, Aiko Melendez, Boots Anson-Roa
"The Aiko/Aga classic is one of the gems of MMFF"
Love You to the Stars and Back
Year: 2017
Directed by: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Cherry Pie Picache
"Probably Tonet’s best directed film, along with Never Not Love You"
She’s Dating the Gangster
Year: 2014
Directed by: Cathy Garcia-Molina
Starring: Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Richard Gomez
"Putting this here not because I worked on it, but it’s one of Cathy Garcia’s best."
Got 2 Believe
Year: 2002
Directed by: Olivia M. Lamasan
Starring: Claudine Barretto, Rico Yan, Dominic Ochoa
"The film that started the modern Filipino romcom genre"
Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang?
“'...and I made the stupid mistake of falling in love with my best friend...' Enough said."
That Thing Called Tadhana
"Tonet’s film modernized this genre. Happy to have worked on this one as well."
Never Not Love You
"Not a rom-com per se, but this dramatic peek on dreams vs. love is Tonet’s best."
Sid & Aya: Not A Love Story
"Another non-romcom, this insomniac love story is of the best done (and shot) films of late."
Bride for Rent
Year: 2014
Directed by: Mae Czarina Cruz
Starring: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Empoy Marquez
"Mae Cruz-Alviar’s best. A quirky Kim Chiu at her cutest."
Vince & Kath & James
Year: 2016
Directed by: Theodore Boborol
Starring: Joshua Garcia, Julia Barretto, Ronnie Alonte
"A very well executed cookie cutter teenage rom-com. Joshua and Julia shine."
Maging Sino ka Man
Year: 1991
Directed by: Eddie Rodriguez
Starring: Sharon Cuneta, Robin Padilla, Edu Manzano
"Robin and Ate Shawie just shine in this film. A classic."
Sana Maulit Muli
"Lea and Aga? Chasing each other? A must watch."
Kita Kita
Year: 2017
Directed by: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Starring: Alessandra de Rossi, Empoy Marquez
"Sigrid’s take on the love story is a unique glimpse at falling in love with out sight. Grossed over 300 million pesos, and there’s a reason for that."
Edward
Year: 2019
Directed by: Thop Nazareno
Starring: Louise Abuel, Ella Cruz, Dido de la Paz
"A coming of age romance, helmed with sensitivity, with a touch of love and a pinch of the real. One of my favorites."
Kailangan Kita
"Claudine and Aga. Super love!"
***
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