A Love Story

As you already know by now, A Love Story is about successful but emotionally scarred businessman Ian Montes (Aga Muhlach) who is torn between two women: Joanna (Maricel Soriano), a doctor, and Karyn (Angelica Panganiban) a flight attendant. Who is the wife and who is the mistress? I watched the film without knowing who’s who and that definitely helped me appreciate the unfolding of this mystery in the film. In spite of all speculations, you wouldn’t know until the middle of the film when one of the women refers to Ian as her husband.

The film begins with immediate tension in medias res when the two women agree to meet up. Karyn wants to know why Ian can’t seem to leave Joanna. Joanna wants to know how Ian met Karyn. After this exchange of flashbacks reality catches up with the trio: Karyn is pregnant. It is only then when the audience finds out who exactly is the wife. But that’s not important now, what’s more important is the question, “how is this going to end?” The three are broken, and they try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

The plot from the official site states “Ian faces a difficult choice.” but it is not just Ian who is forced to choose. The women choose as well. As a teaser, I’ll give you a peek: Karyn tells Ian to let go– they both have to grow up. The next scenes are framed by these words onscreen:

FIVE YEARS AFTER

Then Joanna and Karyn accidentally meet, but you wouldn’t know exactly what the ending is until the final scene. At that point knowing how the film ends is only secondary to the question of why the film ends that way. I believe “five years after” has a lot to do with this story that explores unconditional love and forgiveness.

Milan

This story follows the journey of naive Lino (Piolo Pascual) as he searches for his missing wife in Italy. He comes across Jenny (Claudine Barretto), an imposing figure in the Filipino community of migrant workers, whose dreams of grandeur have clouded her need for personal relationships. In a desperate quest and game of survival, the two find refuge and affirmation in each other.

You Are The One

You are the one is a story of NSO employee Sally Malasmas (Toni Gonzaga), who applies for a US Visa and gets denied. What is unusual, however, is that she gets the chance to meet again the dashing and handsome vice-consul, Will Derby (Sam Milby), who denied her visa, and gets even with him. This, obviously, gets her into trouble and brings these two opposing characters to a hilarious yet poignant journey that leads to love and romance.
The movie explores the insanities that comes with love, the impossibilities to be hurdled to make love happen and the self-confidence we all need to make love work.

Dubai (2005)

Pinoys are in every corner of the world, toiling as nurses in the US, maids in Hong Kong, caregivers in Canada, entertainers in Japan, factory workers in Taiwan, engineers and construction workers even in war-torn Iraq. Wherever there is work and good pay, there you will find him, leaving his home for the promise of a better and brighter future for his family. The Pinoy diaspora has given rise to this question:Where is home for the Filipino? The answer is simple. Home for the Pinoy is where he builds it, though it be in a dangerous place such as Iraq or in a haven such as Dubai.

Til I Met You (2006)

Luisa is a con artist who poses as a rich girl to Senor Manuel who is an Haciendero. Senor Manuel falls in love with her and takes her to his hacienda in preparation for their wedding.

There, she meets Gabriel - the right hand man of Senor Manuel who is very protective of the haciendero. Sensing that Luisa is a fake and is only after Senor Manuel's money, Gabriel tries to blow Luisa's cover.

Jose Rizal The Movie (2006)

Jose Rizal is the biggest and the most controversial Philippine epic made to date. Multi-awarded Cesar Montano stars as Jose Rizal. Directed by Marilou Diaz Abaya, this film won over 70 major local and international film awards.