“Tayo sa Wakas” writer breaks down the DonBelle effect, fan attachment, and the cultural roots of love team obsession in PH entertainment.
Still reeling from the end of the DonBelle era? You’re not alone, and it turns out, our intense attachment to love teams is deeply ingrained in our culture.
In an exclusive interview with radar Entertainment last May 23, “Tayo sa Wakas” screenwriter Vanessa R. Valdez and director Cathy Garcia-Sampana perfectly explained the cultural phenomenon behind the country’s love team obsession.
Addressing the heartbreak fans felt over Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano’s recent shift to independent career paths, they noted that our love for these on-screen couples reflects the traditional Filipino view on marriage.
“Nare-reflect ‘yan d’on sa, ‘bakit ka sumusuporta sa isang love team at gusto mo sila na lang forever and ever?,” Valdez shared.
She explained that fans often attach a sense of “fate and destiny” to pairs, wanting them to stay together perpetually — much like the legendary tandem of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, who were “married” multiple times on screen.
However, they also issued a gentle reality check. While Valdez fully validated the fans’ feelings, she pointed out that demanding exclusivity can sometimes stunt an actor’s professional growth, leaving no room for them to explore new things as individual artists.
Ultimately, she sees both sides of the coin, concluding: “I super understand why we love love, and why we love love-teams.”
As for Direk Cathy? Well, love teams are neither a requirement nor a weakness in crafting romance—so long as they keep their squabbles off set (and, as much as possible, stay professional).
“Tayo sa Wakas,” starring Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, Epy Quizon, Joross Gamboa, River Joseph, Emilio Daez, Allan Paule, Yayo Aguila, Matthew Mendoza, Jude Hinumdum, and Miah Canton, directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, written by Vanessa R. Valdez, in production with Star Cinema and ABS-CBN Studios, will be in cinemas nationwide on May 27.=
Nare-reflect ‘yan d’on sa, ‘bakit ka sumusuporta sa isang love team at gusto mo sila na lang forever and ever?
Vanessa R. Valdez
READ:
The woman behind the heartbreak: How Cathy Garcia-Sampana made us feel every kind of love
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