I’m sure I speak for every passionate twenty-something writer out there when I say that, at some point, we’ve all tailored our career trajectories to those of our favorite female leads in rom-coms.
Various iconic names and titles immediately come to mind. Andie Anderson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Becky Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic, Jenna Rink in 13 Going on 30—the list goes on. If you’re like me, who grew up writing and has lived long enough to hone it professionally, then you must’ve already met a wordsmith like them at least once in your life.
Photo: ABS-CBN Star Cinema, VIVA Films, TBA Studios/YouTube
You can’t miss them—that one female officemate whose writing has left a striking impression on her readers. The young lady who wears pops of color every day with a creative spin on every buzzworthy topic imaginable. There are many “communication girlies” in Filipino romance films, too, and they persevere with dreams that we can all relate to.
No matter which protagonist you see yourself most in, these dynamic Filipina characters aren’t pressing pause on their stories for anyone. They’ve each carved a space in Filipinos’ hearts, proving that kilig is always best paired with purpose.
Laida Magtalas, A Very Special Love (2008)
Laida (Sarah Geronimo) wasn’t a writer, per se, but she stood her ground in the high-profile world of media and publishing when everyone around her thought she couldn’t.
The swoon-worthy push and pull between her and her hot-headed boss, Miggy (John Lloyd Cruz), became a blueprint for countless Pinoy rom-coms that followed. But besides their nostalgic back-and-forth that Filipinos keep returning to, Laida’s competence and unwavering passion made the film all the more admirable.
Beyond her burgeoning crush on Miggy, Laida always had a penchant for stories with heart and substance. She wasted no time getting that point across at work. While Miggy ran his publication with an iron fist, Laida was the beacon of positivity that the team didn’t know they needed.
Maya, Ulan (2019)
Filipino myths and folklore guide us through thick and thin in Ulan, a magically poignant tale of love and self-discovery.
While Maya (Nadine Lustre) works a dead-end job at a dated publishing house, her romantic misfortune adds depth and color (though not as vibrant) to her otherwise bleak and soulless life.
Grief and heartbreak may have put Maya through the wringer, but she cherished her emotions, flaws and all, through journaling, poetry, and storytelling. Despite the loss and misery that loomed over her like a storm cloud, Maya refused to put her pen down. The brighter days and chapters she had yet to experience were enough for her to drown out every ruthless downpour.
Miles Ocampo as the Female Writer, Write About Love (2019)
A writer’s life isn’t complete without a little chaos, especially when capturing romance through characters, scenes, and dialogue. We all need an extra pair of eyes to show us the ropes from time to time.
Write About Love brings two scriptwriters (Miles Ocampo and Rocco Nacino) of contrasting personalities together for a romantic project that slowly blooms as it’s revised and polished. Before their words see the light of day, they must put their differences aside and meet one another on the same page—literally.
The ups and downs of Ocampo’s and Nacino’s immersive creative processes demonstrate how experience is indeed the best teacher, especially when nurturing our labors of love through art.
Rebecca “Becca” del Mundo, Para sa Hopeless Romantic (2015)
In Para sa Hopeless Romantic, our main character, Becca (Lustre), leads another emotionally charged rom-com that comes to life as it’s written.
After a soul-crushing break-up with her high school sweetheart, Nikko (James Reid), Becca turns to fiction and pens a new love story to cope with her overflowing sadness. Enter Maria (Julia Barretto) and Ryan (Iñigo Pascual), Becca’s characters, who significantly portray her emotional turmoil throughout their plot arcs and turning points.
The film alternates between real life and Becca’s storybook world. Though she’s hell-bent on giving Maria and Ryan a tragic ending, Becca gradually learns that moving on doesn’t always mean letting the bitterness in her heart fester and overpower her.
A Very Special Love, Ulan, Write About Love, and Para sa Hopeless Romantic are all free to watch on YouTube.
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What are your favorite underrated Filipino rom-coms? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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