It was just like any other lunch break at the office, and some of the girls were having an animated conversation on the topic of love stories – particularly, Pinoy love stories. I can’t help overhearing one of them saying indignantly that Pinoy movies are mababaw, downright predictable, and has got nothing more to offer besides loads of kilig factor for the masses.
I smiled.
I couldn’t disagree more.
In my opinion, Pinoy love stories may be mababaw and predictable, but they offer something else besides the kilig factor – reality. Because corny and predictable love stories do happen to people. Real people. In fact, the thing that makes Pinoy love stories so damn predictable is because in some way, we admit to ourselves that we've been there and might have said the same lines at some given circumstance. Mr. CEO falling for Ms. Nobody, the rogue who sweeps a prima donna off her feet, clandestine lovers who barely make it against all odds (Mistaken identities, adulterous families, psychopathic exes, and tragedies included.), love stories that begin with the most unimaginable twists (Think: plane crash, sinking ship, car accident, kidnapping, fire/explosion, riot, organ donation.), best friends who wake up one day realizing that they’re in love with each other all this time - these are some, if not all, of the most popular plots Pinoys are so most fond of. True, the stories have been exaggerated and stretched to some extent, but it's no different as to what Hollywood has to offer. Sure, foreign celebs seem to be at best when it comes to onscreen smooches and sex (Tons of it!), but it all boils down to one philosophy, Filipino movies or otherwise: the love that conquers all. Well, almost.
If only viewers would look at the characters in a more figurative manner. That Mr. CEO and Ms. Nobody were actually two complete strangers whose ideals and philosophies are at the extreme ends of the pole. That the rogue could be that guy who's never EVER going to agree with you on anything and wouldn’t even lift a finger to make you feel the least pampered, and that the prima donna is, well, that girl who has spent a good deal of her life in a dollhouse. And as for forcibly coming up with happy endings, yes, Filipino writers are guilty of it almost always. But I find that fault comforting because towards the end of the movie I’m a little bit more hopeful. And while I admit that happy endings in real life tend to be rare, even the most cynical and sarcastic person who reads this blog would have to agree that, deep down, the heart just doesn't stop hoping.
In closing, I just wanted to stress that I don't intend to change anyone's opinion on what the Philippine box office has to offer in the love story genre. In fact, I have been one who has shunned local movies during my younger days. But I guess my coming of age (Think: quarter life baby!), somehow I found myself strangely familiar with some of the lines in the movie; that I found myself crying to a character's plight not because it was touching, but because I might have been in the same situation before and that the feeling sort of rushes back to my system. Not that it makes me wiser in that department, hell no. But I understood, and in the process I learned to appreciate. And with my appreciation I actually find myself enjoying it.
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