In the business enterprise of the entertainment world, love teams are one promotional stunt that sell a product.
Since time immemorial when the motion picture was introduced and made in the country, love pairs onscreen are not without attraction.
In the very first Filipino film, "Dalagang Bukid," a silent movie, made in 1919 by a Filipino production, Malayan Films and directed by a Filipino, Jose Nepomuceno, the love team of Honorata de la Rama, also known as Atang de la Rama, now National Artist for Theater, and Marcelino Ilagan was one of its selling point.
In 1924, another love team was introduced, the Vicente Salumbides-Elizabeth "Dimples" Cooper screen partnership in another non-talkie, "Miracles of Love," produced, acted, written, directed, edited, made-up and other technical support by Salumbides.
The first screen kiss in the film "Tatlong Hambog," the love team of Dimples Cooper and Luis Tuason was born in "Tatlong Hambog" in 1926.
In the advent of talkies, many love teams were launched in various generations—Alicia Vergel-Cesar Ramirez; Carmen Rosales-Rogelio de la Rosa; Nida Blanca-Nestor de la Rosa; Susan Roces-Eddie Gutierrez; Nora Aunor-Tirso Cruz III; Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion; Judy Ann Santos-Piolo Pascual; Marian Rivera-Dingdong Dantes; Bea Alonzo-John Lloyd Cruz etc.
Among the current crop of stars, there are Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla; Nadine Lustre and James Reid; Francine Diaz-Seth Fedelin etc.
We can add the former pairing of Barbie Forteza-Jak Roberto and Barbie-David Licauco duo.
There is a looming love team in the air—Barbie Forteza and Vince Rillon.
In the film "Until She Remembers," Barbie, a contract star of GMA Network, is teamed up with young actor Vince who isn't a part of any TV stations but who is a standalone talent.
In the movie directed by internationally renowned filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza, the portrayals of Rillon and Forteza as sweethearts are remarkable and commendable.
Their performances merit substantial meanings of what a true love team is.
Their relationship as young lovers in the film is being tested by their outlook in life—Barbie has to take care of her gay grandmother and the latter's demented lover but Vince cannot stand the demands from her girlfriend so they have broken up.
Love teams are regular stuff in Philippine cinema especially in the commercial movies like rom-com that give excitement and challenge to the industry and its market.
Meanwhile, there are other challenges being posed on Barbie's acting chops like the absence of scripts in shooting the Mendoza opus.
"Ang pakiramdam ko, para akong isinasabak sa giyera kahit kagigising pa lang ako (I felt like I was being sent to war even if I was just wakened up)," Forteza said chuckling.
"This is my first time as well to work with actors who are from other networks. But we gel with each other. I love the company," Barbie enthused.
Forteza was referring to her co-stars Angel Aquino, Charo Santos-Concio, Eric Quizon, among otherx who are quite identified with ABS-CBN.
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