RomCom Genre in the Philippine Cinema: More Than Just Love Stories
Written by: John Russel Capule
April 27, 2025
RomCom has always been a favorite in Philippine cinema. There’s just something about romantic comedies that keeps Filipinos choosing them and coming back for more. Perhaps it's the humorous moments in every love story we've watched as children that continue to pique our interests today. RomComs have always been close to the hearts of the Filipinos. For years, this genre in movies has been part of our culture, especially in the film industry. These types of films are the ones that make us laugh, cry a little, and believe in love again and again. And let’s be honest, who hasn’t imagined being in their own rom-com story at least once in their life?
Romantic comedy is a film genre that combines elements of romance and humor. It typically revolves around the development of a romantic relationship in a lighthearted and amusing way, often including misunderstandings, comedic situations, and emotional highs and lows that ultimately lead to a happy or optimistic ending.
According to Dirk Dunbar (2017), "Romantic comedies are films that present love stories with a humorous tone and often highlight the awkwardness, excitement, and unpredictability of romantic relationships, culminating in resolution and emotional satisfaction."
Courtesy: The hows of Us (2018)
Filipino rom-com films stand out because they speak directly to our culture and daily practices in life. Another thing that sets our rom-coms apart is how they often include family stories. In the Philippines, love isn’t just between two people. It usually comes with family drama and other unique touches. Many of our rom-coms also touch on real issues like money problems, social class differences, or moving abroad to work, which makes the stories more relatable for the audiences or viewers.
And let’s be real. Most of us Filipinos are hopeless romantics at heart. We all know that. We love seeing people fall in love, fight for it, and eventually find their way back to each other. It mirrors what we go through in real life, and for that, we are able to relate to the storyline. RomComs have always been a mirror of Filipino society, reflecting shared values and emotional connections. As Cruz and De La Torre (2017) have also pointed out, the genre speaks to Filipino audiences' longing for hope and joy amid the challenges of daily life. They allow us to escape into a world where love is possible, even when life feels overwhelming.
Courtesy: One more chance (2007)
Think about One More Chance (2007). It wasn’t just a movie because it was a film that influenced and inspired a whole generation. Popoy and Basha’s love story wasn’t perfect, but that’s exactly why some people are devoted and connected to it. It showed that love isn’t always about grand gestures or happy endings. Sometimes, it’s about growth, forgiveness, and second chances. Then you have films like Kita Kita (2017), where the humor shines just as bright as the romance, and you can’t help but root for the characters, no matter how corny or cheesy the characters are.
On the other hand, films like The Hows of Us (2018) and Never Not Love You (2018) are the kind of films that go deeper into the realities of long-term relationships, showing that love isn’t just about butterflies in the stomach and all. It’s also about life, dreams, decisions, and tough choices.
Courtesy: Kita kita (2017)
The rom-com genre in Philippine cinema has definitely evolved. Over the years, Filipino rom-coms have started to explore deeper themes. What’s great about today’s rom-com films is that they are starting to explore more diverse stories. We are now seeing more complex characters, less stereotypical roles, and a fresh take on relationships. Some recent films are even tackling topics like mental health, career struggles, and self-love.
Despite the changes, the rom-com genre continues to thrive because it offers something unique to Filipino people. This kind of genre in films reminds us that love is always worth fighting for, no matter how complicated it is.
References:
McDonald, T. J. (2007). Romantic comedy: Boy meets girl meets genre (Vol. 34). Wallflower Press.
https://books.google.com.ph/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9Bk-mkvdPYcC&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=dirk+dunbar+Romantic+Comedy:+Boy+Meets+Girl+Meets+Genre,+Film+%26+Media+Studies&ots=8n2AQLOmLT&sig=mYYGX7976uQwWuyxkyBtRBp7hko&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
ARIAS, L. H., & Sencil, M. (2017). Reflecting filipino identities through hugot in three philippine films: A contextual and prosodic analysis. Un-dergraduate thesis, Department of English: Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Iligan City. Search in.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michelle-Sencil-2/publication/324330233_REFLECTING_FILIPINO_IDENTITIES_THROUGH_HUGOT_IN_THREE_PHILIPPINE_FILMS_A_CONTEXTUAL_AND_PROSODIC_ANALYSIS/links/5acb14f60f7e9bcd5198ca94/REFLECTING-FILIPINO-IDENTITIES-THROUGH-HUGOT-IN-THREE-PHILIPPINE-FILMS-A-CONTEXTUAL-AND-PROSODIC-ANALYSIS.pdf