Posted by ReyFort Media
Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto are back in each other’s arms.
Well, at least on film.
The two, who were once lovers in real life, are paired anew in “Always Yours, Never Mine,” a romance that seems almost tailor-made for a tandem whose own history has long fascinated fans.
It also makes perfect commercial sense.
Garcia and Barretto struck gold when they reunited on the big screen in 2024’s “Un/Happy for You,” their first major project together in four years. The film opened to record-breaking numbers and eventually grossed more than ₱250 million domestically.
So naturally, one might ask: Why did it take them this long?
After all, they had the momentum.
Apparently, Barretto wasn’t exactly too keen on rushing back into another project with Garcia. Following the success of “Un/Happy for You,” she said she needed to step back and rest.
That she did. Only that it took longer than she expected.
“I think I enjoyed it too much,” she told us.
Fair enough.
Two years later, here they are again, and this time, their story on screen stretches far beyond the usual meet-cute, breakup and reconciliation
“Always Yours, Never Mine” follows two people over the course of 30 years. They keep finding their way back to each other, but their timing is never quite right. They come close, drift apart and cross paths again, perpetually stuck somewhere between “almost” and “finally.”
“I think the concept for the film is new, not only for our audience but for us as a tandem. We’ve never done anything like it,” Garcia said.
For Barretto, the story’s appeal lies in how it looks at love beyond the grand romantic moments.
“I think a lot of people will relate to it as it tackles the many facets of love, its different phases,” she said.
Screenwriter Vanessa Valdez described the title as a metaphor for the complicated stages of the characters’ relationship. It represents a connection that never really disappears, even if it never quite becomes what they want it to be.
And that is what makes their pairing interesting all over again.
Because while Garcia and Barretto are playing fictional characters, they are doing so with a history of their own.
They were asked how they manage to work together so naturally despite everything they have shared.
Garcia’s answer was surprisingly simple.
“You have to accept that people grow, and you learn to respect where that person is now in their life,” he said.
Barretto agreed, but placed even more emphasis on gratitude.
For her, Garcia is no longer simply a former flame or a screen partner.
“We’ve shared so many milestones in the last 10 years,” she said. “I’m lucky that I have that kind of partnership and friendship in my lifetime. I’m just so grateful for everything that we’ve shared.”
It’s a rather mature way of looking at a relationship that once made headlines for very different reasons.
But when asked to give their own journey, both real and reel, a movie title, the two couldn’t resist having a little fun with it.
Garcia borrowed from their upcoming film and answered, “Always Yours, Never Mind.”
Barretto had a title of her own: “Once Yours…”
She stopped short of finishing the thought.
And there it was. Just enough to leave everyone wanting the rest of the story.
“Always Yours, Never Mine” opens in cinemas on September 30. (N. Ramos/mb.com.ph)
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