Needless to say, Madam Ria is feeling emo today. And I want to celebrate the emo-ness with some scenes, lines, and analysis of Star Cinema’s epic 2007 movie, One More Chance featuring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

Contrary to what industry insiders might think, it was not just the magic of the Bea and John Lloyd tandem that brought in the crowds. It might have been what brought the crowd during the first two weeks of the film’s cinema run, but it was the film’s story and lines that made the viewers cry, come back to cry some more, quote the movie, and revere it solemnly.

video courtesy of hankin16. Rights belong to Star Cinema. No copyright infringement intended.

Scene 1 Popoy (John Lloyd) and Basha (Bea) see each other after a while after their break up. Popoy already has a new girlfriend, Tricia (Maja Salvador).

Basha: Sana kaya ko lang tiisin ang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Kasi ako naman humiling nito diba? Ako yung may gusto. Sana kaya ko rin sabihin na masaya ako para sayo, para sa inyo. Sana kaya ko. Sana kaya ko. Pero hindi eh. Ang sama-sama kong tao. Kasi ang totoo umaasa pa rin akong sabihin mong “Sana ako pa rin.” Ako na lang. Ako na lang ulit.

Popoy: Mahal ko si Tricia.

Basha: Alam ko. Alam ko.

Popy: She had me at my worst. You had me at my best. At binalewala mo lang lahat yun.

Basha: Popoy, yun ba talaga ang tingin mo? I just made a choice.

Popoy: And you chose to break my heart.

YAYAY! It was a terrible ouch moment for a lot of people who have watched this movie. From the start, it was Basha who wanted out of the relationship. Popoy even went into stalking and became super paranoid after their break up so we were all kinda happy for him when he mat Tricia. Eventhough we know he still loves Basha.

It was heartbreaking to hear Basha wanting Popoy back. And even more heartbreaking to hear Popoy articulate what we all want to tell Basha and what we probably want to tell our exes, as well: “You had me at my best…. And you chose to break my heart.” Nalabas lahat ng poot at galit ng lahat ng mga boyfriend at girlfriend who worked hard and gave their all in their relationships, but ended up heartbroken and alone. BOOO!

Scene 2: Popoy and Basha’s friend played by Janus del Prado committed suicide because his fiance broke up with him. He is hysterical in the hospital and wants Popoy to talk to him because he thinks only Popoy can understand what he is going through. This is my bestfriend’s favorite scene, and he’s the one who convinced me to watch the film.

Popoy: Oh. Eh diba’t ikaw pa ang nagsabi sa akin na baka kaya tayo iniiwan ng taong mahal natin kasi baka merong bagong darating na mas ok? Na mas mamahalin tayo. Yung taong hindi tayo sasaktan at paasahin. Yung nag-iisang taong magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin, ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo.

This scene hit a nerve with a lot of people because we’ve all been heartbroken before. To those who don’t, whatev! The scene gives the heartbroken, that elusive hope that there is someone, something better for us.

It might seem impossible for a lot of us who have been broken up with before by people whom we loved and cared for dearly. But the Popoy tells us, and Tricia is his proof, that there is hope to find somebody better who will heal the wounds of the past relationship.

Haaay… don’t we all hope so.

Scene 3: Tricia lets go of Popoy. The audience waits we bated breath as we anticipate the reconciliation of Popoy and Basha. However,…

Basha: I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

Popoy: No, im sorry. I’m sorry for not saying sorry before nung nasaktan kita. Nung kasing nagkahiwalay tayo, ang inisip ko sarili ko lang, yung nararamdaman ko lang, yung gusto ko lang. I’m sorry Bash naging madamot ako. Hindi ko inintindi na kelangan mo ring hanapin ang Bashang nawala nung minahal mo ako.

Basha: Yung Bashang mahal ka pa rin.

Popoy: Hindi mo alam kung gaano ko kagustong sabihin sayo na… “Sana tayo na lang. Sana tayo na lang ulit.” Pero wag. Ssa tuwing nararamdaman ko kung gaano kita kamahal, hindi ko maiwasang maradaman ulit lahat ng sakit. And I’m sorry.

Basha: Anong dapat kong gawin?

Popoy: Ako na to eh, Bash. Ako naman ang may kailangan ng panahon ngayon para makalimutan ko na lahat ng sakit. Para maalala ko lahat ng maganda at mabuti sa atin. Para mabalik yung Popoy na nawala nung magkahiwalay tayo. I want my heart to stop breaking, Bash. Para pag naging tayo ulit, kaya na kitang mahalin ng buong-buo na walang halong takot kung masaktan man tayo muli. Bash….

KALUNGKUTAN! The couple does not reconcile right away. And rightly so.

Popoy and Basha became a couple when they were in college, a time when they didn’t know each other well, and they were both wrapped up in childish romantic ideas and ideals. And they lost themselves in the process. Popoy, being the more assertive and domineering partner, was able to have a good grasp of himself, and it was Basha who lost herself completely while in the relationship.

So even when she still loved Popoy, she had to take time off to know herself better, gain an identity, and be a person of her own, outside of the relationship. The break up did wonders for her.

But it devastated Popoy. Popoy lost himself and all his dreams for him and Basha went completely kaput and he didn’t know what to do with himself and his life. He was a mess. And while he loved Tricia, he was also still in love with Basha.

It would have been a shallow film if Popoy and Basha got together right away after Popoy and Tricia broke up. But screenwriters Carmi Raymundo and Vanessa Valdez did one better and gave us that heartfelt and heartbreaking confrontation and farewell scene.

Popoy realized their mistakes, his mistakes during and after the relationship. He recognized that the break up was good for Basha, that Basha was also hurt by what happened.

Eventhough they still loved each other, Popoy had to find himself and remember the good times with Basha. He had to take time to be whole again, to trust, and be ready to love and commit to Basha again.

It was heartbreaking for Basha but she deserved it. She broke Popoy. But it was also full of hope. We already knew at that point that, while it rarely happens in real life, Popoy and Basha will be back with each other sooner or later.

Haaay… it was an epic love story. And epic film with a great cast, memorable lines that will be forever quoted by lovers and the brokenhearted, and a well-written story that we can all relate to.

Kudos to director Cathy Garcia-Molina!

This film review is about 3 years late… but everything still rings true for most of us, right?

Say it with me again, people…

“Sana ako pa rin. Ako na lang. Ako na lang ulit.”

“You had me at my best…. And you chose to break my heart.”