Review of MEN ARE FROM QC, WOMEN ARE FROM ALABANG: Distance and Determination

May 2, 2024

Aica Villanueva (Heaven Peralejo) lived in Alabang with her mother Lucy (Angela del Rosario) and sister Bea (Lhian Gimeno). As her absentee father Noel (Anjo Yllana) was irresponsible, she was the only breadwinner of her family. Even though she really wanted to be a journalist, she focused on her work as a marketing executive under a very demanding boss Ms. Dina (Giselle Sanchez). She believed that a boyfriend would only interfere with her work. 

Tino Guerra (Marco Gallo) was the scion of a wealthy family based in Quezon City. His father was a very busy architect often working abroad. He lived with his mother Chari (Phoemela Baranda), his elder brother Enzo (Ivan Padilla) and younger sister Tara (Sofie Jewel). Instead of joining his father's firm, he wanted to find direction and prove his worth first, so he took a job as a graphic designer. Fate had it that this was in the same firm as Aica. 

The screenplay written by Kiko Abrillo and Kristine Gabriel was based on a best-selling 2013 book of the same title written by Filipino-Chinese author Stanley Chi. The book was described as a comical spoof on the American best-seller John Gray's "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" which dealt on the premise that some essential psychological differences exist between men and women that cause them to have relationship problems.  

This film by Gino M. Santos (whose last film was "Sin Island" in 2018) began and progressed as a typical rom-com would. The initial awkward meet-cute at a cafe had to happen before they unexpectedly realize that they will work in the same office. There wasn't much hassle at the start of their relationship, but the meat of the story happens after a two-year jump, when their events in their lives diverge and things start to sour between them.

People who have been in romantic relationships can relate with the issues that crop up between the couple, with their respective points of view. Male viewers will feel Tino's puzzlement at Aica's unhappiness despite everything that he felt like he had given and sacrificed for her. I can only guess that female viewers will identify with Aica's grief and dissatisfaction, given the personal challenges she was also facing at the same time. 

The love team of Heaven Peralejo and Marco Gallo was launched in the TV series "The Rain in Espana" (2023). Since then, they had one film "The Ship Show" (Jason Paul Laxamana, 2023) and one more TV series together "Safe Skies, Archer," also directed by Gino M. Santos. By now, they had developed a potent romantic chemistry between them. The skills of both actors for tearful drama had also been honed very well. 

It may be difficult to imagine that Marco Gallo's first three feature films were actually released on Vivamax: "Gluta" (Darryl Yap, 2021), "Ang Manananggal na Nahahati ang Puso" (Darryl Yap, 2022) and "Kitty K7" (Joy Aquino, 2022). It was always good to see actors who began in Vivamax films, like Gallo, Rose Van Ginkel (as Tino's friend Mia), or Wilbert Ross (as Aica's friend Raf), graduating into more mainstream, less naughty fare. 6/10.