Star Cinema’s I Love You, Hater is Queen of All Media Kris Aquino’s comeback film after a couple of years’ absence from the big screen. Kris plays the empowered woman who empowers women Sasha Imperial, a role too close to her real self. Like Kris, Sasha has built a successful media empire from scratch, and their personal lives, including heartbreaks and family tragedies – are analogous to each other. Like Kris, Sasha also employs a young creative team to generate content that satisfies her millions of followers.

Two of Sasha’s fresh-faced staff are Julia Barretto as Zoey Rivera and Joshua Garcia as Joco Macaraeg. Zoey and Joco are vying to be Sasha’s executive assistant. Given a three-month trial period, Zoey has to compete with beshie Joco. In the midst of the cutthroat competition for the coveted position, Zoey and Joco discover that they work well together rather than against each other. Will their chemistry in the workplace extend to their personal lives?

At first glance, I Love You, Hater seems like a typical romantic comedy from Star Cinema. It has the pretty girl lead in Julia Barretto and the sweet smiles and kilig-inducing acts from Joshua Garcia. It features the supportive family members, which always need financial help from one of both of the protagonists, and the friends who act as audience surrogate. Yet, this Giselle Andres directed film offers something more than rainbows and butterflies. Each of Sasha, Zoey, and Joco has a compelling story to tell. They have personal struggles from which they draw strength rather than let those hurdles cause them to breakdown and give up.

Yes, there are light and funny moments, courtesy of Joko’s beshie character and Kris making fun of herself, and there are fierce one-liners but the highlights of this movie for me are the relatively heavy scenes. First that comes to mind is Sasha’s scene with father Cesar, played by the ever debonair Ronaldo Valdez, and Joco. Kris is at her most natural in the “make her feel loved” scene. She let her eyes talk, and for Kris, who is known for her gift of gab, I am sure it was difficult for her to close her mouth and let the rest of her face do the talking for her. Bravo, Madam! Next is Zoey and Joco’s confrontation scene. Julia is known to be a beautiful young lady, but in her long and emotional monologue, she showed that she can act and she is not afraid to cry the ugly cry (I read what I wrote in Unexpectedly Yours, and I had the same sentiments). Last but definitely not the least is Joshua’s “shine like a diamond” presence onscreen. This guy is a natural. Naaaliw na ako sa kanya. Konti na lang magiging fan na ako ng JoshLia. 🙂

For more Joshua and Julia, please read Unexpectedly Yours – Hugot Edition and Love You to the Stars and Back – Hugot Edition.

 

For hugot lines from other movies, please read First Love – Hugot Edition, Exes Baggage – Hugot Edition, The Hows of Us – Hugot Edition, Miss Granny – Hugot Edition, Sid & Aya (Not A Love Story) – Hugot Edition, Kasal – Hugot Edition, Never Not Love You – Hugot Edition, My Perfect You – Hugot Edition, Meet Me in St. Gallen – Hugot Edition, Mr. & Mrs. Cruz – Hugot Edition, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes – Hugot Edition, Last Night – Hugot Edition, Finally Found Someone – Hugot Edition, Can We Still Be Friends? – Hugot Edition, Seven Sundays – Hugot Edition, Kita Kita – Hugot Edition, Can’t Help Falling In Love – Hugot Edition, My Ex and Whys – Hugot Edition, and Heneral Luna – Hugot Edition.

 

Here are some of the Hugot Lines from Star Cinema’s I Love You, Hater:

“Oh, akala ko tatay ko. My mistake. Sorry. Sorry.” – Zoey Rivera (Julia Barretto)

“Okay, Madam. No more tears. Tama ka, no more tears kasi sa bawat setback comeback lang ng comeback.” – Zoey Rivera

“May expiration pala ang fatherhood?” – Zoey Rivera

“Para siyang sister from another mother.” – Sasha Imperial (Kris Aquino)

“Your size 11 flats will be so hard to fill.” – Sasha Imperial

“I’m coming, Madam Sasha. Hello, destiny!” – Zoey Rivera

“Look ay my dress. It is so serious. I should be in pastel.” – Sasha Imperial

 

Sasha: Are you here to apply for the job?

Joco: Yes.

Sasha: Then, you’re hired.

 

“I am willing to sacrifice my long weekends and holidays.” – Zoey Rivera

“Gusto! Gusto! Gusto ko ‘yan, ma’am!” – Joco Macaraeg (Joshua Garcia)

“Wala ka pang napapatunayan, nagyayabang ka na.” – Sasha Imperial

“This girl has spunk. I am liking her na.” – Sasha Imperial

“How can a boy manage this job?” – Zoey Rivera

“Sino bang nagsabing lalaki ako?” – Joco Macaraeg

“Okay lang naman magiging close tayo ‘di ba, beshie? Wala namang malisya ‘di ba?” – Zoey Rivera

 

Joco: May the best Chinno win.

Zoey: May the best woman win.

 

“Sagabal siya sa destiny ko.” – Zoey Rivera

“She empowers women.” – Zoey Rivera

“Keep your friends close and your enemies under surveillance.” – Zoey Rivera

“Bakit sinabi kong bakla ako?” – Joco Macaraeg

 

Joco: Isara ang bibig, bawal umibig.

Zoey: Never.

Joco: Hater

 

“I woke up like this.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Who cares if your crush does not like you as long as you have crushed chili peppers.” – Sasha Imperial

“Alam niyo naman ako, #satruelang.” – Sasha Imperial

“Have a good life everybody, and if you are lucky to have you lola with you, give her a hug.” – Sasha Imperial

“Ohhhhh. My ring! That’s priceless!” – Sasha Imperial

“Awesome!” – Sasha Imperial

“Iba talaga diskarte ng mga beshies.” – Sasha Imperial

“Ang pera puwede pang kitain, pero ang oras hindi na kaya focus.” – Sasha Imperial

“At ang golden rule ko, #satruelang.” – Sasha Imperial

“Get up. Tumayo ka. Anong wala kang narating? You are my assistant.” – Sasha Imperial

“Shine bright like a diamond.” – Joco Macaraeg

 

Sasha: I have my new OTP.

RB and Jack: One True Pairing.

 

“Anak niyo rin po ako.” – Sasha Imperial

“Kawawa rin pala si madam no? Kahit marami na siyang big accomplishments, kahit sikat siya, kahit kilala siya ng maraming tao, hindi siya kilala ng taong mahal niya.” – Zoey Rivera

“Sana makahanap ako ng ganun, lahat gagawin niya.” – Zoey Rivera

“Kapag wala akong mahanap, ikaw na lang kaya? Kapag walang nahanap, ikaw na lang papatusin ko.” – Zoey Rivera

“Meron ka ba ngayon?” – Zoey Rivera

“Ano ba ang ginawa kong mali to deserve this kamalditahan from you?” – Zoey Rivera

“Kapag pinatuloy mo pa, hahalikan na kita.” – Zoey Rivera

“Zoey, are you turning into a lesbian?” – Sasha Imperial

“Ano ba ‘yan? Wala man lang pasabog sa hashtag?” – Joco Macaraeg

“Sila na ang perfect.” – Zoey Rivera

“Ka-post post ka, Zoey. Hindi ikaw ang taong ikinakahiya. Ikaw ang taong ipinagmamalaki.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Kapag ang buhay ay magulo, check mo sa ibang anggulo.” – Joco Macaraeg

 

Joco: Meron. Ikaw?

Zoey: Ano?

Joco: Ganda ka, besh?

 

“Isara ang bibig, ako ang inibig.” – Zoey Rivera

“That’s my biggest never, ang mga sinungaling like my dad. I love him and I want him to love me but …. I am his shameful dirty secret.” – Zoey Rivera

“Bakla siya. Bakla siya.” – Zoey Rivera

“Ano, girl, umaasa ka na ikaw magbabalik sa kanya sa daang matuwid?” – Zoey’s friend

“Don’t cross the line, nakakamatay.” – Zoey’s friend

“Huwag matakot! Maki-beki!” – Zoey’s friend

“Always say yes. Never say never. Live life to the fullest!” – Zoey Rivera

“Madam, never say never. Don’t you want to conquer your fears and live life to the fullest?” – Zoey Rivera

“Naman!” – Sasha Imperial

 

Joco: Alam mo, mahal niya ‘yun. Nahihiya lang siya umamin.

Zoey: Baka naman naghihintay lang siya ng tamang panahon para umamin.

 

“How could you be honest to the person you love if you cannot be honest with yourself?” – Richard (John Estrada)

“Besh, huwag mo naman akong tingnan ng ganyan.” – Zoey Rivera

“Joco, this is the first and the last time na magsisinungaling ako para sa iyo.” – Zoey Rivera

“Kumain ka ng torta para lumaki kang borta.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Ang gentleman naman … woman. Gentlewoman.” – Zoey Rivera

“Pasensiya ka na, fake ang cake pero made out of true love ‘yan.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Sana maging totoo lahat ng kahilingan mo.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Ka-celebrate celebrate ang araw na ipinanganak ang pinakamagandang regalo sa akin ni Lord.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Richard is so yesterday. Never ko na siyang babalikan.” – Sasha Imperial

“I’m so excited, beb. Besh. I am so excited, besh.” – Zoey Rivera

“What were you thinking? Ano akala mo sa akin desperada?” – Sasha Imperial

“I do not want Richard back in my life. Neither do I want you.” – Sasha Imperial

“Pa, I’m Sasha. I’m your daughter.” – Sasha Imperial

“Sanay na akong nasasaktan.” – Sasha Imperial

“Sometimes, I feel like, I feel like I don’t exist. Pero ganun talaga eh. You cannot force someone to love us, but we can only force ourselves to keep on loving. Kahit na nagmumukha ka ng tanga. Kahit nasasaktan na tayo.” – Sasha Imperial

“Hindi ko na rin naintindihan. Hindi ko na rin naintindihan kung bakit ginagawa ko ito. Hindi ko naman naintindihan kung bakit minahal ko ang isang bakla.” – Zoey Rivera

“Hoy, puso! Puwede ba iba naman? Hindi ka na nga kayang mahalin ng sarili mong tatay, nagmahal ka pa ng taong hindi ka kayang mahalin.” – Zoey Rivera

“You were pretending. You were pretending from the very beginning.” – Zoey Rivera

“Hindi ka naman pala bakla! Niloko mo ‘ko. Niloko mo ‘ko!” – Zoey Rivera

 

Joco: I’m sorry.

Zoey: Are you?

 

“Andami-dami mong chance para sabihin ang totoo pero hindi mo ginawa.” – Zoey Rivera

“Pa-victim ka, hindi ka naman biktima.” – Zoey Rivera

“Bakit? Paano? Eh, sa tuwing nahihirapan ka, nagsisinungaling ka.” – Zoey Rivera

“And I told you how much I hate to be part of a lie.” – Zoey Rivera

“I gave up my dream job because you needed it more.” – Zoey Rivera

“Sino ba itong taong minahal ko? Ano ba ang minahal ko sa kanya?” – Zoey Rivera

“Ikaw, alam mo pa ba ang totoo sa sarili mo?” – Zoey Rivera

“Buong buhay ko, proud ako sa sarili ko.” – Joco’s father (Al Tantay)

“Magtataka ako. Asawa ako. Ama ako. Eh yun ang pangarap ko, ang mabuhay ng simple.” – Joco’s father (Al Tantay)

“Joco, I am not happy with what you did, pero sa pinapakita mo ngayon, ramdam na ramdam mo ang pain and guilt.” – Sasha Imperial

“#satruelang po.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Nangako ho kasi ako sa anak niyo na mamumuhay ako ng tama at totoo.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Alagaan mo si Sasha ha. Make her feel loved.” – Cesar (Ronaldo Valdez)

 

Cesar: Oh, iha, sino nagpaiyak sa iyo? Ano pangalan niya?

Sasha: Cesar ho.

Cesar: Ah. Kapangalan ko ha. Guwapo rin ba siya?

 

“Ang pinakamamahal ko. Sobra niya akong pinaligaya.” – Sasha Imperial

“Bakit ba tayo nagtiwala? Bakit ba natin binigay ang lahat?” – Sasha Imperial

“Because when you love, you give yourself a chance for an ever after, but we also open ourselves to be hurt.” – Sasha Imperial

“That forgiveness is not for the person who hurt you. Nireregalo mo ‘yan sa sarili mo.” – Sasha Imperial

“Sana magkaibigan pa rin tayo, Zoey. Sana puwede pa.” – Joco Macaraeg

“Mahal na mahal ko po si Zoey. Pero kung beshie lang, okay lang.” – Joco Macaraeg

“I love baklas, madam, but I am in love with him.” – Zoey Rivera

“Ang totoong ikaw mamahalin at tatanggapin ko iyon ng buong-buo.” – Zoey Rivera

“Omg, I found my OTP.” – Sasha Imperial

 

Zoey: I love you, besh.

Joco: I love you, beb.

Zoey: I love you, beb.

 

Words of Wisdom from Madam Sasha Imperial:

– Eye Love Eye Drops.

– Don’t give up. Great things take time.

– Greatness starts here.

– Greatness overtakes difficulties.

– Life is too short for negativity.