Dannyka Manangan

WHO SAID THIS: Piolo Pascual’s ‘hugot’ moment in 'Starting Over Again' still has fans quoting it today

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764120665246WST-Nov_PioloPascual.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>“I deserved an explanation. I deserved an acceptable reason.”</p><p>These were the words spoken by Marco in one of the most emotional scenes of <em>Starting Over Again</em>, a moment that captured the pain of seeking closure from a love that ended without warning.</p><p>In the 2014 Star Cinema movie directed by Olivia Lamasan, Marco, portrayed by seasoned actor Piolo Pascual, delivers the line during a heavy confrontation with Ginny played by Toni Gonzaga, his ex-girlfriend who left him without giving a clear explanation. The quiet setting, the emotional tension, and Marco’s steady but hurt delivery made the scene stand out.</p><p>Many viewers understood the pain behind the words, making the line one of the most quoted “hugot” moments in Filipino cinema.</p><p><em>Starting Over Again</em> tells the love story and eventual breakup of architecture student Ginny and history professor Marco. 10 years after their painful breakup, Ginny is shocked to find out that she will be working with Marco on a restaurant renovation. She discovers that he plans to propose to his girlfriend, Patty, at the new establishment they will be working on together.</p><p>The story follows their journey of confronting past mistakes, unspoken feelings, and the possibility of moving on, highlighting themes of love, heartbreak, and closure.  </p><div><iframe width="681" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1qqlAtvJswg" title="Ginny demands an explanation!  | &#x27;Starting Over Again&#x27; | Movie Clips" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Audiences connected deeply with Marco’s line. It became a favorite “hugot” quote, shared on social media, used in posts about heartbreak, and even repeated in memes, a testament to how real and relatable Marco’s pain felt. Netizens were quick to watch the movie again more than a decade later after it was uploaded on Star Cinema’s official YouTube channel last November 9.  </p><p>“The best breakup Filipino movie...,” said a Netizen.  </p><p>“I deserve an explanation... I deserve an acceptable reason!” 😭💔 Every time I rewatch this, ramdam pa rin ‘yung sakit. Ang ganda ng story — hindi lang about love, kundi about timing, healing, and acceptance. One of the best Filipino romantic dramas ever made. 👏,” another added.  </p><p>Before looking at the film’s box-office success, it’s worth noting that Toni and Piolo already had a history that added to their onscreen chemistry. They first crossed paths in a soft-drink commercial in 2001, when young Toni famously screamed, “I love you, Piolo!” In the ad. After more than a decade, they reunited onscreen in <em>Starting Over Again</em>, marking their first big-screen collaboration. Their playful dynamic continued in 2025 when Piolo appeared on Toni Talks, joking about his love life and past “courting” of Toni, moments that made fans long for another movie featuring the two.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/11/24/-meet-greet-bye-rakes-in-p215-million-worldwide-1418"><strong>READ:&#x27;Meet, Greet &amp; Bye&#x27; rakes in P215 million worldwide</strong></a></div><div>  </div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMH387Lt4Bg/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A2699011.399999991%2C%22ls%22%3A154724.5%2C%22le%22%3A154951.29999999702%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p><em>Starting Over Again</em> was also a major box-office hit. It earned ₱25 million on opening day, passed ₱100 million in just three days, and reached around ₱300 million by its 12th day in cinemas. Its total gross climbed to about ₱579 million, making it one of the highest grossing Filipino films of all time.</p><p>The movie also brought home several awards. Toni Gonzaga won Best Actress at the 63rd FAMAS Awards, while Piolo Pascual was named Movie Actor of the Year at the 31st PMPC Star Awards for Movies. The duo was also honored as Box Office King and Queen at the 46th Box Office Entertainment Awards, a recognition of how strongly the film performed with audiences.</p><p>Beyond the film’s legacy, Piolo continues to stay active in the industry. He stars in the newly released Star Cinema family drama film<em> Meet, Greet &amp; Bye,</em> directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, which has already recorded strong local and international earnings. He is also part of the upcoming crime-thriller Metro Manila Film Festival entry <em>Manila’s Finest,</em> where he plays a senior police officer in a story set in the 1960s.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/11/19/five-things-about-meet-greet-bye-that-will-give-you-the-feels-1623"><strong>READ: Five things about &#x27;Meet, Greet &amp; Bye&#x27; that will give you the feels</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>More than ten years later, Marco’s line from <em>Starting Over Again</em> remains one of the most unforgettable lines in Philippine cinema, a simple statement that captured a universal feeling, delivered in a moment that has stayed with audiences ever since.</p><p>Watch <em>Starting Over Again</em> on ABS-CBN Star Cinema’s official YouTube channel.  </p>

<p>Marco’s line in 'Starting Over Again' became one of the most quoted ‘hugot’ moments in the country. The movie became a box-office hit, won awards, and left a lasting impact on its viewers even more than a decade later.</p>

Marco’s line in 'Starting Over Again' became one of the most quoted ‘hugot’ moments in the country. The movie became a box-office hit, won awards, and left a lasting impact on its viewers even more than a decade later.