Arzen Rose Dulzura

REVIEW: ‘Tayo sa Wakas' serves as a cautionary tale for pushing a love past its end

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

<p>Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano recently announced that <em>Tayo sa Wakas</em> will be their last film together for now, effectively marking the end of an era for the DonBelle love team. Fittingly, the film itself is also about endings.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780717418657Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.04 PM (4).jpg" style="width:960px;display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>In <em>Tayo sa Wakas</em>, Donny and Belle play long-time partners Cisco and Chesca, who built a life together through love and shared dreams until their personal and professional aspirations begin pulling them in different directions. But as they find themselves drifting apart, the two must decide whether their relationship is worth fighting for or if some love stories are simply meant to end.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Framing The End</strong></div><p>From the very beginning, <em>Tayo sa Wakas</em> makes it clear that this is not a lighthearted romance. Yet director Cathy Garcia-Sampana patiently builds Cisco and Chesca&#x27;s relationship, allowing audiences to understand and invest in their love before the story takes a heavier turn.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780717352994Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.04 PM (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The film&#x27;s opening moments carry the charm of a classic meet-cute romance, showcasing the kind of warmth and sincerity that has become synonymous with Garcia-Sampana&#x27;s work. In many ways, viewers may be reminded of some of her most beloved films, such as <em>The Hows of Us</em> and <em>My Perfect You</em>, as she once again demonstrates her knack for crafting believable and endearing romantic connections.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780717273555Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.04 PM (2).jpg" style="width:960px;display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>It is a given that Donny and Belle possess natural chemistry, but under Garcia-Sampana&#x27;s direction, that chemistry feels even more palpable. The romantic moments are sweet, effective, and genuinely kilig-inducing, while the film&#x27;s more intimate scenes are handled with maturity and restraint. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780717205894Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.04 PM (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Beyond the romance, <em>Tayo sa Wakas</em> also explores the demanding world of advertising and the pressures that accompany ambition, not only for Cisco and Chesca but also for those around them. The film also subtly reinforces this world through its visual details, including wardrobe choices that reflect their professional environment and help ground their characters within it.</p><p>The film takes its time building the couple’s relationship, allowing their connection to feel lived-in and sincere. As a result, the tensions that surface later feel like a natural progression rather than a sudden turn.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Anatomy of a Relationship</strong></div><p><em>Tayo sa Wakas</em> pieces together the fragments of Cisco and Chesca’s relationship, showing both the kilig and the complications that come with love in progress. It captures how relationships can be messy and uncertain, yet still very human.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780717115836Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.04 PM.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>At times, however, the film leans back into familiar romantic drama formulas, relying on grand gestures that feel more conventional than grounded. The inclusion of moments such as their so-called “breakup trip” stands out against the film’s otherwise more natural and restrained approach. </p><p>This creates a slight imbalance in tone that doesn’t always fully align with its intention of telling a more honest love story. While these moments are meant to amplify the stakes of the relationship, they occasionally feel less organic within the world the film has carefully built.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Emotional Anchors</strong></div><p><em>Tayo sa Wakas</em> arguably marks Donny’s best performance to date, with the premier leading man fully stepping into the role of Cisco. From the early comedic timing the character requires to the more emotionally heavy later moments, Donny delivers with noticeable control and range.</p><div><br/></div><div> <span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780717008395Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.04 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>What makes his performance more interesting is how he shapes Cisco’s arc from someone easy to swoon over into a character who becomes increasingly difficult to root for. He manages to balance charm with discomfort, allowing the character’s contradictions to come through without feeling forced.</p><p>Meanwhile, Belle once again shows what former child stars are made of, moving effortlessly between drama and light comedic moments. She shines most in the quieter scenes, where her performance relies less on dialogue and more on expression and presence, proving how effective she can be even in restraint.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780716969314Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.50.13 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>She also brings depth to Chesca, turning her into someone you ache for, even as she continues to make increasingly questionable choices, all in the name of love.</p><p>River Joseph also makes the most of the material he’s given, effectively embodying a rival who brings both tension and emotional weight to Cisco and Chesca’s story, making his presence feel more than just a simple obstacle in the narrative.</p><p>Epy Quizon, meanwhile, delivers steady work as the mentor and somewhat parental figure, once again showing his veteran presence and command of his scenes.</p><p>Adding further weight to the ensemble is Joross Gamboa, who consistently steals every scene he appears in with his effortless charm and timing.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A Cautionary Tale</strong></div><p>The film ultimately serves as a cautionary tale for those who continue to hold on to a love that has clearly run its course. It captures something deeply recognizable in humans, showing how people can struggle to let go even when they already should. It also reflects other tensions found in real relationships, including the way one partner can sometimes feel the need to hold themselves back or shrink their own growth to avoid being seen as competition.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780716911976Screen Shot 2026-06-05 at 7.47.51 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Courtesy: ABS-CBN Star Cinema</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Rather than judging its characters, the film allows space to understand them, making their choices feel grounded and emotionally believable even in their most difficult and confusing moments. While it leans into its emotional twists, Tayo sa Wakas still manages to deliver a satisfying and fitting end.</p>

<p>More than a romance, Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano's final film together for now, 'Tayo sa Wakas,; explores the difficult reality that not all love stories are meant to last forever.</p>

More than a romance, Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano's final film together for now, 'Tayo sa Wakas,; explores the difficult reality that not all love stories are meant to last forever.