Ysabel Mariz Austria

Strong, empowering women from 4 love triangle movies

Article (news)

Nela Evalle

<p>Love triangles are ever popular in romance <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/films" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">movies</a>. It&#x27;s like watching players in a long tug-of-war, and the competition turns so heated that it makes you ache to see who wins in the end.</p><p>And while the audience can place their bets for their favorite, some <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/films/2025/7/28/4-heart-fluttering-fake-to-real-relationship-romcoms-star-cinema-1823" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">love</a> triangle movies don&#x27;t end like we predict.</p><p>So, spoiler alert, take the case of these movies where these female characters appear. These women eventually stop chasing the guy and choose their own selves over love!  </p><div> </div><div><strong>Chinggay in ‘The Achy Breaky Hearts’ </strong></div><div> </div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TtTdWTW5TBU?si=cKLPGVssu_I91zmw" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>In the 2010s, Jodi Sta. Maria was paired with two dashing leading men, Richard Yap and Ian Veneracion, through her teleseryes. Both of these tandems were so popular that the three of them joined forces to star in the love triangle romcom &quot;The Achy Breaky Hearts&quot; in 2016.</p><p>In the film, Chinggay (Jodi Sta. Maria) finds herself torn between two men: her ex-boyfriend Frank (Richard Yap) and the brooding Ryan (Ian Veneracion), after seven years of being single. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757325777869‘The Achy Breaky Hearts’ Jodi Sta. Maria, Richard Yap, Ian Veneracion.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>And while Chinggay was ready to commit, she realizes that both men can’t reciprocate the love that she has. In a bold move, Chinggay decides to be happy on her own and not let the pressure of settling down in her 30s get to her. She even resigns from her job and books her dream vacation — a solo trip to Paris!  </p><div> </div><div><strong>Christy in ‘Love Me Tomorrow’ </strong></div><div> </div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QSU3uZGLIBY?si=I4glvkPlUDoRjbOp" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Love blossoms between Christy (Dawn Zulueta), a widowed middle-aged fashion designer, and JC (Piolo Pascual), a club DJ in his 30s. While Christy initially thinks that she shouldn’t be seen flirting with a younger man, JC is able to bring out another side of her that she didn’t think was possible.</p><p>As they start dating, Christy becomes the default enemy of Janine (Coleen Garcia), a young socialite who used to frequently hookup with JC. Janine continues to be in JC’s orbit, especially when she agrees to be his business partner. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757325938171‘Love Me Tomorrow’ Piolo Pascual, Dawn Zulueta, Colleen Garcia.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>But when Christy catches JC cheating on her with Janine, not only does this break her trust, this also causes Christy to reflect on her relationship with JC. Christy ultimately breaks up with him; nonetheless, she’s grateful to JC for coming into her life and learning much from the relationship.  </p><div> </div><div><strong>Ginny in ‘Starting Over Again’ </strong></div><div> </div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4IzTNohyHwk?si=pk2rsAyWMPTkl6qd" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Architect Ginny (Toni Gonzaga) believes that her ex-boyfriend Marco (Piolo Pascual) is still in love with her, after she receives an email that he wrote four years ago. So, when Marco becomes her client, as he wishes to turn his ancestral home into a restaurant, she takes it as a sign that they’re meant to be together — even though Marco is already dating someone else, Patty (Iza Calzado).</p><p>As she turns desperate for a second chance, Ginny crosses the line and begs Patty to let him go, but Patty stands her ground as Marco’s partner.  </p><div> </div><div> <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757326021189‘Starting Over Again’ Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><p>It takes an accident that injures both two women for Marco to make his choice once and for all, and he chooses to be with Patty. The two exes wish each other well. As her first step towards healing, Ginny deletes the email that caused her to chase Marco again.</p><p>Toni Gonzaga and Piolo Pascual would reunite in the film “Last Night” three years after “Starting Over Again”.  </p><div> </div><div><strong>Honey and Frances in ‘BFF: Best Friends Forever’ </strong></div><div> </div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lwvo4ZqcwOU?si=Pz9l4Kzf5YAMSur8" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><p>Honey (Sharon Cuneta) discovers that her husband Tim (John Estrada) is having an affair. While she is unable to identify the other woman, Honey decides to avail a gym membership to become fit and win her husband back. Here, she meets Frances (Ai Ai delas Alas), and they instantly become best friends. However, Frances is actually Tim’s lover.  </p><p>Chaos erupts when Tim is exposed for his infidelity. The two BFFs part ways and Tim is kicked out of the house. Honey later decides to give her husband a second chance. As Tim jumps due to sheer happiness, a car hits him to his death. </p><div> </div><div> <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757326094233‘BFF_ Best Friends Forever’ Sharon Cuneta, Ai Ai delas Alas.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div> </div><p>Frances attends Tim’s funeral, and while the two ladies initially wanted to snub each other, they reconcile and acknowledge that the best thing that happened out of this messy love triangle was their friendship. </p><p>Sharon Cuneta and John Estrada were first paired up in the 2008 film “<a href="https://youtu.be/GGVluczijWg?si=W_1c5WFSLb7RfIi0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caregiver</a>”. </p><div><br/></div><p>Watch these FREE FULL MOVIES only on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ABSstarcinema" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Star Cinema’s Official YouTube channel</a>! And remember to subscribe to access digitally restored versions of classic and contemporary films!  </p><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sBj5L_F9rj4?si=Uf2N49BuF7bq-D1D" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mfs9KKymw64?si=6Ot03XW3rsEdj0mg" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED STORIES: </strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/films/2025/8/22/will-ashley-dustin-yu-bianca-de-vera-headline-milestone-collab-film-love-you-so-bad-1659" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Will Ashley, Dustin Yu, Bianca de Vera headline milestone collab film ‘Love You So Bad’</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/films/2025/8/18/sibling-love-triangles-3-hit-movies-that-follow-this-intense-rivalry-in-families-1738" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sibling love triangles: 3 hit movies that follow this intense rivalry in families</a></div>