What We Know About the Title of Dingdong and Charo's Movie, 'Only We Know'

Charo Santos-Concio, director Irene Villamor, and Dingdong Dantes | Photo from @starcinema

The title of Dingdong Dantes and Charo Santos-Concio's movie, Only We Know, is intriguing. It's like an unspoken understanding, hinting at how actions can be louder than words. Or, a secret between people. The title elicits curiosity. 

In an interview with Metro.Style, we asked Dingdong, Charo, and the movie's director, Direk Irene Villamor, about who came up with the title. 

Dingdong revealed that they actually didn't have a title for the movie until the last day of filming. "Nakalagay du'n sa clapper namin, Dong-Charo movie. Hanggang sa dulo," he said. 

Direk Irene shared that the title suggestion came from Dingdong. "Kay Dong nangyari 'yung title. Sa kanya," she said. 

Charo added that they came up with a list of suggestions, but that "Dingdong hit the most appropriate title."

We asked, "Why did that title feel right for this project?" To which, Direk Irene replied, "Siguro kasi 'yun din ang sinasabi nu'ng pelikula. There's something that people would not know, but only the two people involved in the relationship would know... Tapos tumugma rin kasi 'yung naging theme song ng pelikula, 'Sariling Mundo' by TJ Monterde. Lahat talaga umayon. Hindi namin siya pinlano."

The stars aligned. And in a way, the same can be said about how this movie happened. The idea for this project was born about seven years ago, and even after the pandemic, it just felt right to pursue it today. When the idea resurfaced, both Dingdong and Charo had the bandwidth to do it, so they knew they could fully embrace the project and their characters. As Charo said in her Metro.Style interview, her decision to take on this project was something she did not overthink. 

The energy on their set, as Charo described, was "magaan," and Direk Irene also felt that the universe agreed with them, making the whole filmmaking experience beautiful. "We just went with the flow," Charo said, adding that it helped that their director did not "overrehearse" them. "She just made sure that we knew our lines."

Dingdong also shared that Direk Irene's guidance was a big help in developing his character, Ryan. "Ang mas noteworthy doon ay kahit na meron akong na-plano tungkol sa character ni Ryan, unti-unti rin siya nagbabago depende sa portrayal ni Betty, ni Ma'am Charo. Kasi parang doon nangyayari ang magic e," he said.

Remarkably, Only We Know was filmed in sequence. Direk Irene shared, "Naging mapalad kami na 'yung shoot, parang umayon naman 'yung universe. Parang dahil sa tagal namin siyang hinintay, 'yung mga puzzles, nag-fit naman together. Of course, hindi madali 'yung pag-fit nu'n, logistically, but it all came together. The stars aligned."

Only We Know presents the story of Betty (Charo), a retired literature teacher, and Ryan (Dingdong), a grieving widower and a structural engineer who belongs in the same community as Betty.

Hinting at the connection between these characters and how her approach was in directing a project with a May-December plot, Direk Irene said, "Of course, the age gap is there. It's very present naman. But I always get inspiration from either a book, a philosophy, or a concept. So, dito, ang inangkalan ko is the concept of waiting. So, both the characters are in that limbo of waiting for something to happen. So, 'yun 'yung inangkalan para 'yung romance, habang naghihintay, du'n sumusulpot."

The movie is showing exclusively in cinemas beginning in the Philippines on June 11.

Lead photo from @starcinema