Love blooms in Jollibee Studios’ My Crush is a Cactus Killer

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Sometimes, it’s the unexpected change and uncertainties in our lives that bring us to a deep realization that our fate, indeed, has a funny way of making things fall into place. The same is true for the characters of Mandy and Mikey — the main characters in Jollibee Studios’ first-ever three-episode mini series, My Crush is a Cactus Killer.

Mandy and Mikey, played by Gigi de Lana and Raphael Balaccua, respectively, are plant-lovers who faced setbacks in their professional and personal lives due to the pandemic. Struggling to put their lives back together, they discover how their shared love for plants may just bring them a deeper connection.

“What I love about my character is how accepting she is,” said singer-actress Gigi De Lana. “She doesn’t judge and gives up. This story is about believing that there is still hope for when you make a decision and set your goals, even if there are a lot of things that hinder you,” she continued.

See how love blooms with Mandy (Gigi de Lana) and Mikey (Raphael Balaccua) in Jollibee Studios’ My Crush is a Cactus Killer mini-series

Known for her vocal prowess, Gigi has been put under the showbiz spotlight with her new venture as a leading lady in My Crush is a Cactus Killer. This transition into an acting career has become a journey of growth for Gigi, one that she pursues with joy, love, and passion.

“First love ko ‘yung singing but acting is also a big accomplishment for me and something that I’d love to continue to explore.” According to her, both crafts have allowed her to embrace her vulnerability.

Life’s challenges and love for plants bring Mandy and Mikey together in this heartwarming Jollibee Studios’ mini-series

Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, Jollibee Studios’ My Crush is a Cactus Killer is a quirky romance story that shows how to find joy in love despite the struggles that come along the way. And when it comes to narrating stories like this, no brand does it quite like Jollibee.

With over 700,000 subscribers on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and millions of views on each of their viral videos, Jollibee continues to share short films that tug at the heartstrings of its viewers.

When asked about her initial reaction to the opportunity, Gigi was quick to say that it was an automatic “Yes” for her. “I’ve been such a huge fan of Jollibee’s short films. I think what makes it popular is it makes people laugh, fall in love, cry, and most importantly, binibigyan kami ng lesson sa bawat kwento,” said Gigi.

Her co-star Raphael Balaccua also has this to say, “Working with the creative minds behind the new Jollibee series has been such a joy. With Direk Sigrid guiding me and Gigi, I feel confident that we gave justice to the characters of Mandy and Mikee because I know the right emotions were pulled from us.”

Catch the three-part Jollibee Studios series, My Crush is Cactus Killer, now out on Jollibee Studios’ YouTube page. Share your kilig online through Jollibee’s official social media pages.

Embrace change and find joy in uncertainties in Jollibee Studios’ “My Crush is A Cactus Killer”

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It goes without saying that change is the only constant thing in life. There are times when it brings people to difficult situations they need to overcome, but there are also moments when it leads them to the answers of their greatest whys. Either way, adapting to change can be an uncomfortable process — but the beautiful, empowering love that we find in the midst of it all is what makes the experience worthwhile.

On February 28, the country’s most loved fast-food chain, Jollibee is back again with a trilogy that portrays a love that is worth persevering. My Crush is A Cactus Killer, produced by Jollibee Studios, is a three-part series that follows the story of two people who found a joyful connection that carried them through the toughest times in their lives.

Directed by acclaimed Filipino film director, Sigrid Bernardo, My Crush is A Cactus Killer features up-and-coming artists Gigi de Lana and Raphael Balaccua.

The two will give life to the characters of Mandy (Gigi) and Mikey (Raphael) both of whom share a love for plants--a plantita and a plantito--but that is not the only thing they have in common: both have faced setbacks in their professional and personal lives due to the pandemic. As they try to put the pieces of their lives back together and weather through an uncertain situation, will a shared love of plants make them discover that love can make change easier?

“It’s a universal experience to go through a change, especially in the pandemic, but even though we say 'everyone goes through it', it doesn’t take away the fact that pain and loss is a difficult feeling,” said Arline Adeva, AVP and Head of Brand Communications, PR and Digital Marketing at Jollibee. “What we want to communicate through this new Jollibee Studios series is that hope and true joy could be found if we remain open to all the possibilities that these changes can lead us to.”

Through Jollibee Studios’ exclusive branded content for entertainment, it has captured the hearts of many people with true people and their real-life encounters at the heart of its stories.

Last December, Jollibee Studios released its first mid-length film which has garnered millions of views on the platform. Truly it’s a fitting testament to the Filipinos’ deep affinity with the Jollibee brand and its storytelling.

With My Crush is A Cactus Killer, the brand aims to spread hope, inspiration, and joy to people amid changing times.

Watch the latest and first-ever mini-series exclusively available on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel.

Join Mandy (Gigi de Lana) and Mikey (Raphael Balaccua) on a journey towards letting love grow in Jollibee Studios’ three-part series, My Crush is a Cactus Killer. The series launches on February 28 only on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel.

Kwentong Jollibee’s short films define love with true, modern-day Pinoy stories

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What is the real meaning of love? This is the question that Jollibee aims to answer with its latest heartfelt and swoon-worthy Kwentong Jollibee Valentine's series.

Back at it again after the series’ continuous success, Jollibee and McCann WorldGroup keep Kwentong Jollibee episodes real and fresh by exploring new, true-to-life stories unique to the experiences of Filipinos in these current times. 

Find the real meaning of love with Kwentong Jollibee’s heartfelt Valentine's films now available on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and Jollibee Facebook page.

The shorts 600 Days and Dream Guy are directed by Antoinette Jadaone, while ILY is directed by JP Habac. Both acclaimed filmmakers have captured the hearts of Pinoy audiences with previous Kwentong Jollibee episodes–LDR (2021) by Jadaone and the smash-hit One True Pair The Movie (2021) featuring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo by Habac.

To date, the series has amassed more than 44.6 million views on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and the Jollibee Facebook page combined.

“What makes every Kwentong Jollibee film resonate and touch the lives of Filipinos is that these stories are rooted in the Filipino experience. We continuously make an effort to have our viewers know that their emotions, situations, problems, and successes are seen and heard while constantly reminding them that while the world may change, love will always remain constant and unflinching,” said Arline Adeva, Jollibee Assistant Vice President and Head of Brand PR, Engagement, and Digital Marketing.

Finding the real meaning of love

As we continue to experience “love in the time of corona”, the challenges that come with it have repeatedly redefined love for some and shown the real meaning of love to others. 

In this year’s Kwentong Jollibee Valentines series we get a genuine snapshot of this era - from lockdown relationships to K-drama crushes – as well as nuanced definitions of love from different perspectives.  

“One thing that sets Kwentong Jollibee apart is how it’s always current and timely. It’s culled from life lessons and stories of different people through experiences brought by the times,” said Sid Samodio, McCann WorldGroup Philippines Executive Creative Director.

Staying true to its purpose of narrating authentic Pinoy stories on Valentine’s Day and other red-letter occasions, the episodes allow audiences to feel both seen and represented. The first episode entitled “600 Days”, in particular, is a sequel to last year’s “LDR” and accurately captures the realities of relationships affected by the pandemic.

“Two years into the pandemic, we found that people were in a state of uncertainty. There have been so many stops and starts, with everybody needing to adjust to the constant changes. And in a world where people are becoming increasingly separated from one another, and where more relationships are formed and maintained online instead of face to face, where can we find the real meaning of love?” he said, explaining the thought behind this year’s Kwentong Jollibee Valentine’s series.

This authenticity is what Pinoys keep coming back to even after years since Kwentong Jollibee’s first viral hit in 2017. With about 800 million views on Jollibee’s official Facebook page and Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and continued sparks of conversation in the digital sphere, it’s safe to say that the Kwentong Jollibee series holds the same space in Pinoy hearts as Jollibee’s langhap-sarap meals. 

Catch all three #KwentongJollibee Valentine’s Day special shorts; “600 Days”, “Dream Guy”, and “ILY” on Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and join the conversation on Jollibee’s official Facebook page.  

CREDITS

Client: Jollibee

Marketing Head, Jollibee Global & Jollibee Philippines: Francis Flores

Assistant Vice President and Head of Brand PR, Engagement and Digital Marketing: Arline Adeva

Brand Engagement Manager: Beatriz Cruz

Senior Trade Marketing Manager: Jen Orven Ariel Zaragoza

Assistant Brand Manager: Marie Joyce Marfori

Assistant Brand Manager: Paul Lorenz Chua

Social Media & Digital Content Officer: Jean Vittorio Sabado

Agency: McCann Worldgroup Philippines, Inc.

Executive Creative Director: Sid Samodio

Associate Creative Directors: Ming Salcedo for 600 Days, Marlon Borreo for Dream Guy, Flem Anonuevo for ILY

Art Directors: Gabby Alcazaren for 600 days, Rica Lao for Dream Guy, Karl Ricalde for ILY

Associate Managing Partner: Mitzie Lim-Nacianceno

Associate Business Group Director: Joms Robles

Account Managers: Chloe Adarayan, Pau Frayco

Planning Director: Earl Javier

Jr. Planner: Nathan Edades

Mapper: Sam Manaloto

 

600 Days

Producer: Mariel Cruz

Executive Producer: Jenny Gapiz

Director: Antoinette Jadaone

Director of Photography: Theo Lozada

Production Designer: Ben Padero Carlo Tabije

Assistant Director: Shai Advincula-Antonio

Production Manager: Denice Javier

Production Staff: Jo Anne Brios-Simsuangco, Paolo Bianco Jabillo, Viel Santos

Makeup: Janzeil Siachongco

Caster: Toots Gallardo

Livesound: Drew Milallos

Gaffer: Joey Vela Baltazar

Propsman: Jimmy Torado

VTR: Jaye Kalvz Bueno

Offline: Benjamin Tolentino

Online: Terminal 6

Grading: Emerald Lee

 

Dream Guy

Producer: Mariel Cruz

Executive Producer: Jenny Gapiz

Director: Antoinette Jadaone

Director of Photography: Pao Orendain

Score: Len Calvo

Production Designer: Alvin Francisco

Wardrobe: Mica Carreon Claudine Vizconde

Assistant Director: Marjorie Darunday Sales

Production Manager: Denice Javier

Production Staff: Jennifer Ann Olmillo, Thea Alcantara, Nica Dalisay, Carlos Salonoy

Makeup: Janzeil Siachongco

Caster: Toots Gallardo

Livesound: Drew Milallos

Gaffer: Jay Linaga

Propsman: Nino Ruzol

VTR: Jaye Kalvz Bueno

Offline: Benjamin Tolentino

Online: Terminal 6

Grading: Emerald Lee

 

ILY

Producer: Jho Moya

Executive Producer: Jenny Gapiz

Director: JP Habac

Director of Photography: Tristan Salas and Neil Bion

Production Designer: Monica Sebial

Assistant Director: Aly Villanueva

Caster: Toots Gallardo

Production Manager: Bea Angulo

Production Staff: Daissa Silvan, Gian Torrenueva, Pauline Sangalang

Post House: Terminal 6

Offline Editor: Renard Torres

Online Editor: John Keith Jose

Colorist: Jan Andrei Cobey

Post-Production Coordinator: Riah Tonio

 

Watch Kwentong Jollibee’s latest Valentine series to find out what does love truly mean?

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What does love truly mean? This February, the award-winning and highly anticipated Kwentong Jollibee Valentine series is back to tug at everyone’s heartstrings, launching a new trio of special short films that show the different ways people experience love and discover its true meaning.

“It’s the sixth year of the Kwentong Jollibee Valentine series and what we always realize is that love comes in different forms and can be defined in myriad ways, unique from person to person. The stories were inspired by true-to-life experiences of real people in the pandemic, with unexpected twists that lead people into finding what love truly means for them,” said Jollibee AVP and Head of Brand PR, Engagement and Digital Marketing, Arline Adeva.

Directed by Antoinette Jadaone and JP Habac, the Kwentong Jollibee 2022 Valentines series tugs the heart of Filipinos with stories of finding real love.

“As in our past runs of Kwentong Jollibee, our goal is to celebrate the uniqueness of each love story and showcase the timeless lessons that can inspire and give hope to our viewers. All three episodes are anchored on powerful truths that surfaced during these challenging times when all kinds of relationships were somehow put to the test.” she added.

Pandemic or not, no Valentine’s Day is complete without a Kwentong Jollibee series. Last year’s viral triple treat—LDR, First Date, and Hero—showcased that strength can be found in love, especially one that is determined to make things work despite hardships. This year, Jollibee is at it again with a new trilogy that is sure to touch the hearts of audiences across generations.

Hold on to real love in the face of never-ending challenges with the Kwentong Jollibee “600 Days” Valentines episode.

600 Days, is love worth the trouble? —This is the question posed by Brian and Mina’s story which is, set to premiere on February 9 on the brand’s official Facebook page. The couple was first introduced in last year’s #LDR, which chronicled their struggles as the distance and pandemic kept them apart. They thought the worst is over, but as the pandemic progresses, new challenges keep rocking their relationship. Do they have what it takes to still make things work? Find out in this heartwarming sequel by the same director of Kwentong Jollibee LDR, Antoinette Jadaone.

Kwentong Jollibee’s “Dream Guy” is a swoon-worthy love story made for the K-drama fans.

Dream Guy, which will be released on February 13, tells the story of Kaye, a hallyu fan who dreams of having her own ultimate oppa love story. For her, meeting Jung feels like starring in her very own K-drama, but he might not be what she imagined him to be. This charming love story also helmed by Jadaone will surely delight the hearts of Korean love story fans.

Meet the different types of love through the stories of three girlkada members on 

Kwentong Jollibee’s “ILY”.

ILY, streaming on February 18, is a different kind of love story that will make young people realize all the more the value of the people they have in their lives. Directed by JP Habac (who also directed the recent blockbuster short film One True Pair The Movie), it’s the perfect short film to watch with your besties or even the whole family.

Kwentong Jollibee has released 36 short films since it was first introduced in 2017. Inspired by the genuine life experiences of the brand’s loyal customers, the episodes have truly resonated among Jollibee fans of all ages, marking more than 800 million views on Facebook and YouTube. And with the way the episodes thread together the universal experiences of pain, love, and loss, the storytelling is truly felt by people all over the world — leading Kwentong Jollibee to receive recognitions both locally and abroad.

Don’t miss the stories of love this Valentine’s season by catching all three #KwentongJollibee special shorts on Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and on Jollibee’s Facebook page.

It’s all in the journey: Finding love with John Lloyd & Bea’s One True Pair The Movie, a film from Jollibee Studios

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Many people dream of falling in love with the right person at the right time and making it last forever, but many are left disappointed yet continue searching while some give up and find other kinds of love that work for them.

Love might be a powerful and universal feeling yet it’s anything but simple--that is at the heart of the newest Jollibee Studios film, One True Pair The Movie, starring the country’s most iconic love team, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

One True Pair. Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz make a comeback film with Jollibee Studios.

The film tells the story of Ian and Gela, two famous celebrities who were once a popular on-screen tandem for many rom-com movies over the years. Ian, dubbed the “Prince of Philippine Cinema,” took a short break from showbiz while Gela continued being a top celebrity.

After his break, Ian and Gela reunite once again as they work on a project together. In their musings and conversations, we see how they are as real people, how they’ve matured individually over time, and their enduring friendship and love for each other.

The film is directed by JP Habac and is a deeply insightful film that shows that as people grow, so does the love they have for other people.

The country’s One True Pair gives a heart-wrenching, yet insightful, exchange of lines in a short film with Jollibee Studios.

The country’s one true pair

After the release of the film on Dec. 1 on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel, One True Pair the Movie has amassed over 4 million views with many commenting that the film felt unscripted and surfaced the reality of what it meant to love a person and how the definition of love changes as life goes on.

The film also led the YouTube channel to grow from 652,000 subscribers before the release of the film to 704,000 subscribers to date.

“Parang ‘di scripted, parang totoo, parang lahat galing sa puso, parang nanonood ka ng totoong buhay ng dalawang artista na minsan sumugal pero natakot sa nararamdaman. Thank you Jollibee nakaka-touch kasi ito talaga ang reality,” said Crizell Susana on YouTube.

The film also highlighted why John Lloyd and Bea have remained the most iconic love team in the Philippine entertainment industry for more than a decade.

“I feel that the storyline was inspired by them…I love how John Lloyd and Bea had inputted their emotions into this,” said Cheenee in a comment on the film. “I realized how humans are so complex to the point that love cannot be explained in just one tense. There are indeed different types of love,” she added.

Well loved by Filipinos since the 2000s, Bea and John Lloyd bring waves of joy and kilig with Jollibee Studios’ One True Pair The Movie.

The journey of finding the love that lasts

Within the 35-minute film, One True Pair The Movie showed that there are different kinds of love and that the journey of finding the One is also a journey of finding oneself.

The story of Gela and Ian showed that throughout their lives, people may find several “loves” from the first love who taught them how to love–the fairytale, the ideal but one often does not last. The love that changed them and taught them how to love themselves. This is the love that’s painful but one that they’ll look back and be thankful for because it taught them how to choose themselves and walk away. The love that lasts–it's the one that stays even after the romance is gone--that inexplicable connection that remains even if the kilig is gone. This is the love that was built on all the lessons in a person’s journey. This is the love that has grown through joy and adversity, and is made even more special for it. And finally, the love that goes beyond romance–this is the love that has always been there while they are busy loving the first three kinds and all other kinds of love they wanted to be in.

The beauty of taking that journey in finding the love that lasts is that it is as much a journey of yourself--accepting yourself and loving yourself and how you appreciate the people that came and went in your life and how those experiences made you grow into the person you are now.

Find your own kind of love in Jollibee’s One True Pair the Movie exclusively on Jollibee Studios and find more lessons in love and life by subscribing to the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel.