ALWAYS YOURS, NEVER MINE

Always Yours, Never Mine (2026)

Directed by: Cathy Garcia-Sampana

Because the story spans half a lifetime, 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘓𝘪𝘢 portray their characters at different ages and stages. Watching them move through each chapter feels like revisiting the films they’ve made together over the years.

You can sense the joy and youthfulness of 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, as well as the longing for escape and isolation in 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘛𝘰 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬. The push-and-pull tension of 𝘐 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 returns, alongside the rebellious spirit and high energy of 𝘜𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. Even the running and chasing recall 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘡. Most importantly, their emotional maturity carries over from 𝘜𝘯𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶.

As 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘓𝘪𝘢 ’s filmography grows, so do their abilities as actors. That growth is especially evident in this film.

Kahit hindi mo sila bigyan ng props, makeup at costume, makikita mo sa kanilang pagganap kung gaano na sila katanda o kabata. Kada-usad ng istorya, mas nagiging mature ang atake nila sa mga eksena.

Mula sa simpleng pagpapa-cute, matiwasay nilang naitawid ang sitwasyon – kung saan sila ay sabik na sabik na sa isa’t isa.

Dikit na dikit ang mga halikan. Ninamnam talaga nila ang isa’t isa. Akala mo sagad na yun, pero may mas itataas pa pala. Grabe yung mga posisyong ginawa. Pang photoshoot ang datingan.

Hindi instant ang koneksyon sa pelikula. Namuhunan sila. Unti-unti kang ilalapit sa mga karakter. Parehas mo silang pagsasabihan ng tanga. Ngunit sa kabila nito, naiintindihan mo rin sila. Ang sarap sarap lang magpaka-tanga pagdating sa pag-ibig. Kahit masakit at nahihirapan, masayang panoorin ang pelikula. May naidudulot din itong sarap.

Sa tuwing sinasabi nila ang katagang 𝘒𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢 𝘒𝘢, nag-iiba ang kahulugan nito. Sumagot man sila o hindi, alam mo kung anong nararamdaman nila dahil nakilala mo na ang mga karakter.

Throughout the film, Julia Barretto always delivers and never disappoints. She can turn even the most provocative lines into moments of vulnerability because she makes every word feel true to her character. Kahit matapang ang mga linya, magkakaroon ka ng awa para sa kanya. Kahit hindi ka sang-ayon sa kanya, hindi mo rin siya magawang pigilan. Maririnig mo sa kanyang labi ang “I love you”, habang ang sinasabi ng puso niya ay “let me go”. Kaya niyang pagtagpuin ang mga komplikadong emosyon.

Joshua Garcia is an addict on screen, unapologetically portraying his character’s desperation for love. Ang bilis niyang naipakita kung paano magmahal nang walang pag-aalinlangan kahit siya ay nasasaktan. He keeps his character always on the edge, leaving you unsure whether he’ll choose the path toward healing or destruction.

Right timing ang pagpasok ni Bianca Umali sa pelikula. Siya ay dumating kung kailan nagsisimula ka nang mapagod sa istorya. May dalang apoy ang kanyang presensya. Kapag nagbibitaw siya ng linya, maanghang ito pakinggan. Akala mo naghahamon siya ng away, pero kalmado pa rin ang dating. She gives a classy and feisty performance.

Benta ang mga one-liner ni Bob Jbeili. Comfortable at confident mag-deliver ng lines si Joy Barcoma. Randam ang suporta nina Karen Reyes at Migs Almendras. Kulang ang friendship bond. Maraming pagkakataon na pwedeng mag-usap ang magkakaibigan tungkol sa kanilang pinagdaraanan, ngunit hindi ito dumarating.

Alanganin ang mga nangyari sa dulo dahil parang isinulat ito upang makarating sila sa daan na gusto nilang tahakin. Ang ending ay hindi ganun katapang at kalakas – kumpara sa mga nagdaang chapters na pinanggalingan ng mga karakter.

Ipapamukha sa’yo ng prod design kung anong era na ba. Medyo pilit minsan ang datingan dahil kulang na lang ay tuklawin ka nito. Hanggang sa hindi mo na lang ito papansinin. Imbes na tumingin ka sa background at sa mga bagay-bagay, mas nakatutok ka na sa istorya.

The lines carry beautiful wisdom, but sometimes they are overpowering. Instead of complementing the scenes, the words describe what the characters should feel and do. Rather than letting the emotion unfold on its own, the dialogue spells it out for the characters.

Yet when these lines are connected,

they form a beautiful story.

Direk Cathy Garcia-Sampana knows how to make each scene stand on its own – while giving it a place in the larger story. The shifts between timelines don’t feel abrupt because the characters are already well established.

Emotions carry through from one chapter to another, bringing the pieces together into a whole.

With every page turned, there are small wins and big milestones to be celebrated. Even through the pain, there’s something to gain. Once you see the lessons learned, you begin to appreciate the choices made.

Since the film is filled with love battles and life choices, it has no downtime. Your affection for the story is continuously increasing. Your connection to the characters is not fleeting.

Ang pagmamahal para sa pelikulang ito…

Never fading. Always growing.

𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒, 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄

Cast: Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Bianca Umali

With: Joy Barcoma, Karen Reyes, Bob Jbeili, Migs Almendras, Reign Parani, Paulo Angeles, Franco Laurel, Ina Raymundo, Chandra Romero

Story by: Olivia Lamasan, Trishtan Perez, Vanessa Valdez

Screenplay by: Vanessa Valdez

Release Date: September 30, 2026 in cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews