It’s no doubt that Filipinos love love teams. Ever since the ’60s, Filipino cinema and TV have been filled with iconic pairings for each generation, whether it’s Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion or Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan. However, it’s not enough that these on-screen couples star together in movies or television shows. More often than not, these pairs also bring their on-screen chemistry to the recording studio, with many love teams also recording the theme songs to their own soundtracks.
These songs have proven to stand the test of time. Who could ever forget Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion’s rendition of “Abot-Kamay” (Within Reach)? Or Claudine Barretto and the late Rico Yan’s cover of “Got To Believe In Magic”?
With that, here are 10 of our favorite songs sung by some of the country’s most popular love teams that we still can’t stop thinking about.
James Reid and Nadine Lustre — “No Erase”
The soundtrack for the Andoy Ranay-directed Diary ng Panget is arguably one of the best pieces of P-pop from the 2010s beyond. With tracks produced and written by P-pop juggernauts like Thyro and Yumi as well as Bojam de Belen, it’s difficult to pick just one standout track. Despite it being nine years since the release of the movie, “No Erase” and other songs from the album like “Paligoy-Ligoy” (Beating Around the Bush) went viral on TikTok, with hundreds of thousands of videos under different sounds. The unforgettable melody and lyrics of “No Erase” make the track a truly timeless bop.
Aga Muhlach and Mikee Cojuangco — “Forever, Pt. 3”
“Forever” was originally performed by ’90s band Passage for the Aga Muhlach and Mikee Cojuangco-led film of the same name. The film’s soundtrack has three versions of the track, “Part 1” being Passage’s rendition of the song, “Part 2” sung by the film’s composer and famed songwriter Louie Ocampo, and finally, “Part 3” performed by Muhlach and Cojuangco.
Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin — “TL Ako Sa Iyo”
There have been many renditions of Cinderella’s “TL Ako Sa Iyo” (I’m In True Love With You) but who could forget the version performed by ’90s power couple Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin? Their cover was part of the soundtrack of 1998 film, Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo! (If You Don’t, Then Don’t!) starring Magdangal, Agustin, Maricel Soriano, and William Martinez. The film was Agustin and Magdangal’s first full-length film as a love team after first appearing together in F.L.A.M.E.S: The Movie.
Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez — “One Heart”
The Philippine King and Queen of Concerts Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez were a power couple to be reckoned with, with both artists having their own impressive discographies and recognitions under their belts. The two were previously married until their annulment in 2000. While both are predominantly known for their music careers, they also established a significant showbiz career, starring in almost 70 television shows and films collectively.
Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion — “Abot-Kamay”
Megastar Sharon Cuneta and actor-singer Gabby Concepcion are another iconic love team, appearing in films such as Dear Heart, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? and P.S. I Love You. “Abot-Kamay” is a song off the soundtrack for the latter. There are two other songs featuring duets from the pair, including “Love In A Calendar” and “Come What May.”
Last October, the two reunited for the Dear Heart concert, which was sold out. In an Instagram post after the SM Mall of Arena show, Cuneta wrote, “Thank you to all of you who came to see us at the MOA Arena tonight! You were awesome! We felt so loved by you!”
John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo — “Naaalala Ka”
John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo have spent the last two decades as one of the most prominent love teams in the Philippine entertainment industry. “Naalala Ka” (You are Remembered) is a song off the official soundtrack for their telenovela series, A Beautiful Affair, which celebrated Alonzo and Cruz’s 10th anniversary as an on-screen couple.
Recently, the Philippine Theater Education Association (PETA) announced that they will be staging a musical adaptation of One More Chance featuring the music of Ben&Ben. In an Instagram post posted by Alonzo, she wrote, “One for the books! Who would’ve thought that JL and I would last 21 years as a “love team”?! Wait, can you still call us that? We’ve been making our own thing outside the team-up, but we remained part of each other’s lives for two decades. How amazing is that? Last night was a random celebration of friendships that last, and I woke up to a wonderful news that PETA is doing ONE MORE CHANCE the musical next year with the music of Ben&Ben!”
Rico Yan and Claudine Barretto — “Got To Believe In Magic”
There have been many renditions of the Charles Fox and Stephen Geyer-written “Got to Believe In Magic,” but Claudine Barretto and the late Rico Yan’s version just tugs at the heartstrings. Barretto and Yan were first paired together in the 1996 film, Radio Romance. The two went on to star in the hit series Mula Sa Puso, which premiered in 1997.
Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan — “Sigurado”
Gen Z love team Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan first premiered together in the TV series He’s Into Her. Dubbed as “Donbelle,” the two have gone on to star in their first feature film together Love Is Color Blind in 2021. The duet version of “Sigurado” (Sure) is a cute reminder of how the couple came together.
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla — “Pinas Smile”
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla are perhaps one of the most prominent Filipino love teams in the 21st century, with hit movies like The Hows Of Us, She’s Dating The Gangster, Crazy Beautiful You, and more. While the two have rarely been paired now on the screen, “Pinas Smile” brings back memories of when Kathniel took over the country.
Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards — “Imagine You And Me”
Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards made waves in 2015 when they were paired on the ‘Juan For All, All For Juan’ segment of the variety show, Eat Bulaga! The 2016 film Imagine You And Me was the duo’s first solo film appearance together, where Version 2 of the song of the same title was featured on the official soundtrack. While the Aldub ship has sailed, no one can deny the impact they made on the industry.