Sue Ramirez, Khalil Ramos, And More On Revisiting The World Of ’90s OPM In Netflix’s ‘One Hit Wonder’

In the Philippines, love and music have always been inseparable from our national identity, serving as two cultural pillars that have shaped numerous stories, memories, and even identities over time.

Whether it’s the nationwide karaoke nights that have brought families together or the abundance of ballads that soundtrack many of our first heartbreaks, music has long been a language of love for Filipinos. And with that, it is within this deep-seated connection that Marla Ancheta’s One Hit Wonder, Netflix’s latest Filipino original film, finds its heartbeat. As more than just your usual romantic comedy, it becomes a love letter to both the music and the romances that defined a generation.

Set within the vibrant period of the 1990s (a period often hailed as the golden age of OPM), the film tells the story of Lorina (Sue Ramirez) and Entoy (Khalil Ramos), two dreamers both chasing a second shot at stardom and at love. By revisiting an era that defined the enduring legacy of Filipino music, the film not only celebrates how music and love continue to be timeless forces in Filipino culture, but also serves its purpose in underscoring the continuing impact of OPM. Because even as it proves that while some stars may fade, the melodies and the stories they carry will always find their way back into the spotlight.

In this exclusive interview with Billboard Philippines, the film’s director, Marla Ancheta, and its stars, Sue Ramirez, Khalil Ramos, Vivoree Esclito, and Gladys Reyes, open up about what it felt like revisiting the golden age of OPM, how they brought their characters to life in such an authentic manner, and what message they hope the film conveys to its viewers.

Billboard Philippines: So, Direk Marla, what inspired you to set the world of One Hit Wonder in the ‘90s OPM scene?

Marla Ancheta: Sa music talaga eh. Particularly ‘yung “Ako’y Sayo, Ika’y Akin.” Kasi 1994 din siya na-release, so kaya dun din ‘yung era ng [movie]. So doon din umiikot ‘yung story. Yun talaga. 

(It’s really because of the music. Particularly the song “Ako’y Sayo, Ika’y Akin.” Because it was released in 1994, so that’s why that was the era we chose for the movie. And that’s really where the story revolved around.)

Are there any special memories that you have with that song or era?

Marla Ancheta: Marami. *laughs* Hindi lang ‘yung song [na yun], pati din ‘yung iba pang songs sa film, pati run ‘yung elements na ginamit doon sa story.

(There’s just too many. Not just with that song, but also with several other songs in the film. Even with all the elements we’ve used for the story.)

For the rest of the cast, since the movie is set in the music scene of the 1990s, would you say that you guys are fans of OPM and the music that was present during that period in time? And are there any favorite songs or artists that you guys have from that era?

Sue Ramirez: Sa movie palang namin, you already have the greatest hits of ’90s OPM. Nandun talaga lahat, eh. You have the Eraserheads, Rivermaya, and all these booming bands from that time who served as great musical influences na tumawid din sa generation namin.

(In our movie, you already have the greatest hits of ’90s OPM. It really has all of it. You have the Eraserheads, Rivermaya, and all these booming bands from that time who served as great musical influences that carried on with our generation.)

Khalil Ramos: I think it’s cause back then, mas mahirap sumikat. So I think ‘yung naging result nun, naging timeless talaga ‘yung mga kanta ng mga artists noon.

(I think it’s cause back then, it was harder to become famous. So I think the result was that all the songs of the artists during that time became timeless.)

Based on what we’ve seen from the film, you really do feel that influence based on how you were able to convey that –– especially with your performances. With how you guys brought these characters to life, what would you say prepared you for your routines and the performance aspects of your roles?

Sue Ramirez: Well, ako, musically inclined talaga ako. I’ve been singing since I was little, and I actually auditioned not to be an artista, but to be a singer! *laughs* So [taking on this role] was a really great chance to showcase my talent, na hindi masyadong alam ng mga tao, unbeknownst to other people that I can sing. Some people kasi, nagugulat pa rin sila pag nalaman nila na kumakanta pala ako. Na parang, “Oh kumukanta pala yan?” So ako, parang, “Opo, marunong naman.” 

(Well, I’ve always been musically inclined. I’ve been singing since I was little, and I actually auditioned not to be an actor, but to be a singer! So taking on this role was a really great chance to showcase my talents that not a lot of people knew, unbeknownst to other people, that I can sing. Some people still get shocked when they find out I can sing, and their reactions are always like, “Oh, she sings?” So I’m like, “Yes, I know how.”)

Vivoree Esclito: Magaling pa! (And she’s really good at it!)

Sue Ramirez: Hindi, marunong lang. Pang-solo na. *laughs* (No, I just know how to. I could have a solo career by now.)

And what about for you, Khalil?

Khalil Ramos: I think I really just went on a trip down memory lane. My dad, he loves the era of the ‘90s, so he influenced my music in the same way. 

I grew up listening to a lot of grunge and alternative rock bands. I remember creating a playlist for whenever I would drive to the set [with that music], Pinapatugtog ko lang ‘yung playlist para pumasok lang ako sa era ng 90s. Ako kasi, I love everything analog. I still collect vinyl, and I still collect film cameras. So very close to my heart ‘yung character ni Entoy.

(I grew up listening to a lot of grunge and alternative rock bands. I remember creating a playlist for whenever i would drive to the set with that music. I really listened to that playlist just so I could get in the headspace that I was really living in the ’90s era. Personally, I love everything analog. I still collect vinyl, and I still collect film cameras. So the character of Entoy was very close to my heart.)

In your approach to playing Lorina and Entoy, what made you guys connect with your characters to be able to perform those roles in such a genuine and thought-provoking manner?

Sue Ramirez: Of course, your relationship with the script is very important. It’s said to read the script more than once, just to really get on board with it. You really have to listen and trust your director — sobrang importante nun (it’s really important). And more than anything, you have to be connected to each other.

Parang (It’s like) we really opened up ourselves, and we were willing to do the work. ‘Yung talagang, binigay namin ‘yung todo, and feeling namin na kami sina Lorina at si Entoy. (Like we really gave our best, and we really felt that we were the characters of Lorina and Entoy.)

Khalil Ramos: Like what Sue said, when you do a deep dive into your characters, you really build it [to be] as authentic as possible. 

Ako (For me) personally, towards Entoy, I’m very similar to him in a sense na (that) there was a time when maiisip mo na (you think) you’re really blinded to what’s really on the other side of things — na you want something so bad that you tend to disregard everything else in your life, but when you get there, ‘tsaka mo mare-realize (that’s when you realize) all the things you forgot about. So that’s what Entoy taught me.

So do you think the story of Lorina and Entoy reflects something bigger about the Filipino dream and the larger music industry today?

Vivoree Esclito: Yes, I really do believe so. Because I feel like tayong mga Filipino kasi, we have high dreams — matataas tayo mangarap. ‘Yung usual [situation] kasi, kailangan natin mag-abroad para mapaangat at mapasarap ‘yung buhay natin dito sa Pilipinas.  

(Yes, I really do believe so. Because I feel that we Filipinos, we have high dreams — we aim high. The usual situations that you see here often show that we have to go abroad just to uplift and make our lives better here in the Philippines.)

Aside from that, sa music talaga, tayong mga Pinoy (in terms of music, we Filipinos), we’re very well known for that internationally. Because marami tayong (we have a lot of) singers that are globally known, and I think that it (the film) also champions a lot of Filipino singers and our music — especially from the ’90s — which are our standards even until now. 

Especially to me, super love ko din ‘yung music. Like if I wasn’t an actress, I’d be a performer talaga, and super standard ko ‘yung music from the ’90s. Even if I was born in the 2000s, super laki talaga ‘yung influence ng music from the ’90s sa music scene ngayon.

(Especially to me, I really love music as a whole. Like if I weren’t an actress, I’d really be a performer, and my standard is really that of the music from the ’90s. Even if I was born in the 2000s, I could see that the influence of the music from the ’90s really extends to the music scene today.)

Gladys Reyes: Definitely. Makaka-relate sila, ‘yung audience, sa mga (I think that the audience can really relate to the) characters ni (of) Lorina and Entoy, and of course their dreams. And also [the lesson] to never give up sa dreams mo (on your dreans), even if nagkaroon ka ng (you’ve made) mistakes in the past, but that doesn’t define you as a person. Kasi pwede kang bumawi (You can always bounce back from that).

Kasi kutalad sa nangyari kay Lorina dito, not to spoil the story, nagkaroon siya ng stage fright. Pero di ba, ngayon, ang daming aspiring singers. Siguro lagi na lang natin isipin, kailangan nila magkaroon ng sarili nilang identity, and ang lawak naman din ng mundo ng music. Sabi nga, itong sa One Hit Wonder, malay mo kahit one hit wonder na magkaroon ka di ba, biglang sabihin noon na tumatak ka sa industriya ng musika. And malaking bagay na ‘yun. 

(Not to spoil the story, but just like with what happened to Lorina in the film, she experienced stage fright. But these days, there are so many aspiring singers. They should just develop their own identities, especially with how vast the world of music is. As they said here in One Hit Wonder, even if you’re just a one hit wonder, it means that you’ve made an impact on the music industry. And that’s already a big thing in itself.)

Hindi rin natin masasabi na hindi nakikilala ‘yung music nila hanggang nayon. Pero everything din is timing; hindi namin alam kung kailan mangyayari ‘yun. So dapat keep on striving, and ikaw talaga ‘yung unang makakapaniwala sa sarili mo. I think ‘yun ‘yung message doon sa movie.

(They can’t say that you can’t recognize the music from them until now. But everything is also dependent on timing; we don’t know what could happen for us at any particular time. So they should just keep on striving, because the first person to believe in you is yourself. I think that’s what the real message of the movie is.)

I believe that’s what makes this story timeless, with such a resonant message to this day for people of all generations. With what One Hit Wonder aims to tell, what do you hope it tells for the Lorinas and Entoys who are out here living out here in the present?

Khalil Ramos: Ako (For me), I’d say if your idols from the ’90s were able to do it, then you have no excuse now. You have all the tools, you could produce at home, and you have to believe in yourself with what you can do as an artist — because you could really make it now.

Sue Ramirez: For me, it’s a privilege to be living in this generation. In the time today, where everything is spoon-fed and right at your fingertips. Ikaw ‘yung gagawa ng desisyon kung gusto mo talaga — [and] then you can make it happen for yourself.

(For me, it’s a privilege to be living in this generation. In the time today, where everything is spoon-fed and right at your fingertips, you’ll be the one to make decisions for yourself if you really want to do it. And then you can make it happen for yourself.)

Unlike before na you had to send mixtapes to radio stations, just for a DJ to decide kung ipla-play nila ‘yung music mo (if they were going to play your music); ngayon (nowadays) you could just upload. Soundcloud is available, YouTube is there, and ang dami nang (there are so many) platforms. So I hope this movie will really make people realize how lucky they are that they were born in a generation where everything is right in your fingertips.

Watch the official trailer of Netflix’s One Hit Wonder below:

This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.