For actors Bela Padilla and Carlo Aquino, love stories may be familiar territory—but their latest film explores what happens when memory itself begins to fade.
The two stars visited Cebu City to promote their reunion movie “A Special Memory,” where they also voiced support for efforts to make cinema more accessible by lowering ticket prices so more people can watch local films.
Padilla and Aquino met members of the Cebu media ahead of their mall appearance at Robinsons Galleria Cebu last Feb. 22, where they shared insights about working together again for the romance-drama.
Padilla stressed the importance of audience support for Filipino movies, noting that the local film industry could struggle if homegrown productions fail to attract viewers.
The film, produced by Viva Films and directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng, was written by National Artist Ricky Lee and is a Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese series “Pure Soul.”
In the movie, Padilla plays Sandra, a fashion designer whose impulsive nature hides the pain of a past relationship.
As she tries to rebuild her life, she meets Dindo, portrayed by Aquino, a construction foreman working in her family’s company.
The two eventually fall in love and move in together, but their relationship takes a tragic turn when Sandra is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Fearing she might become a burden, Sandra decides to leave and admit herself to a nursing home to spare Dindo the pain of watching her memories fade.
Despite the separation, Dindo continues to honor her wishes and remains devoted from a distance.
He visits Sandra in the nursing home and repeatedly reintroduces himself, slowly rebuilding their connection each time they meet.
“A Special Memory” also marks another on-screen reunion for Padilla and Aquino following their previous collaboration in the 2018 film Meet Me in St. Gallen.
The film also features Lotlot de Leon, Joel Torre, Yayo Aguila, Jaime Fabregas, Phoebe Walker, and Paolo Gumabao.
“A Special Memory” opens in cinemas nationwide on March 11, 2026, with a special ticket price of P275 and an additional 45 percent discount available at participating Robinsons Cinemas branches.
