Layout by: Erelah Janika Geniza
Published by: Rich Antonette Pescasiosa
Date Published: November 13, 2025
Time Published: 10:16 AM
There’s no better way to describe how Filipinos feel about love teams other than with the word kilig. Without a direct English translation, kilig is a Filipino term that pertains to the feeling of exhilaration brought by a romantic moment, comparable to getting butterflies in the stomach—perfectly encapsulating the effect that love teams had, or possibly still have, among their fans.
Love teams, which take artists’ romance a little beyond the scripts and shoots, have notably changed the entertainment industry, receiving widespread recognition across the country. A simple way to explain their nature is through the concept of having a work wife or a work husband. Except, love teams quite literally take on the couple portrayal, and the plot twist is that, at times, they don’t really stay platonic. When this happens, fans go crazy, so much so that they start planning the wedding in their imagination.
Be it in afternoon teleseryes, movies, or interviews, these actresses and actors paired together to form a love team are rarely seen without the presence of the other. Even though it’s almost as if they’re physically inseparable, people can’t seem to get enough of them, despite being constantly matched for romantic roles. The fondness that grew for this type of showbiz marketing strategy also paved the way for artists’ careers, as seen in actors and actresses whose success and lasting fame stem from being part of a love team.
However, much to people’s dismay, some things don’t last forever, and love teams are no exception. Unlike the happily ever afters that their films show, a number of these pairings experience heartbreaking endings. Nonetheless, nostalgia never forgets. As old trends resurface and throwbacks come into play, the OG love teams, as they call it, are also brought up—suggesting that some ships may have been wrecked, but it doesn’t mean they’ve completely sunken.
KATHNIEL
Twelve years. It took Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, known as KathNiel, more than a decade of partnership before separating. Did those years go down the drain? Not exactly. Because, throughout their time working together, the two reached remarkable milestones in the film industry.
KathNiel grew together—in age and in career. Their tandem began at the ages of 16 and 17, allowing viewers to witness their progress, from young teens to mature and experienced artists. Aside from getting older each year, the love team’s growth is likewise reflected in their acting profiles and filmography.
Their breakthrough took place in 2014, with the movie titled “She’s Dating the Gangster,” whose clips still linger on the internet even after more than ten years. Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, this adaptation of Bianca Bernardino’s buzzworthy Wattpad novel served as KathNiel’s stepping stone to becoming the Box Office King and Queen.
KathNiel did take it up a notch, carrying romance everywhere and not just on the screen, after confirming that they were dating. It was the best news for their fans, as their ship became a reality. Yet, despite the journey and success they shared, Kathryn and Daniel’s pairing officially came to an end in November of 2023.
While their love team may have run its course, the memories still stay. Much like other pairings that are still talked about today, specifically for their shared passion for music.
JADINE
If a song were enough to describe this love team, Jeffrey Osborne’s “On the Wings of Love” would do the job. With the composition sharing the same name as one of their most-loved series, JaDine’s journey resonates with its lyrics and melody.
Music became the link that tied this pairing together. JaDine, a combination of James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s names, is another talked-about celebrity love team, which began with a song—James’ very own, “Alam Niya Ba”. Not long after radiating chemistry in a music video, the two landed acting projects, further cementing their love team’s standing in showbiz.
What would seem like an overly clichΓ© storyline now became Jadine’s turning chapter in 2014. Titled “Ang Diary ng Panget,” the love team starred in a romantic-comedy adaptation of a Wattpad story. Following this film’s achievement and audience acclaim, JaDine continued to make waves in the industry through more films and series, including the teleserye “On the Wings of Love,” sending fans into a kilig frenzy.
Still, JaDine left viewers in an even bigger craze in 2016, after making their relationship known to the public. The hard launch took place at their concert and was later sealed through interviews. Following this, the love team starred in more projects, this time as an official couple.
Even so, with four years gone by, their partnership reached its finale. Their joint statement implied that their break-up was for personal growth, and quite a few couldn’t take it well. As they live their separate lives in the present, fans of their love team era can’t help but reminisce about the good days.
One after another, more love teams were also formed, with some similar to JaDine, who had humble beginnings before stealing the show.
LIZQUEN
From second leads to main characters, LizQuen slowly but surely climbed up the limelight as one of the iconic love teams in the entertainment industry. LizQuen, a dream team of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, captured the hearts of the audience through their overflowing romance on and off the screen.
Their defining project, which ultimately shot their love team to fame, is the teleserye “Forevermore,” released in 2014. Following this hit series of strawberries and love, LizQuen became the focus of the spotlight with Box Office and Blockbuster films, including “Just The Way You Are” and “My Exs and Whys,” earning up to P400 million just from one movie.
It was a few years after when they dropped the big reveal on their relationship in 2019. The confirmation surfaced in a talk show, Gandang Gabi Vice, leaving fans on cloud nine. While their relationship seemed strong while it lasted, it eventually signed off as Liza and Enrique’s careers also drifted apart from each other. It was just this year when Liza disclosed that they had separated three years ago.
While fans were heartbroken with their breakup, LizQuen continues to chart their own courses toward personal growth and opportunities. Now, Liza is making a name for herself in Hollywood, and Enrique continues to thrive in local showbiz—leaving no doubt that both of them can do well, even outside of a love team.
These pairings bring to light Filipinos’ liking for romance and shipping culture. Although their narratives started with nothing more than a work agenda, time and connection have proven wonders in the flourishing of love between them.
Love teams may have the primary goal of attracting viewers’ support; however, through twists and turns, they build tales that stir emotions outside the takes and recordings.
Ultimately, love teams, whether it’s KathNiel, JaDine, or LizQuen, give a glimpse of what love is like as artists in showbiz. They echo the reality that even admired relationships like what they had may also not go according to plan. This signifies that romantic ties are naturally flawed—some may not be perfect, but at least they’re real.
Although their love grew before countless watching eyes, their closing chapter tells us that life’s course spares no story. And that might just be the reason why these pairings linger even after years—because they invite us to believe, even for a while, that romance can be as magical as the movies, and just as human when life begins to write a different script.
REFERENCES:
[1] Rappler. (2016, April 14). ‘Kilig’ is now a part of the Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/129525-kilig-meaning-oxford-english-dictionary/
[2] PeΓ± aCruz, R. (2023, December 6). KathNiel: Box-Office Love Team Timeline. PEP.ph.https://www.pep.ph/news/local/177565/kathniel-timeline-a1280-20231206-lfrm5
[3] Aseoche, T. (2020, January 26). JaDine: A timeline of their love story. When In Manila. https://www.wheninmanila.com/james-reid-nadine-lustre-relationship-timeline/
[4] Sabio, N. (2025, August 20). A TIMELINE: The beginning and end of the ‘LizQuen’ love team. ABS-CBN. https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/8/20/a-timeline-the-beginning-and-end-of-the-lizquen-love-team-1138
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