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Filipino superstars Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino talk love

“I don’t do Tinder,” declared Kim Chiu with a laugh during our interview. Paulo agrees

Entertainment Editor

6 MIN READ

A still from this year's Eid release from Philippines My Love Will Make You Disappear starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino (left)

IMDB

Dubai: They may be two of the biggest stars in the Philippines, but when it comes to matters of the heart, Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino are die-hard romantics at heart—and unapologetically so.

Promoting their whimsical Eid-released romantic comedy My Love Will Make You Disappear, the duo came across as charmingly old-school in their views on love, superstition, and dating.

“I don’t do Tinder,” declared Kim Chiu with a laugh during our interview. Paulo agreed: “We do have Tinder and Bumble and all these apps in the Philippines, but I think the big majority of Filipinos don’t really use them. We like our tradition.”

Their film, which opened to strong box office numbers and packed screenings in the UAE, taps into something both ancient and relatable—a curse in love, disappearing partners, and the universal ache to find ‘the one.’

Here’s what the on-screen pair had to say about their new movie, Filipino superstitions, and finding fairy-tale endings in modern times.

Tell us more about you Eid release My Love Will Make You Disappear?

Kim Chiu: First of all, we want to say thank you for having us here. And we want to say hi to everyone who's watching this right now, and to all the Filipinos—magandang araw sa inyong lahat! We're very excited that this movie is being shown in the UAE, especially since there are a lot of Filipinos there. We're excited to bring the kilig and the Filipino culture here. Hopefully, non-Filipinos will also watch this film.

Paulo Avelino: To all my fellow Filipinos in UAE, Dubai, and everywhere near—first of all, thank you so much. We heard there are a lot of block screenings, people have pre-purchased tickets for our movie, and this is, I would say, a gift to our fellow Filipinos abroad. Rarely does a Filipino film get released in several territories around the world, and we're very blessed. Like Kim said, this movie is not just about me or Kim or a love story—it's also about Filipino culture and how we are as Filipinos.

The plot hinges on a love curse. Is that really a belief in the Philippines?

Paulo Avelino: Yes, it is a thing. Filipinos are very superstitious—maybe in some ways close to Indian superstitions. Our superstitions come from Filipino folklore and also from Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese cultures. So it's a mix. Everything you do, there’s a superstition for it.

Kim Chiu: My character, Saari, believes she’s been cursed—that all the men she loves or kisses will disappear. Just like in real life, we wonder if we’re really cursed because all the men we love are gone. Most Filipinos have a lot of beliefs, and we don’t really know if we’re cursed.

This sounds very relevant in the age of dating apps. Is modern love more difficult?

Kim Chiu: I don’t do Tinder (laughs). But in this day and age, falling in love with the right person is hard. Giving your trust to that person is also hard. But when it comes to love, love is universal. Love has to be felt. Pain has to be felt too. But being ghosted has to be cursed! Just joking!

Paulo Avelino: I think we do have Tinder and Bumble in the Philippines, but the big majority of Filipinos don’t really use these apps. We’re very—

Kim Chiu: Conservative.

Paulo Avelino: I would say conservative, yes, but we also like our traditions. We call it ligaw, where a guy courts a woman. But ghosting happens too. I think it's very universal. I’m sure everyone, in one way or another, has been ghosted.

Do you think this film offers a feel-good escape, especially after a tough few years globally?

Paulo Avelino: Yes. It kind of does, but also tackles a lot of issues along the way. But you're right—everyone wants a fairy tale ending. With everything happening in the world, sometimes we just want to go to the cinema and forget everything. That’s the magic of a movie house—you laugh with strangers, you cry with strangers, and you share something real in that moment.

Kim Chiu: With everything going on in the world or in our personal lives, it’s good to go into the cinema and forget your problems for two hours. It’s a community experience. Even if you don’t know the person behind you, when they laugh, you laugh. When they cry, you cry. It’s a great experience to share with friends, family—or just by yourself.

Romantic comedies are tricky to get right. Do you actually enjoy the genre?

Kim Chiu: I love romantic comedies. I love romance mixed with comedy because I just want to feel happy and be loved. When you're watching a rom-com, you feel good right away. It reminds you how it feels to love again or to feel love. Love is a universal language—no words needed, just emotions.

Paulo Avelino: I’m not so much into romantic comedies. But I do watch one every now and then. I grew up watching them because of my family. If someone’s watching, everyone watches. But if I had to choose between Interstellar and a rom-com, I’d pick Interstellar.

This is your first film together on the big screen. What are you hoping for—box office glory or critical acclaim?

Paulo Avelino: Personally, I would want this to be a box office hit. Who knows—we could have both. But in a perfect world, it would be nice to have both. I'd prefer it to be a hit first, so we can continue producing movies like this and share our Filipino culture around the world.

Kim Chiu: I want both—the best of both worlds! It’s very rare for a Filipino movie to be shown worldwide. As of now, we have 500 cinemas showing the film. We’re very blessed and thankful, and we’re praying for the success of this movie.

Many films push the idea of finding ‘the one.’ Do you believe in that, or should we move away from that narrative?

Kim Chiu: Our movie tells people not to be afraid to fall in love—not to be afraid to look for love. Love is always there. If it finds you, it will choose you. That person could be your “the one” or your soulmate.

Paulo Avelino: I would never like to put a period on it. It’s always nice to think there’s someone perfect out there for you. Some people find it, some don’t. Personally, I just want to find someone to grow old with—and I’m fine with that.

Your chemistry is already a hit with fans. How did you build that for this film?

Kim Chiu: We’ve worked on several projects together, and each had a different tone. This one is more light, more romance, and more about the reality of love. Thanks to our directors and writers for giving us space to show our talents.

Paulo Avelino: I would say it’s how Kim looks at me. You don’t know if it’s love or just for cinema—but how she looks at me, I think that’s what the audience sees. I’m kidding!

Any final message for your fans in the UAE?

Paulo Avelino: Hello to all our kababayans in the UAE and Dubai. Thank you for the pre-purchased tickets and all the screenings. Maraming maraming salamat po. I hope you give our movie a chance. It’s not just a rom-com—it’s a piece of home. It talks about our food, our culture, our community. I’m sure, when you watch it, it’ll take away your homesickness even just a little.

Kim Chiu: To everyone watching—thank you so much! Please watch My Love Will Make You Disappear, showing now in UAE cinemas. Let’s spread love, kilig, and good vibes inside the cinemas.

Also Read: Eid festive releases in UAE: Top six Hollywood, Bollywood, and Malayalam film like L2: Empuraan and Sikandar