Teleseryes, the cornerstone of Filipino pop culture. These melodramatic TV dramas are one of the most beloved and cherished aspects of our cultural identity. Yet, it takes more than a high budget and good actors to produce a successful teleserye. Like with every good TV show or movie, a loveable teleserye needs not just a good couple, but a sensational one. A couple that transcends the characters they play, a couple that tugs at the heartstrings of every hopeless romantic entranced in front of their television screens. These “power-couples” have become integral parts of teleseryes and movies alike, adopting the name “love teams”. 

 

A “love team”, at its core, is about the connection between two artists. All love teams are named after the actor and actress involved, with a portmanteau of their first names. It is not just a duo, however, but a team; because aside from the two promising celebrities who have been coupled together, there is an entire marketing team carefully planning their every move. The popularity of love teams has surged in recent years, with it reaching an all-time high during the early 2000s teleserye era. However, “love teams” existed far earlier, from the 1920s and the days of silent film to its modern interpretation. There are three commonly acknowledged era-defining “love teams”, Gregorio Fernandez and Mary Walter (who are accredited as the pioneers), Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, and the one most popular with today's youth, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. These “love teams” are expected to be the perfect couple (both onscreen and offscreen), with every aspect of their careers being intricately intertwined and laid out, all to create the most marketable and loveable duo. In terms of a marketing strategy, love teams are usually very successful for both parties involved. If the stars align and they are given a good movie or show where their chemistry is able to shine, they will be boosted into stardom and into our nation’s limelight. Oftentimes, love teams star in multiple movies together, host shows, or even release merchandise for their fans to proudly show off their support. 

 

Although shipping culture is not reserved  for Pinoys, there is no doubt that the  passionate devotion to these movie-made couples can only be shown by Filipinos. Love teams capitalize on the want for love; not just any normal love, but a perfect love. The Filipino word kilig summarizes this want perfectly. It is hard to exactly define the meaning of kilig, because it is not just a word but a feeling. It is the feeling of butterflies in your stomach, the reddening of your face, or the sweating of your palms. To be kilig is to be enamored with the idea of love, and that is why love teams are so successful. The anticipation of seeing what will happen in the next episode, the panic when drama arises between your two lovebirds, and the relief when it is resolved. Whether it be in a TV show or  real life, this addictive high turns casual viewers into hooked supporters. Its compulsive quality is also deeply rooted in FOMO, or the fear of missing out. Especially with the growing importance of social media in all aspects of the entertainment scene, you must be actively aware of the latest drama and news to be socially updated. Take, for example, the shocking breakup of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (better known as KathNiel) on November 30, 2023. This absolutely shattered the internet, with the drama surrounding it all becoming sensationalized and widespread. For many fans and interested onlookers, this proved that “true love didn’t exist”. However, if you were to take a closer look into their relationship, their split would not be surprising at all. Behind the veneer of their perfect relationship were many cracks and crevices. This reveals the deeply rooted issues etched into the very essence of “love teams”, especially in Filipino pop culture. 

 

While fan involvement may be the driving force of a successful love team, it is also its biggest downside. As producers present the “ship” as real and perfect, supporters form unhealthy parasocial relationships. They become deluded, thinking that they are directly responsible for the happenings within the relationship. This can quickly become harmful and also dangerous for the mental health of the couple involved. Fans, being so emotionally involved, will place the responsibility for  their happiness on the love team. There is a real fear that if a love team breaks up, their dedicated fans will  get hysterical. It is even worse if it is revealed that the “couple” are just friends, or coworkers. An actress and actors' own  want to find true love is forcefully ignored for a temporary illusion. This is also rooted in the birth of love teams in the first place. Looking past the glitter and glamour, love teams, like with everything in showbiz, is simply a way to increase profits. Even if the couple  begins to fall in love, they are doomed for failure. You can only mix love and work so much until they become indistinguishable. At some point, it will stop being love and start being work. The truth of the situation will be harder and harder to ignore, the truth that it is a contractual obligation to be together for as long as you want to have a career. The careers of both parties are so intertwined that it is nearly impossible to have a career for yourself without parting ways. Couples may feel pressured to stay together, for the sake of their fans and their careers. So while it may bring them success and fame, their  freedom (including artistic freedom) is placed on hold until they eventually end the facade. This is not to say that love teams cannot work, but that they usually do not. 

 

Despite the dark workings behind love teams, they remain a prevalent and important part of our culture. They are a symbol of perfect love everlasting and evoke simpler times, when the discord aboard your “ship” was worthy of great concern. are an iconic aspect of pop culture that influences our daily lives. Although love teams can be disingenuous and quick cash grabs to be capitalized upon, they can also be genuine connections that bring people together. And in the end, isn’t that what love is truly about?