It felt more like a wedding reception than a press conference at the grand mediacon of ‘Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna’ on Wednesday, August 27, as breakout loveteam Andres Muhlach and Ashtine Olviga—fondly called AshDres—were presented as lead stars in their first big-screen project together.
From the floral-filled venue to the towering chandeliers, plus Ashtine in a white gown and Andres in a suit, the scene resembled a live wedding sequence. Fans even tapped their glasses with spoons and forks to request a “kiss” from the “bride” and “groom.”
The kilig intensified when the pair, holding hands, watched the official scene drop from the movie for the very first time. Asked if there’s a possibility they might fall in love in real life—like past loveteams JaDine (James Reid and Nadine Lustre)—Andres teased, “Like you said, kung possible, anything is possible. Pero, ah, ’di ko na masabi ano na!”
Ashtine, smiling, echoed, “Ah, same answer po… Opo. ’Di po natin masasabi, eh, pero tingnan po natin.”
Both rated their closeness at “11 out of 10.” Andres explained, “Pero totoo, kami ni Ash, we’re very close na and even on the set, on working days, I would like to say or I would like to believe na we enjoy each other’s company naman. It’s always a fun time.” Ashtine added, “Opo, mas naging comfortable po kami sa isa’t isa ngayon.”
Director Jason Paul Laxamana praised the pair’s chemistry, saying their popularity has reached even remote areas. “To think na wala pa silang one year,” he said, noting that fans abroad have also been requesting international screenings in countries like Pakistan and India. He also shared how the two are inseparable on set: “Very pure ’yung chemistry nila kasi parang they’re not hiding it… Team talaga sila.”
Adding to the excitement, Laxamana revealed that even after pack-up, Andres would often wait for Ashtine to finish her shoot. “Kung ganu’n na ka-kumportable off cam, how hard can it be to bring that on screen, ’di ba?” he remarked.
The AshDres version of the ‘Minamahal’ theme song drops on Spotify on August 29, followed by the full soundtrack on September 5. The film itself, produced by Viva Films and Ninuno Media, opens in Philippine cinemas nationwide on September 24, with scheduled international screenings in the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East.
