After nearly a decade, Piolo Pascual makes his long-awaited return to Star Cinema with ‘Meet, Greet & Bye’, a heartfelt family drama set to hit cinemas worldwide on November 12.
During the film’s grand media conference held at the Dolphy Theater, the cast — Piolo Pascual, Maricel Soriano, Belle Mariano, and JK Labajo — turned emotional after seeing the official trailer for the first time.
“Naiiyak ako. Maganda kasi ‘yung movie namin,” said Maricel, who plays the family matriarch, Baby, a mother battling cancer. “Talagang ipinagmamalaki namin ‘yung pelikulang ginawa namin para sa inyo na handog ng Star Cinema at ABS-CBN. Sana po panoorin n’yo, hinding-hindi kayo magsisisi.”
For Piolo, ‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ is a true homecoming. His last project with Star Cinema was the 2017 romantic comedy ‘Last Night’ with Toni Gonzaga.
“I’m just really excited to be back home. Eight years ago — ‘Last Night.’ Ngayon, ‘new night,’” he said with a laugh. “It’s nice to be back—your first love, your family, and of course, ABS-CBN and Star Cinema. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na uuwi ka sa pamilya na nagpalaki sa ’yo, na nagbigay ng break.”
He added that making the film was both rewarding and challenging, especially because it struck close to home.
“Pasensya na napaka-emotional namin sa pelikula and it was really hard to do because it hits close to home, especially for Filipino families. No matter who we lose, as long as it’s part of the family, ang sakit sa puso. Pero sabi ni Direk Cathy, ‘audience ang iiyak, hindi kayo.’ Bawal kami umiyak — and that was hard.”
The cast described their bond on set as real and deep, making the emotional scenes even more powerful. “We really made sure na ’yung bonding namin, totoo. So more than being the kuya, I enjoyed being the son of Inay (Maricel),” said Piolo.
Belle Mariano also shared how the story touched her heart: “Sobrang na-attach kami sa proyektong ito. Sana ‘yung mensahe nito ay umabot sa mga manonood — to give so much importance to the people you love in your life.”
JK Labajo, meanwhile, admitted that the film mirrored some of his own personal experiences. “With what I personally went through in life, it also hit too close to home. Basta ’yon na ’yon — maganda ’yung pelikula na ito,” he said.
The film’s writers Patrick Valencia and Jumbo Albano shared that ‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ was inspired by their “deepest fear” — losing one’s parents.
“This story is our love letter to our parents — the same way it became Direk Cathy’s love letter to her children,” Albano said.
‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ follows the Facundo family, led by Baby (Maricel Soriano), a mother diagnosed with cancer who decides to forego chemotherapy, believing she has little time left. Her decision forces her children — portrayed by Piolo Pascual, Belle Mariano, Joshua Garcia, and JK Labajo — to confront love, loss, and the meaning of family.
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana, the film marks a major reunion of Star Cinema’s homegrown talents and promises to be one of the studio’s most emotionally resonant offerings this year.
‘Meet, Greet & Bye’ opens in cinemas worldwide on November 12, 2025.
