Produced and released by Star Cinema, it was theatrically premiered on February 14, 1996, as the film studio's Valentine's Day offering. The film predated the 2003 British-American romantic comedy film Love Actually and Japanese romance anime Tsuredure Children. It also marked the first film where Claudine Barretto and Rico Yan paired up together.
As part of the film's 25th anniversary, the film was digitally restored and remastered in 4K resolution by ABS-CBN Film Restoration and Central Digital Lab, and it was digitally released on January 14, 2021, via KTX.ph.[2]
Synopsis
Veronica is a young woman who works as a librarian at a university during the daytime and spends her time writing. Unknown to many, she led a secret life as a radio DJ at night where she hosted a radio program where she read love letters sent by her listeners, offered them advice, and played the requested songs. One day, during the program, she read a letter from her secret admirer who wanted to see her in person. Even though she addresses the love problems of her audience, Veronica would have to address her own love problem.
Cast
Gelli de Belen as Veronica/DJ Roni Night, a young woman who lived a double life as a librarian during the day and a radio DJ during the night
Paolo Abrera as Jed Montinola, a man who recently moved into the same compound as Veronica.
Malou Crisologo as Meldy Faustino, the first of Veronica's two workmates at the university
Lito Villareal as Boni Aguas, Meldy's boyfriend who is a professor from the university's physics department
Ogie Diaz as Loy, the last of Veronica's two workmates at the university
Ernie Zarate as Fernando Balmaceda, Gary's father
Production
The original story of the film was developed by Mia Concio-Imperial for Star Cinema and is used to boost the popularity of ABS-CBN's FM radio station, DWRR-FM 101.9, which was then branded as Radio Romance. Writer-director Jose Javier Reyes joined the project after he was told by the film studio heads, Malou N. Santos and Olivia M. Lamasan, that they needed him to expand the storyline and then, he ended up as the director of the project.[3]
The original story treatment by Concio-Imperial revolves around the life of a young woman named Veronica, who is a librarian during the daytime, and by nighttime, she becomes a radio DJ under the name "Roni Night". When Reyes joined the project, he expanded the story which not only revolved around her and the secret admirer but also a set of characters who are tuning into her radio show for love advice. As a result of his numerous additions to the story, the project became an "ensemble film", which Reyes had already done fourteen years prior when he wrote the screenplay of Peque Gallaga's violent war drama classic Oro, Plata, Mata.[3]
Because the studio gave the production team a deadline, the dialogues spoken by the characters throughout the film are recorded in live sound rather than being dubbed in post-production, citing that they have no time to do the latter.[3]
Music
According to writer-director Jose Javier Reyes, Star Cinema approved his idea to work with the vocal group The Company to produce a soundtrack for the film.[3] Besides the produced soundtrack and musical score provided by Jessie Lasaten, the film also used the station's jingle of the same name as the film, composed and performed by singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan.
Reception
Lists
In 2012, Spot.ph ranked it number 9 in its list titled "Top 10 Pinoy Romcoms".[4]
