Most Memorable Philippine Movie Lines

There are movies so successful in infiltrating the public's consciousness that decades after their release, people can still reenact specific scenes with the lines intact. Case on point: the pivotal scene in Himala, which has already been recreated and parodied a million times (and still counting). These memorable sequences have built careers, provided awards, guaranteed box office success, and spawned dance remixes. Here is a list of those passages in our nifty reminder of the most memorable lines in Philippine cinema.

• “You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!”

- Cherie Gil, Bituing Walang Ningning (1985)

This scene is cemented inside every Pinoy moviegoer's mind: Lavinia Arguelles (Gil) spluttering words and wine all over Dorina Pineda (Sharon Cuneta). This is the ultimate catfight scene that would send the Gossip Girls scampering.

• “Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao! Nasa puso nating lahat!"

- Nora Aunor, Himala (1982)

The pivotal scene in this Brocka masterpiece was when Nora Aunor's Elsa admitted to her throng of supporters that there was indeed no miracle, much to the chagrin of the people who benefit from her staged spectacle. A remarkable scene from a remarkable film.

• “Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan.”

- Rudy Fernandez, Markang Bungo (1991)

According to the Film Academy of the Philippines website, the success of this Rudy Fernandez starrer was attributed to these lines. Seventeen years later, we are still saying them.

• “Akala mo lang wala... pero meron! Meron! Meron!”

- Carlo Aquino, Bata, Bata...Paano Ka Ginawa? (1998)

A young Carlo Aquino rose to movie stardom after this 1998 film based on the bestselling Lualhati Bautista novel. The line alone would seem ridiculous, but when Carlo delivered it to Vilma Santos with such anguish, we all believed him.

• “Para kang karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain.”

- Vilma Santos, Palimos ng Pag-ibig (1985)

The Star for all Seasons delivered this stinging line to Dina Bonnevie in reference to the latter's unwomanly behavior. No, Bonnevie was not just gossiping. She was babymaking. That's all.

• “Ayoko ng tinatapakan ako. Ayoko ng masikip, ayoko ng mabaho, ayoko ng walang tubig, ayoko ng walang pagkain, ayoko ng putik!”

- Maricel Soriano, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit (1984)

This line uttered by Diamond Star Maricel Soriano in this '80s classic could very well be the mantra of any affluent person suddenly shoved to poverty. Or not.

• “Oo, inaamin ko, saging lang kami. Pero maghanap ka ng puno sa buong Pilipinas, saging lang ang may puso! Saging lang ang may puso!”

- Mark Lapid, Apoy sa Dibdib ng Samar (2006)

The movie was a certified flop, but this (ridiculous) line (delivered ridiculously by Mark Lapid) became a cult favorite (for its over-the-top ridiculousness). It even spawned a dance remix that everyone enjoyed, even just a little.

• “Pumapatak ang metro.”

- Rosanna Roces, Curacha, Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga (1998)

Corazon, a prostitute played by Roces, exposes her breasts to a cab driver. After a few seconds, she covers herself up. The cabbie complains, to which Corazon gives this witty reply that surely the driver can relate to.

• Rene: “Cheeta-ehhh... ganda lalake!”

(Echo: “Ulol! Sinungaling! Panget! Panget!”)

- Rene Requiestas, Starzan (1989)

A hilarious bit courtesy of the parody Starzan, where comedian Rene Requiestas portrayed Starzan's sidekick Cheeta-eh. He bellows to the forest how good-looking he is, but the echoes of his voice respond otherwise.

• “Oh yes, kaibigan mo ako. Kaibigan mo lang ako.... And I'm so stupid to make the biggest mistake of falling in love with my best friend.”

- Jolina Magdangal, Labs Kita... Okey Ka Lang? (1998)

Probably not one for the boomers, but surely those who came of age during the '90s are familiar with this now classic Jolina line from one of her movies with then love team partner Marvin Agustin. The promotion of Star Cinema is to blame.

• "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!"

– Cherie Gil, Bituing Walang Ningning (1985)

• "My brother is not a pig! My brother is not a pig! Ang kapatid ko ay tao, hindi baboy damo!"

– Nora Aunor, Minsa'y Isang Gamugamo (1976)

• "Once, twice, thrice—gaano ba kadalas ang minsan?"

– Hilda Koronel, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan? (1982)

• "Hayop . . . Hayuuup . . . Hayuuupppp!"

– Nora Aunor, Ina Ka ng Anak Mo (1979)

• "Si Val! Si Val! Palagi na lang si Val! Si Val na walang malay! Si Val na ang tanging kasalanan ay maging anak sa labas!"

– Vilma Santos, Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig? (1987)

• "Ikaw pala. Ikaw pala ang sinasabi ng asawa ko na asawa mo na asawa ng bayan!"

– Laurice Guillen, Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi (1983)

• "Gutay-gutay na ang katawan nyo . . . pati na ang kaluluwa nyo!"

– Sharon Cuneta, Pasan Ko ang Daigdig (1987)

• "Sabel! This must be love!"

– Carmi Martin, Working Girls (1986)

• Sharon: "Ang problema sa 'yo maaga kang ipinanganak"

FPJ: "Ang problema naman sa 'yo huli kang ipinanganak"

– Sharon Cuneta and Fernando Poe Jr., Kahit Konting Pagtingin (1990)

• "Wala akong pakialam . . . ibalik mo sa akin si Jun-jun. Ibalik mo sa akin ang anak ko! Ibalik mo sa akin si Jun-jun. Ibalik mo ang . . . ahhhhh!"

– Vilma Santos, Paano Ba ang Mangarap? (1983)

• "Kung saan, kailan, at paanong labanan, magpasabi ka lang. Hindi kita uurungan!"

– Sharon Cuneta, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? (1984)

• Alice: "Mamamatay ako, Ate, pag kinuha mo sa akin si Alex!"

Lorna: "Ipalilibing kita."

Alice: "Ate, please!"

Lorna: "Nung inagaw mo sa 'kin si . . . muntik na rin akong mamatay. Puwes, ikaw naman ngayon ang mamatay"

– Lorna Tolentino and Alice Dixson, Nagbabagang Luha (1988)

• "Simple lang naman ang hinihingi ko. Kung hindi mo ako marespeto bilang asawa, respetuhin mo naman ako bilang kaibigan. Kung hindi naman, respetuhin mo ako bilang tao."

– Vilma Santos, Relasyon (1982)

• "Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?"

– Vilma Santos, Sister Stella L. (1984)

• "Get out of my house. I don't need a parasite!"

– Maricel Soriano, Separada (1994)

• "Ako legal wife!"

– Zsa Zsa Padilla, Mano Po 2 (2003)

• "Oo, Ate, oo, Ate . . . Puro na lang ako oo, Ate!!! Para akong manikang de susi"

– Sharon Cuneta, Nakagapos na Puso (1986)

• "I was never your partner. I'm just your wife . . . kaya hindi mo ko nirerespeto!"

– Sharon Cuneta, Madrasta (1996)

• "Ang mga tala--mataas, mahirap maabot. Pero ipinapangako ko, Inay, bukas, luluhod ang mga tala!"

– Sharon Cuneta, Bukas Luluhod ang mga Tala (1984)

• Maricel: "Wag kang makaarte-arte na 'kala mo kung sino ka dahil sampid ka lang dito!"

Lorna: Hindi ba pareho lang tayo dito? Pinulot lang sa lupa?"

– Maricel Soriano and Lorna Tolentino, Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa (1987)

• "Noong una hinangaan kita. Pero nang makilala kita, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi lang kita papantayan, lalampasan pa kita!"

– Sharon Cuneta, Bituing Walang Ningning (1985)

• "Pinuno mo na ang salop, judge. Dapat ka nang kalusin."

– Fernando Poe Jr., Kapag Puno Na ang Salop (1987)

• "Mukhang may jewels 'tong batch na 'to . . . may matanda, may punggok, isa pang punggok, isa pang punggok, may tisoy . . . Mukhang antipatiko ito, pare."

– Jimmy Javier, Batch '81 (1981)

• "Hindi lahat ng nagpapasaya sa atin ay tama. Pero ang tama ay marahil masakit sa umpisa, pero siguradong sa huli tayo ay mapapaligaya."

– Maricel Soriano, A Love Story (2007)

• "Ato ti Bondying . . . ato ti Bondying!"

– Jimmy Santos, Bondying1989