Say what you will about love teams, but it has always been a defining part of Filipino pop culture. The clamor to repeatedly watch two actors bringing to life a heart-stopping romance, albeit different versions of it, is all too prevalent that it has been a staple in local cinema for almost a century now.
Of these pairings, one of the most successful tie-ups would have to be Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin. Standing the test of time, the tandem of our February 2025 cover stars has enamored fans since the '90s. "Their on-screen chemistry defined a generation—and decades later, that impact still resonates," Preview's Editor-in-Chief Marj Ramos-Clemente said, sharing how the cover for this year's Love Month came about.
The Making of Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin's February 2025 Preview Cover
"For our February cover, we wanted to show the fantasy that goes behind a love team like Marvin and Jolina," Creative Director Bacs Arcebal shared about the set and imagery of the shoot. "It looks like a fake set. But we wanted to show that it's somewhere where they can be their real selves."
This creative vision was brought to life by photographer Renzo Navarro, who widened the framing of the images to achieve a more cinematic effect. He intentionally captured the spaciousness of the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Grand Ballroom, peeking behind the set mounted by Jes Dizon of PRPL Studios to convey the film set concept.
"We got a lot of references from foreign and local musicals. That's why the poses are mostly dancing and they feel theatrical. We got the help of [choreographer and this shoot's movement director] Madge Reyes for this," Bacs added.
Movement was a big consideration for the shoot's fashion styling. "We really wanted to lean into vintage styling, and we wanted to focus on clean, structured silhouettes, but something that feels more relaxed given that this whole concept revolves around partner dances," Editorial Assistant for Fashion Paulina Singh shared.
The duo wore pieces by Burberry, Carolina Herrera, Fendi, Polo Ralph Lauren, Marella via Moressi, Dona Lim, Chris Nick, Andante Footwear, and Suki Jewelry.
The looks were then completed with vintage hair and makeup nods. Jonathan Velasco gave Jolina a snatched and bronzed complexion, while Jay Wee did side-swept glam waves for the actress, and Posh Nails worked on her digits. Wawaw Salud made sure Marvin was camera-ready with natural sunkissed skin and a slightly tousled 'do.
Needless to say, MarJo, as they're affectionately known as a love team, hasn't lost an ounce of their magic. Their chemistry lifted everyone in the room up, even as the shoot went on in the evening. "Marvin and Jolina, I would say, are kind of like the paradigm of their generation, especially at the peak of their popularity in the '90s, when they were really everywhere," Lifestyle Editor and Cover Story Writer Kat Cabral observed. "Regardless of how people view it, it speaks to how much of a big deal love teams are across generations and how much of a staple it is in our culture as a society, who values romance as a genre."
Produced and Styled by the Preview Team
Photographer: Renzo Navarro, assisted by Joshua Tan and Alexis Wang
Creative Director: Bacs Arcebal
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Production: Reg Rodriguez
Fashion: Paulina Singh
Beauty Direction: Isha Fojas
Makeup for Jolina: Jonathan Velasco
Hairstyling for Jolina: Jay Wee
Grooming for Marvin: Wawaw Salud
Movement Director: Madge Reyes of Fifth Wall
Nails for Jolina: Posh Nails
Set and Production Design: Jes Dizon of PRPL Studio
Story: Katrina Maisie Cabral
Video Direction: Jana Jodloman
Videographer: Greeko Junio
BTS Photographer: James Jarin of Studio Torio
Shoot Location: Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria
Special thanks to Carl Chavez of Lunchbox, Patria Puyat, Sheila Girao, Angelica Panambo, Jhun Combiene Jr, Edmond de Jesus of Crowne Plaza, and Project 8 Projects
Check out the February 2025 cover story here.
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