Today, May 6, 2026, marks the premiere day of the highly anticipated romantic film, topbilled by Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 alums JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, Almost Us (MTRCB Film Rating: PG), directed by Dan Villegas. The Regal Entertainment-Project 8 Projects produced film began showing across 165 cinemas in the Philippines.
It is the first movie lead pairing between JM and Fyang, and their third film to appear in cinemas, after My Love Will Make You Disappear (with Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino) and the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival entry film Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins (2025 episode, co-starred with PBB Gen 11 ex-housemate Dylan Yturralde, among several casts from that episode, along with 1775 and 2050).
The casts of the film, along with most of the celebrities, PBB Gen 11 ex-housemates, including Therese Villamor, Dingdong Bahan, Patrick Ramirez, Jan Silva, Gwen Montano, Dylan Yturralde, Binsoy Namoca, JP Cabrera, and Kolette Madelo, appeared in the film’s Grand Premiere Night, held yesterday, at the SM Megamall Cinema 2. The people and moviegoers have spoken positively about the film, with reviews on social media and the Internet.
Additionally, JM and Fyang also appeared in SM Mall of Asia, SM City Molino, and Robinsons General Trias for their ticket-selling event on May 3, 2026. The two screenings for Almost Us at the SM Mall of Asia sold out their tickets at the time this ticket-selling event happened.
Team JMFyang Official, the fanbase of the said love team, also announced that it will have 61 block screenings of the film, led by its affiliates, sponsors, and chapters. The fandom also announced that the guests for the grand launch for Almost Us are Archie Roquero, Patrick Fresno, Sachzna Laparan, Owy Posadas, Julie Fortes, Rhanzelle, Lantis Espiritu, Melissa Enriquez, The Aguinaldos, Meiko Montefalco, DJ Jhai Ho, Celine Nobleza, Yesha, JC, Via, Alicia, Arvin, and Kenaniah.
Earlier, on April 29, 2026, the 7th Village Pipol Choice Awards (VPCA) announced that JM and Fyang received one of each two awards, one for Breakthrough Movie of the Year for JM’s Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana, and the other for the Breakthrough Star of the Year for Fyang.
Furthermore, two days after the launch of Almost Us in Philippine cinemas, fans of JM and Fyang, played by the respective roles of Ronnie Manalang and Raya Verona, will experience a touch of kilig via Prime Video, for Love Is Never Gone, headlined by Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi, together with Jameson Blake, Jane Oineza, Michael de Mesa, Epy Quizon, Dina Bonnevie, JC Alcantara, Rans Rifol, Kiko Matos, Argel Saycon, Heart Ramos, Alex Medina, Benj Manalo, Carlo San Juan, Ara Mina, and Irma Adlawan.
In a teaser video published on May 1, 2026, via the social media accounts of Prime Video Philippines, you might also have seen another PBB Gen 11 ex-housemate appear in the upcoming Prime Video Original, especially the familiar voices that say, “Sa likod ng pay parking for rich and privileged people!”, accompanied by a fight between the said star and Raya.
In fact, if you heard the voice or saw this ex-housemate appear in “Love Is Never Gone,” then that was Kanata Tapia, according to what we’ve seen in the video and the comments on the Instagram and TikTok posts of the said teaser. It would be her first “Kontrabida” role since she debuted as the Lola-Ving Apo in PBB Gen 11, and the second series to appear, following her previous act as Chiyaki in “Tropang G.O.A.T”.
Love Is Never Gone, premiering exclusively on Prime Video on May 8, 2026, is the second PBB Gen 11-starred series on Prime Video, following Saving Grace, where Kai Montinola portrayed the teenage version of Mary Grace Banaag in the finale episode.
Citing that Kanata will be part of the series, it is also not the first time that it features another PBB Gen 11 ex-housemates along with JMFyang, because the first one was Ghosting, where, apart from JMFyang as the lead stars, JP Cabrera, Joli Alferez, and Jan Silva also appeared as guest characters.
Additionally, Kanata Tapia would also be the second PBB Gen 11 ex-housemate to tap for a “Kontrabida” role, following Jan Silva, who appeared as a school bully against Louisa Soria (played by Mutya Orquia) in a Kapamilya primetime series, What Lies Beneath.
Trivia: Kanata Tapia, aged 18 as of 2026, is a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) community, similar to Gladys Reyes, who was known as the “Primera Kontrabida”, who previously appeared in a GMA Drama series, Cruz vs. Cruz, and as a houseguest of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0. Both of whom are part of Star Magic, the talent agency of ABS-CBN.
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