# Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita

Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita (lit. 'Because I Love You Very Much') is a 1998 Filipino drama romance film. It marked the directorial debut of Wenn V. Deramas and produced by Star Cinema. The movie stars Claudine Barretto, Rico Yan and Diether Ocampo as mainstay protagonists in Mula sa Puso along with co-star and supporting casts Jaclyn Jose and Princess Punzalan. The film received a grade of "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

## Plot

Mela (Barretto) is known as a "Bad Girl" on campus, but beneath her bold exterior lies a sensitive and vulnerable soul. She has a painful past, with her mother dying young and her father turning to alcoholism and abuse. Mela runs away to live with her kind-hearted aunt, who, despite being a mistress, is loving and supportive. Mela constantly seeks acceptance and satisfaction in relationships with different men.
Mela's current boyfriend, Ryan (Ocampo), struggles with his relationship with his father and finds emotional support in his mother. As the youngest and only boy among three children, Ryan starts off as friends with Mela before they become a couple. However, Ryan soon becomes unfaithful.
Determined to change her destiny, Mela seeks out "Mr. Perfect," who is Miguel (Yan). Miguel is rich, intelligent, and well-mannered, embodying the classic aristocrat. He is formal, businesslike, and somewhat snobbish, which can be off-putting despite his appeal. Miguel's main flaw is his rigid self-discipline. He serves on the school's discipline committee and helps manage his family's business. Having lost his father at a young age, Miguel was raised by his mother, and his brother died of a broken heart from a troubled marriage.
Mela targets Miguel, who initially ignores her. Persistent, she challenges him to a bet, resulting in him having to spend a weekend with her. Although hesitant at first, Miguel ends up enjoying Mela's company. During their time together, he sees her true beauty and falls deeply in love.
Love leads Mela to change her style and behavior to please Miguel. She tries to fit in with his friends and family. However, Miguel's friends are skeptical of her transformation, and his mother disapproves of their relationship, causing tension.
Miguel, pressured by his friends, does not invite Mela to his birthday party. She surprises him by showing up and learns she wasn't welcome, making Miguel feel guilty. Ryan tries to win Mela back by setting up a compromising situation, recording a video to make her appear as if she's cheating. The video is shown to everyone at school, ruining her reputation. Feeling betrayed, Miguel ends their relationship.
Mela denies the cheating accusations but finds out the scandal was orchestrated by Miguel's ex-girlfriend, Cory. She confronts Cory, resulting in a fight that leads to Mela's suspension and being labeled an outcast. After breaking up with Miguel, Mela reverts to her wild, self-destructive behavior. Ryan, feeling guilty, attempts to make amends but is rejected.
Miguel observes Mela's behavior and begins to doubt the cheating accusation, realizing she truly loved him. To make amends, he defies his mother and defends Mela, appealing against her expulsion. Although he succeeds in getting her reinstated, Mela does not forgive him.
After Miguel repeatedly seeks her forgiveness, they eventually reconcile and resume their relationship.

## Cast and characters

* Claudine Barretto as Carmela "Mela" Ocampo
* Rico Yan as Miguel Quirino
* Diether Ocampo as Ryan
* Jaclyn Jose as Tita Myrna
* Isabel Rivas as Mrs. Suzanne Quirino
* Jan Marini as Jam
* Lailani Navarro as Cory
* Marita Zobel as Ryan's Mother
* Lito Legaspi as Ryan's Father
* Farrah Florer as Miguel's Sister in Law
* Donnie Fernandez as Manny
* Lui Villaruz as Bobby
* CJ Tolentino as Paolo
* Princess Punzalan as School Dean (Special Participation)

## Original Story

The original story for this movie is lifted from the Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode titled Billiards which starred Giselle "G" Toengi and Matthew Mendoza. Coincidentally, Jan Marini also played the female protagonist's best friend. The movie had an original working title of "Bad Girl" but Star Cinema executives changed the title to avoid confusion with the 1991 film "Bad Girl", which was produced as a sexy film by Regal Films and topbilled by Cristina Gonzales.

## Potential remake

In 2017, Viva Entertainment reportedly planned to produce a remake of Dahil Mahal Na Mahal Kita which would star Julia Barretto (Claudine's real-life niece) and Joshua Garcia.