In an era where love can begin and end with a single tap, swipe, or seen notification, the rules of romance have shifted. For rising Gen Z love team JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith, navigating love today isn’t just about kilig or chemistry. It’s about intention, timing, and the quiet tension between wanting something now and waiting for something real.

As they step into their first solo film, Almost Us, both actors reflect not just on their characters, but on the kind of love their generation is growing up with and often struggling to define. 

Love, Then vs. Now

For JM, the contrast is clear. Love in the past felt simpler. It was less calculated and less burdened by overthinking.

Modern love, as he sees it, is filled with hesitation. People hold back, overthink, or fail to express what they feel, not because the feelings aren’t real, but because the risks feel heavier.

And yet, his biggest takeaway is surprisingly straightforward: take the risk anyway.

“Isang beses lang tayo mabubuhay,” JM says. “Either you become happy, or you learn. So take the risk.” 

The Case for Slowing Down

Fyang, on the other hand, pushes back against the speed of modern relationships.

In a generation where “talking” can quickly turn into commitment in a matter of weeks, she believes something essential is being skipped: time.

“People don’t take the time to really know each other anymore,” she explains. “Konting usap lang, sila na agad.”

For her, love isn’t something you rush into, it’s something you build, test, and observe.

She emphasizes traditional courtship as a way to measure sincerity.

“Makikita mo yung consistency ng isang tao kapag pinaghintay mo siya,” she says. “The right one won’t get tired of waiting.”

It’s a perspective that feels almost old-school, but in today’s fast-paced dating culture, it’s a refreshing take on modern love.

Respect Before Romance

If there’s one shared belief between them, it’s this: love without respect doesn’t last.

JM points out how easily feelings take the lead in modern setups, often at the expense of deeper foundations.

“Ngayon, nauuna yung feelings kaysa respeto,” he says. “People confess online, express everything agad, without even building that respect first.”

For Fyang, that respect starts within.

“Learn how to respect yourself first,” she says. “Kasi kung may respeto ka sa sarili mo, marunong ka din rumespeto sa iba.”

It’s a simple idea, but it reframes love as something you prepare yourself for.

Between Waiting and Risking

Interestingly, where they differ is where the conversation becomes more real.

JM believes in movement, confessing, risking, choosing despite uncertainty.

Fyang believes in the beauty of stillness. Waiting, observing, letting consistency reveal truth. 

One leans toward courage, the other toward caution.

But neither is wrong. In fact, they reflect the duality of modern love. The tension between acting now and waiting it out, between following your feelings and protecting your peace.

The “Almost” Generation

Between almost confessing and almost committing.
Between almost choosing and almost letting go.

For JM and Fyang, love today isn’t lacking depth, it’s just navigating more noise, more pressure, and more possibilities than ever before.

And maybe that’s why their message feels grounded despite the chaos:

Take your time.
Take the risk. Respect yourself.

And somewhere in between all that, you might just find something real and something worth preparing for and not just chasing after. 

THE ZEEN Team

Editor-In-Chief | Real Florido

Produced by | Murry Tanchanco
Written by | Murry Tanchanco
Interviewed by | Murry Tanchanco & Currie Cator
Cover Art | Emlan Implica
Photography | Mike Villamor
Interns | Kristine Pangomlayen, Emlan Implica, Jesse de la Cruz, Elisha Dejapin
Production Assistant | Allen Castro, Esca Bacordo