All About Love (2006) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

All About Love is an anthology film that follows three separate but thematically connected love stories. The first arc centers on childhood friends Kikay and Kiko, the second follows kalesa driver Badong and model Wesley, and the third involves grieving Eric and the guarded Lia. The anthology structure keeps the pacing steady so no single storyline becomes overwhelming for the viewer.

• anthology
• three love stories
• parallel storylines
• ensemble

All About Love uses Manila and the province as emotional opposites rather than just physical locations. Manila represents the fast-paced, harsh environment where Kikay is betrayed and stripped of her self-esteem, while the province symbolizes safety, authenticity, and the bond she first shared with Kiko. This contrast shapes Kikay's eventual realization that the love she was looking for was always waiting at home.

• Manila
• province
• setting
• urban
• rural
• contrast

All About Love is set in a contemporary, present-day context rather than a specific historical era. The story reflects modern relationship struggles, including emotional abuse, social class tension, and grief over lost partners. The contemporary setting makes the themes of self-doubt and healing feel immediate and relatable to modern viewers.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• present day

The three central themes of All About Love are love, self-discovery, and courage. Love is explored in its many painful and healing forms, from unrequited affection to rediscovery after loss. Self-discovery drives each character as they confront their insecurities and learn what they truly need from a partner. Courage ties these together by showing that vulnerability and emotional risk are required before any of the characters can embrace genuine love.

• love
• self-discovery
• courage
• themes
• meaning

All About Love presents self-discovery as a necessary step before anyone can truly give or receive love. Kikay's return to the province forces her to confront her feelings of unworthiness after being betrayed in Manila, while Badong and Lia each learn to see past their defensive walls. Eric's journey of letting go of his dead girlfriend shows that self-discovery often requires grieving an old version of oneself first.

• self-discovery
• self-worth
• personal growth
• identity

In All About Love, courage is shown as the willingness to be vulnerable again after being hurt. Kikay must push past her shame to admit her feelings for Kiko, while Badong has to trust Wesley despite their different social backgrounds. Eric faces the hardest courage of all by opening his heart to Lia after losing his previous girlfriend.

• courage
• vulnerability
• bravery
• emotional risk

Kikay, played by Angelica Panganiban, is a young woman from the province whose move to Manila in All About Love exposes her to emotional abuse and a loss of self-worth. Her story focuses on rebuilding her sense of value after returning home and realizing that her childhood friend Kiko has always loved her. At its core, her arc is about learning that she is worthy of genuine love.

• Kikay
• Angelica Panganiban
• childhood friend
• abuse recovery
• self-worth

Kiko, played by Jason Abalos, is Kikay's loyal childhood best friend who quietly harbors deep romantic feelings for her. His role in All About Love is the steady, patient presence who waits for Kikay to heal from her Manila experience. He embodies the theme of unconditional love, standing by even when Kikay pushes him away because of her insecurities.

• Kiko
• Jason Abalos
• unrequited love
• best friend
• loyalty

Badong, played by Anne Curtis, is a strong-willed woman who takes responsibility for her family after her father falls ill. In All About Love, she works as a kalesa driver, which places her firmly in a working-class world that contrasts with the life of the man she will eventually fall for. Her main challenge is learning to accept love and tenderness after years of carrying her family alone.

• Badong
• Anne Curtis
• kalesa driver
• working class
• family responsibility

Wesley, played by Luis Manzano, appears at first to be a carefree, superficial model, but underneath he is searching for a real emotional connection. His relationship with Badong in All About Love begins as rivalry but grows into a romance that crosses class lines. Their pairing illustrates the theme that genuine love can exist despite social and economic differences.

• Wesley
• Luis Manzano
• model
• class difference
• rivalry

Eric, played by John Lloyd Cruz, is a man still grieving the death of his girlfriend, while Lia, played by Bea Alonzo, is a woman who has lost faith in love after being betrayed. Their story in All About Love is about two guarded people who gradually find each other through Lia's search for the source of a touching voice. Together, they represent the theme that love can be rebuilt even after profound loss and heartbreak.

• Eric
• Lia
• John Lloyd Cruz
• Bea Alonzo
• grief
• betrayal
• healing

Despite dealing with heavy subjects like emotional abuse, class divide, and grief, the overall tone of All About Love is hopeful. The anthology structure keeps any single storyline from becoming too heavy, and all three couples end the film in a happy place, kissing together on a terrace. The movie ultimately argues that love and emotional healing are always within reach for those willing to be brave.

• tone
• hopeful
• emotional
• uplifting
• ending