They say, “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” This has a running 4:00 AM thought in my head even before this film happened. It somewhat made me think of the relationships I had in in my life, in the matters of the heart, but mostly, when it comes to friends, and in a lot of ways it created a huge impact on my life. It makes me realize how some people are meant to be in our lives for a short period of time, while others are meant to stay at least for as long as they live.Some people will only pass through our life to teach us lessons that we will carry with us throughout our lives or rear us to become stronger and more resilient especially in facing life’s uncertainties. It’s true they would just come and go, but they would definitely leave a big and lasting impact to us. Only a few people stay in our lives forever. Because as we go through different phases in our lives, our needs, interests, goals and even priorities change. We move on from being a single to getting married and building a family of our own. We have new relationships and even friends. We become busy with work too.

Regal Films’ Seasons is a story of two best friends, Kurt and Charlie who’d claim that their relationship is just as platonic as it gets. They met when they were teens and instantly clicked. They grew up together and became each other “person“, despite being in different relationships through the years. After a series of heart breaks the two would make a deal in taking risks and look for love again and opening up to the world. One decides to spend time with an officemate who has been sending signals for a while already, while one would try dating apps that didn’t sit well with initially. Charlie tries her best in building a relationship with her officemate, while at the same time, she would spend time meeting girls that she met from the dating app account she made for Kurt. She would find one and excitedly sets them up on a date. They would hit it off and their relationship dynamics would eventually change. She would eventually realize that he is her “A Lifetime”, and it kind of too late for her. She does something unimaginable and a lot of things will unfold. What happens next will be her destiny. Will they eventually end up together? It’s for you to find out.
Seasons shows us the possibility that a guy and girl best friend could fall in love, either one of them or both, because they spend a lot of time together and know each other so well. Being honest with yourself and with your best friend  can lead to three things – just an awkward life, friendship down the drain or a happily ever after. Sometimes, when you realize it too late, you can’t do anything about it anymore. In Charlie’s case, we know she didn’t just seat around doing nothing, despite the fact that she can’t do anything anymore. Well, she did, right? And you know what happened next… if  you’ve watched it already.But Seasons also shows us that guy and girl best friends can really be platonic with mutual respect, trust and just plain friendship. They can be just as close and fulfilling as romantic relationships. An automatic support and constant companion that you can have for a lifetime. You get different perspectives in life and experience new things. You get an instant protector, a brother if you don’t have one. Boy friends are most of the time, less dramatic. How fun is that!? Haha!

What if you one of you goes in a relationship? Be happy for your friend! Give your friend and new relationship the respect they deserve. Be mature enough to set boundaries yourself. An introduction is a must! You now have a new “best friend”, like an extension of your real best friend. It would be so nice know that one day, the two of you would hit off, going to the salon together for the girls or shooting hoops for the guys. Day dreaming of your babies playing with one another too.

Seasons reminds us how even if we’ve gone different paths with our best friends, we don’t have to actually forget or be too busy for each other. In Kurt’s case, well, things changed when he got into a relationship, which then made Charlie feel left out and alone. Is it suppose to be that way? I understand why Charlie felt that way, as he was his constant before. Although we know that it is her doings, of course, she would miss those moments with her best friend. Not that Charlie should still continue clinging to Kurt. Maybe if they just talked with each other, then they could have learned how to set boundaries while maintaining their relationship, right?

Yes, for me it is okay to miss your best friend, platonically speaking, if things become different. You know, it would be nice if you’re still in each other’s lives even if you have different relationships to care for too. It doesn’t mean that you’d still cling on one another or be each other’s number 1 emergency contact, especially when there are other people involved already. It’s just nice to be still growing old together, hand in hand with each other’s “new” lives – one’s new girlfriend or one’s family, and even meet each other’s new friends. It’s nice when you’re still rooting for one another’s dreams or cheering on each other’s big milestones, especially when you grew up together and know each other’s heart’s desires. Your best friendship doesn’t need to end  because you’re in a new season now, you know he/she is also part of your lifetime, right?

Seasons reminds us to think lots of times before doing anything, making a decision or saying anything – especially when it is based on your emotions and most especially, if it ends up being a lie. You just don’t know how one wrong action can have a ripple effect and will eventually lead to a downfall.
Seasons will make us think of all the reasons why people come and go in our life. It make us wonder why they even came to our life. Not only we learn and grow from the experience but we would ultimately find meaning in our lives and how and why things have to happen.

Seasons will make us reminisce of the different seasons in our lives. It makes us remember the journey we took and how we thrived, whether good or bad. It is a reminder of all the good times we have shared, the challenges we have overcome, and the growth we have experienced with the people we love, your family and friends. Life is a journey, and it is full of different seasons. But no matter what season we are in, it is important to remember that we are not alone. You will always have you best friend with you and having him/her along the way would definitely help your relationship grow stronger.

To all the “A Reason” and “A Season” in our lives, thank you for all the smiles, tears, anger and lessons that you brought into our lives. There’s a  reason why a relationship or a friendship didn’t work out. But one thing is for sure, you came into our lives to teach us to the right path for our “A Lifetime”, a lifetime of friendship or your one true love.

But you know, there are certain people in our lives that will be there in every reason, in all seasons and surely, for a lifetime. And you are lucky If you have those in your life who stay with you through thick and thin, because not everyone has them. So cherish them and appreciate their existence in your life – no matter how busy life can get. That’s you Pangs, yow!

Regal Films’ SEASONS starring Lovi Poe and Carlo “mapanakit” Aquino, premiered July 7 in Netflix. Directed by Easy Ferrer.

Congratulations to the “Pangs” ng buhay ko! Palagi ka namin pinagmamalaki! You got me always kuys, in all SEASONS of our lives.. Til susunod na pelikula. Mahal ka namin ni Coco and Jhe. xxx