Eight years after breaking our hearts in 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, Jason Paul Laxamana returns to continue the story of Fidel (JC Santos) and Stella (Bella Padilla) in 100 Awit Para Kay Stella.
The pair cross paths after years apart, but with life pulling them in different directions and old wounds lingering, will their love finally find its way? Here’s our High Five Movie Review of 100 Awit Para Kay Stella, featuring exclusive insights about the film from JC Santos and Bela Padilla themselves. Spoilers ahead.
Things Change But Stay The Same
Official posters of 100 Tula Para Kay Stella (2017) and 100 Awit Para Kay Stella (2025)
100 Awit Para Kay Stella is set in the present, with Fidel and Stella now in their thirties navigating their lives. While their circumstances have changed, deep down they remain the same people we met in the first film. JC Santos and Bela Padilla’s chemistry still strikes a beautiful harmony, reminding us why we fell in love with them and their story in the first place. Seeing them together again feels like revisiting old memories — nostalgic, yet comforting.
The story feels more mature, no longer just about romance. While some familiar faces return, new characters push the narrative in a new direction. Fidel’s mother Sandra (Yayo Aguila) is introduced, confronting the deep wounds of her past abandonment. Clyde (Kyle Echarri) joins the cast, not merely as part of a love triangle, but as an important character whose own journey enriches the film. Von (Albie Casiño), Stella’s husband from the first film, returns with a major character shift that becomes pivotal to her arc. Meanwhile, Fidel’s disability receives more thoughtful focus—not as ridicule, but as a source of understanding and growth.
This time, the story dives deeper into Fidel and Stella, exploring what the first film only touched on.
Hits All the Right Notes and Emotions
100 Awit Para Kay Stella carries the emotional weight of the first film. The lines are delivered with conviction and emotion. Each word bears the weight of a thousand feelings. But the film won’t just make you cry—it also brings joy through its funny moments, heartfelt interactions, and the chance to witness the love story of Fidel and Stella that we never got to see unfold.
The film is also accompanied by a great soundtrack which is fitting considering that it shifts its focus from poetry to music. The songs don’t just sound great, they also work together with the story, using lyrics to convey what must be said. In a talkback session, cast members JC Santos and Bela Padilla shared some of their favorite tracks from the movie. “I am here for the nostalgia of ‘Kumusta Na,’” said JC. Meanwhile, Bela Padilla said, “For me, ‘Iisang Daan’ is Stella and Fidel’s theme song. The lyrics are amazing.”
On top of the lines and music, the film is able to tackle the characters’ trauma and vulnerabilities with care. They are allowed to grow from the pain they experience, making them better people and developing as characters.
It Must Have Been Love (Or Limerence?)
The film introduces the concept of limerence, an intense infatuation often mistaken for love. It raises an important question: did Fidel truly love Stella? He wrote 100 poems then and 100 songs now as proof of his devotion. But was it love, or simply limerence?
The answer can be up to your interpretation. As for the film’s leads, they have opposing views. JC Santos said, “Thinking about Fidel, for me, he was a red flag in the first movie. He just loved the idea of love and of Stella. And then in part 2, he answered that himself—it turned out he was only experiencing limerence.” But for Bela Padilla, “For me, it wasn’t limerence. I really don’t believe that. They truly loved each other.”
Whatever you decide, the film will challenge your perception of love, making you look at it not just from an emotional point of view, but a logical one as well.
Not The Love Story You Think
This long-awaited sequel feels like a second chance for Fidel and Stella to finally get the ending people wanted for them. But if that’s what you’re expecting, well, spoiler alert, you might be disappointed. The two of them are completely different people by the end, finding a renewed meaning in life, love, and themselves.
It goes beyond being a love story between Fidel and Stella. It becomes a story about the two of them finding love in themselves. As JC Santos himself said, “You have to love yourself first before you can love someone.” Though it is absolutely heartbreaking what their story will come to be, it will ultimately feel fulfilling for where their paths lead them. “It truly felt healing. When I first watched the film, I left the cinema smiling, with a light heart. This time, I cried more than I did in the first movie — yet I walked out feeling at peace,” Bela Padilla said.
100 Awit Para Kay Stella will break your heart and then piece it back together. It’s not the love story you want, but the one you need. Empowering and healing, it’s a reminder that you can find your voice and reclaim your narrative — if you have the courage to forgive those who hurt you, and most importantly, yourself.
It May Not Be The End
100 Awit Para Kay Stella feels like it wrapped up the whole story by the end of the film. It delivers the same sense of closure as its predecessor, but this sequel proves that closure doesn’t always mean the story is over. Beyond leaving room for Fidel and Stella’s story to continue, there is hope for another chapter, as the stars themselves confirmed the possibility of a third movie. “I can’t let Stella and Fidel’s story end here. It deserves to be finished,” Bela Padilla said. Meanwhile, her co-star JC Santos added, “There’s even a title already. The third movie might be called ‘100 Araw Para Kay Stella.’” That is more than enough for fans to hold onto for a continuation beyond 100 Awit Para Kay Stella.
Will we have to wait another eight years to see the next chapter of Fidel and Stella’s love story? Only time will tell. “Don’t worry. Even if the studio doesn’t produce it, JC and I will make sure the third film happens,” Bela Padilla assured.
Making a sequel to an iconic film like 100 Tula Para Kay Stella is like reopening a perfectly wrapped gift. You can do it, but there will be creases and inconsistencies that can’t be smoothed out. Not all changes feel welcome, but eventually, you will see why they were made.
In the end, 100 Awit Para Kay Stella proves to be a worthy successor and a film that stands on its own. It is a symphony of emotions filled with music and lots of heart. SEA Wave rates it 4 out of 5 waves.
Catch 100 Awit Para Kay Stella in cinemas nationwide.
For more movie reviews, pop culture trends, Southeast Asian stories, and more, visit seawavemag.com.