''I Love You 3x a Day'' (stylized onscreen as ''I ♥ You 3x a Day'') is a 1988 Filipino fantasy comedy film co-written and directed by Mike Relon Makiling and starring

Jimmy Santos Jimmy Santos may refer to: * Jimmy Santos (singer), Afro-Uruguayan vocalist * Jimmy Santos (actor) Jaime Santos (born October 8, 1951), professionally known as Jimmy Santos, is a Filipino actor, comedian, TV host, and former professional basketb ...

in his first lead role. It also stars

Carmi Martin Carmita Martin also known as Carmi Martin (born 9 August 1963) is a Filipina actress, model, and comedian. Career She first appeared in ''Dolphy's Angels'' with Liz Alindogan, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Yehlen Catral and the late comedy king Dolph ...

Nova Villa Novelita Villanueva Gallegos (born April 16, 1946), better known as Nova Villa, is a Filipino actress and a veteran comedian. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Villa is recognized as the original 'Goddess of Comedy' and one of the defi ...

Ruffa Gutierrez Sharmaine Ruffa Rama Gutierrez (born June 24, 1974) is a Filipino model, beauty queen, host and actress. She was the 1992 Look of the Year - Philippines, Binibining Pilipinas World 1993 and Second Runner-up to Miss World 1993. Career Gutier ...

Gelli de Belen Gelli may refer to: People Given name * Gelli de Belen (born 1973), Filipina actress and former child star * Gelli Meyrick (also Gelly or Gilly) (1556?–1601), Welsh supporter of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and conspirator in Essex's rebe ...

, Cheenee de Leon, and Kampee De Leon. Produced by

Viva Films Viva Films is a Philippine film production company established under Viva Communications. It was founded on November 11, 1981, by Vic del Rosario Jr. History Veering away from the Sharon Cuneta- Gabby Concepcion tandem, Viva became home to q ...

, the film was released on November 9, 1988. Critic

Lav Diaz Lavrente Indico Anciro Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. Frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, having made several of the longest narrative films on recor ...

gave the film a positive review, giving special praise to Santos for his unique comedic style in comparison to other Filipino comedians.

Plot

Webster Shakespeare Cubangbang deludedly thinks he has mastered the English language, and his university dean decides to give him his diploma so that he does not return to college to bother his professors. Eventually, Webster ends up as an English teacher at Mababangloob High School, and with the help of a

fairy godmother In fairy tales, a fairy godmother () is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies. In Perrault's ''Cinderella'', he concludes the tale wit ...

, girls come after him whenever he says the line "I love you three times a day".

Cast

as Webster Shakespeare Cubangbang *

as Grace Samson *

as Saucy Matukoy *

as Agnes Reyes *Jigo Garcia as Max * Geli de Belen as Doro/Dora * Kimpee de Leon as Tomas "Tom" Cruz *Cheenee de Leon as Gerry Cruz *

Dingdong Avanzado Fernando Cyril "Dingdong" Veloso Avanzado (born July 7, 1968) is a Filipino singer, actor, politician and TV host. Early life Avanzado was born on July 7, 1968 in Quezon City. He was born to the political Veloso Family of Samar, to Fernando ...

as Archie *

Rene Requiestas Renato L. Requiestas (January 22, 1957 – July 24, 1993), professionally known as Rene Requiestas (), was a Filipino actor and comedian. Requiestas was one of the top Filipino comedians of the late 1980s up to the early 1990s. Requiestas was kno ...

as a janitor *Fe delos Reyes as Fritzi *Ronald Jayme as George * Chinkee as Sashimi Matukoy *Gary Boy Garcia as Dennis *

Joey de Leon Jose Maria Ramos de Leon Jr. (born October 14, 1946), professionally known as Joey de Leon, is a Filipino comedian, actor, television presenter and songwriter. He hosts the noontime variety show ''Eat Bulaga!'' He is a member of the comedy trio ...

as Venus the fairy godmother *

Dexter Doria Dexter Doria is a Filipino veteran actress. She has appeared in more than 175 films and several television programs from ABS-CBN and GMA Network. Career In 1977, she appeared in such movies as ''Elektrika Kasi, Eh!'', ''Tisoy'', ''Babae!'', ''I ...

as Stella *Moody Diaz as Webster's mother *Lucio Mailas as Charles Dacuycoy *Bert Manzueto as Mr. Arrogante *Manolette Ripol as Butch *Paeng Giant as Don Leon Mababangloob *Emeng Barcelon as Webster's neighbor *

Phillip Salvador Phillip Mikael "Ipe" Reyes Salvador (born Felipe Reyes Salvador; August 22, 1953) is a three-time FAMAS award-winning Filipino film and television actor. Acting career Salvador made his film debut in 1971 with ''Adios Mi Amor''. He toiled in m ...

as Afuang *

Vic Sotto Marvic Valentin Castelo Sotto (; born April 28, 1954), professionally known as Vic Sotto, is a Filipino actor, singer and comedian known far and wide for his various television and film projects on the major Philippine television networks GMA ...

as a security guard * Jimmy Fabregas as Dean Jaime Cabunglaw * Julio Diaz as Raymond *

Val Sotto Valmar Castelo Sotto (born March 23, 1945), better known as Val Sotto, is a Filipino actor, singer, composer, and comedian. He was one of the lead vocalists of the Filipino band VST & Company. He appeared as the lead actor in '' Agila'' aired ...

as Agila *

Spanky Rigor George McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in the ''Our Gang'' series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. The ''Our Gang'' shorts were later syndicated ...

as spelling bee emcee *

Mely Tagasa Abimaela Palomo Tagasa (April 16, 1935 – March 24, 2018), better known as Mely Tagasa, was a Filipino actress, screenwriter and dubbing producer. She was widely known for playing Miss Tapia in the sitcoms ''Baltic & Co.'' ( GMA) and ''Iskul B ...

as spelling bee umpire *

Yoyong Martirez Rosalio D. Martires (born September 9, 1951), also known as Yoyong Martirez, is a Filipino retired basketball player, actor and comedian. He is a former councilor for the City of Pasig. Basketball career Martires played for San Miguel in the ...

as spelling bee coach *

Zorayda Sanchez Zorayda Sanchez (June 28, 1951 – August 27, 2008) was a Filipino comedian, actress, television and film scriptwriter. Personal life She was a single mom with one daughter, Alexis Joyce whom she had with actor Dax Rivera. Education She graduat ...

as Grace's maid *

Beverly Salviejo Beverly Salviejo (born 18 October 1956) is a Filipino actor, and singer. Career Career beginnings Salviejo started out as a classical singer and stage actress. She rose to fame in the mid-’80s playing the loyal housekeeper in the hit s ...

as a poolside beauty *Ilonah Jean as a volleyball player

Annabelle Rama Annabelle Rosales Rama-Gutierrez (born October 31, 1952), commonly known as Annabelle Rama, is a Filipino actress and talent manager with Spanish and Chinese descent. She is a native of Cebu and the wife of the 1960s Philippine cinema matinee id ...

has an uncredited cameo in the film as Agnes' mother

Production

Background

Comedian and former basketball player

began using the catchphrase "I love you three times a day" in the sitcom ''Dina''. By the late 1980s, the catchphrase became his signature line on television.

Release

''I Love You 3x a Day'' was released on November 9, 1988.

's daughter Cheenee de Leon and

sang a duet together on ''Regal Family'' to promote the film.

Critical response

, writing for the ''

Manila Standard The ''Manila Standard'' is a broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines. , it is owned by the Romualdez family. The Romualdezes, through incumbent speaker of the House Martin Romualdez, also own Journal Publications, Inc., the owner of tabloid p ...

'', gave a positive review to ''I Love You 3x a Day'', praising Jimmy Santos' unique style of comedy which involves a distinctive rambling use of the English language; he noted that in comparison to other Filipino comedians who also distort the English language, Santos' jokes and delivery are new. Diaz also praised the decision to pair Santos with

, whom he called "one of the very sturdy promoters of the stupid revolution", and credited the success of the film's comedy to

, Jimmy Fabregas,

, and Paeng Giant in addition to Santos' performance. However, he criticized the group of Jigo Garcia, Kimpee de Leon and

for being "soaked in corniness".

References

External links

* 1988 films 1980s fantasy comedy films Filipino-language films Films about language Films about spelling competitions Films directed by Mike Relon Makiling Philippine fantasy comedy films Philippine high school films Viva Films films {{Philippines-film-stub