IT is true that it feels good to be in a relationship with someone who genuinely loves you. You get to do things you love with your favorite person, you don’t feel alone, you have someone whom you can rely on, and you know that someone truly loves and supports you every step of the way.

But love is not always rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes, it gets tested when two people in a relationship go through a rough path that could lead them to question the love they have for one another and hurt each other’s feelings.

This is why Julia Montes and Alden Richards believe that it is important to understand what love is before entering a relationship.

The two stars shared this advice in an exclusive interview with republicasia, following the world premiere of the official trailer of Five Breakups and a Romance on Wednesday.

The new romance film is Montes and Richards’ first project together, where they will play the role of a couple whose relationship goes through ups and downs as they try to balance love and career.

Richards will give life to a happy-go-lucky man named Lance, while Montes will portray a career-driven woman named Justine.

During the interview, Montes highlighted the importance of loving one’s self first before they love others.

“When you know yourself and you love yourself, everything will fall into place, and whatever hardships na dumating, hindi kagi-give up eh kasi you love yourself first,” the 28-year-old actress said.

It also helps them to better express themselves, Montes said.

“Malaking factor din siya na kung paano mo rin i-e-express yung love mo sa isang tao and you will not judge that person based on your understanding lang because alam mo rin na ikaw, minahal mo muna yung sarili mo with those hardships, bago mo rin minahal yung other person,” she added.

Meanwhile, Richards reminded everyone, especially the youth, to take love seriously.

“This is not something that you will get into tapos pag ayaw mo na, ayaw mo na,” the 31-year-old actor said.

He continued, “Love has a deeper meaning. Let’s preserve the very essence of the word. In terms of love, especially getting into a relationship, syempre hindi yan laro.”

Aside from understanding love, Richards said that people should also be emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared before entering a relationship.

He added that good communication between lovers is key, even if their relationship does not work well. What is important is that they were able to explain their perspectives before they went their separate ways, Richards noted.

“Na-discuss niyo ‘yon bago kayo maghiwalay, nasabi niyo ‘yon sa isa’t-isa, at malinaw kung bakit kayo nandon sa ganong situation,” he said.

The two stars also reminded everyone that no relationship is like the fairy tales that people often see on screen. They added that when two people have been together for years, it is because both of them have worked together to make their relationship last long.

“You work out your relationship, you work out the love that you have for each other para hindi masakit,” Richards said.

Montes chipped in, “Hindi kailangang kasal kayo agad para sabihin niyong, ‘Through thick and thin.’ Dapat entering a relationship pa lang klaro sa’yo na gusto mong lumaban, to fight for that love.”

But will these pieces of advice also apply to the characters of Montes and Richards in the film? Will Lance and Justine be able to work their relationship together? These are the questions that viewers have to find out in Five Breakups and a Romance.

Directed by Irene Emma Villamor, the new romance movie is set to premiere in Philippine theaters on October 18.