In the intense world of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” characters are constantly thrown into perilous situations and high-stakes drama. But sometimes, it’s love that gives them the strength to face these challenges. We see this with Santino (Ronwaldo), who finds inspiration in Annika (Dexie Diaz). Their 'thing' has been simmering for a while now, but isn't a slow-burn romance always the most satisfying? 

Their fresh tandem has quickly become a fan favorite, thanks to their undeniable chemistry that brings a spark of excitement and a whole lot of ‘kilig’ to the show. If you want to relive their cutest moments, be sure to check out this Kapamilya Toplist video.

It all started on Santino’s first day working as a maintenance staff at Coach Gary (Levi Ignacio)’s gym, when his eyes were immediately drawn to the beautiful Annika, a regular there. He was even more captivated when she walked up to him and struck up a conversation. During break time, Santino was happily munching on kwek-kwek when Annika and her friend Phoebe (Thamara Alexandria) approached him, leading to some playful banter, with Santino teasing Annika about her big appetite for street food.

A few days later, Annika congratulated him on his first win in the boxing gym, with Phoebe teasingly revealing how worried Annika had been while watching the match. She even hinted that Santino might have had a special inspiration for his victory.

You know you’re in love when you can enjoy just being with someone. Santino and Annika had the chance to bond over fun stories with a bowl of ‘pares’ in an episode. 

And who didn’t blush when she brought him specially made lasagna? She couldn't help but smile secretly when Santino complimented her cooking skills. Before that, he also let her try his mother Marites (Cherry Pie Picache)’s special maja blanca, which she loved so much that she accidentally called his mom "Tita."

When you’re in love, you start thinking about making new routines together. For Santino and Annika, that meant training at the gym. Butterflies sure fluttered their wings when, in a slow-motion moment, Annika accidentally hit his face, and instinctively blew on the spot she struck. She was so shy and surprised when she found herself inches away from his face.

For Santino, that little discomfort didn’t faze him—he was too smitten. Getting hit in the face by Annika was just a minor hiccup, and it turned into a kilig moment while they waited for a ride outside the gym, as Annika gently cupped his face to check the area she had accidentally struck. The chemistry between them was so strong, you could practically feel the spark when their skin touched.

In one particularly heroic moment, Santino showed his care for Annika when he stepped in to stop a thief from snatching her bag. And then, overcome with relief, Annika impulsively hugged him.

As their bond deepened, Santino told Annika everything just feels easier whenever she’s around. And in that sweet moment, Annika, in turn, admitted, “I like you.” And just like that, they both knew their feelings were real.

Annika became Santino’s confidante, the person he could lean on. In one scene, he shared his sadness about not being able to spend time with his older brother, Tanggol (Coco Martin), because their father, Rigor (John Estrada), wouldn’t allow it. Annika, always supportive, empathized with him and suggested that there might be another way for him to see his brother. She promised to help him because she wants to meet Tanggol too, especially after hearing so many great stories about him from Santino.

In another scene, Annika’s excitement was palpable when she found out that Santino would represent their gym in an upcoming tournament. She was overjoyed, knowing how hard he worked to get to this point, and was thrilled after learning that his mom finally gave her blessing for Santino to continue pursuing boxing. It was a huge win for him, and Annika was there to cheer him on. 

In another kilig moment, she surprised him with a new pair of boxing gloves. She told him that, while she knows his problems wouldn’t disappear overnight, she hopes her gift would remind him that he isn’t alone and that there are people, like her, who has his back no matter what.

We end this video montage with a scene filled with sweet, shy glances and awkward silence. Annika broke the tension when she gently cupped Santino’s face and kissed him on the cheek. Santino, caught off guard, stood still for a moment, his mind racing. But then, his face lit up with a smile, and he held Annika’s hands with all the ‘feels’ that even words couldn’t say.

Follow this cute love story in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” airing weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.