Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado | Photo by @_kennethtangonan

This year, Valentine's Day was different for celebrity couple Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado. Both were busy at work, but whatever was on their calendar, they were in it together. On their agenda for the day of Hearts was a mall show in Cebu to promote their movie Everything About My Wife. It was a big-screen reunion for the husband and wife, who starred in the 2010 period drama Rosario. "Bawi na lang kami 'pag may free day na uli sa schedule," Dennis said about going on a date for V-day. Besides, as they say, everyday can be Valentine's Day. 

In their upcoming movie, Dom (Dennis) and Imo (Jennylyn) have the perfect marriage until they reach the seven-year itch. They both feel unhappy and when Imo meets Miguel (Sam Milby), she appreciates the attention he gives her and starts falling for him.

Everything About My Wife, directed by Real S. Florido and written by Rona Co, is a comeback movie for Jennylyn who last starred in a film in 2019's 3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon! Meanwhile, it's a refreshing shift for Dennis, coming from the heavy drama movie Green Bones, for which he won Best Actor at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Since they are a real-life married couple breathing life into the characters of a husband and wife, we asked them how they approached their characterizations for this movie. "Like with our other projects, we are very hands-on in building the character. We create it based on how we understand the character, and on set, we collaborate with our director to make sure we share the same vision as to how we should portray our roles," Dennis told Metro.Style.

A collaboration between CreaZion Studios, GMA Pictures, and Glimmer Studios, Everything About My Wife has a relatable plot sure to bring realizations to married couples. Jennylyn said they also resonate with the relationship depicted in the movie, sharing, "I think the script was written very honestly so that everyone can surely relate, especially with the little things. Like, the scene in the trailer where our characters were casually talking inside the bathroom; he was doing his business, I was doing mine as if there were no boundaries anymore. Ganu'n din kami e. 'Di naman ako nagger but I am also the one making sure all bills were paid, and the house is clean. Very housewife na pakiramdam ko will resonate with a lot of female viewers."

To which, Dennis added, "The movie may have an outrageous premise to some but at its core, EAMW talks about real married life, real married life situations, real married life dilemmas."

Not all married couples have the same chemistry when working on a project together, though. In the case of Dennis and Jennylyn, it's a challenge they welcome. If anything, their funny videos on social media show how natural they are together on-cam; it's the kind of genuine connection so palpable it brings people laughter and, really, #couplegoals.

In one video, you see them dancing to Handsome Dancer's "Coincidance;" in another, they give us a glimpse of what "a normal night" looks like for them.

In a cyberworld filled with couple content creators, we appreciate DenJen and the #goodvibes they are spreading one hilarious video at a time. Jennylyn told us, "Mas malikot utak ni Dennis. Mas marami siyang kalokohan bigla na maiisip. Tapos aayain niya ako to do content with him."

Dennis then credits his rom-com queen wife, saying, "Si Jen din naman. Masayahin siyang tao. Mahilig siyang tumawa. Siya rin magpapakita sa akin ng mga nakakatawang videos online na nakita niya."  

Dennis and Jennylyn married in November 2021. Their daughter, Dylan Jayde, was born in April 2022. They're also raising teenage boys Alex Jazz (her son with Patrick Garcia) and Calix Andreas (his son with Carlene Aguilar). 

It's unavoidable for their long-time relationship to still experience changes as they go through life milestones. How do they resolve conflicts these days? "At this point, alam na alam na namin ang ugali ng isa’t-isa. So we really just have to talk it out or respect each other’s process siguro when it comes to conflicts," Dennis shared. 

"Pero sa totoo lang, we barely have conflicts na," Jennylyn continued. "We are also at this point in our relationship na gusto namin happy na lang, positive, lalo pa't we are raising Dylan. So we want to have a nice, healthy, loving environment around her. Kung kaya umiwas sa nega e iwas na lang."

With their upcoming movie exploring the complex layers of marriage, we asked them how their definition of marriage changed over the years. "Before pa naman alam namin na marriage is a big commitment," Jennylyn opened up. "It's an everyday choice. It's something you work on together. Siguro 'di naman nabago, mas na-affirm lang after we got married na ‘Oo, tama nga. Ganito nga 'yun talaga.’"

"I agree with Jen," Dennis commented. "Kumbaga we put into practice this definition. 'Di na lang siya concept for us; it’s something that we have na in our life. Something we must cherish and protect for our family."

As with many things in life, there is no one formula for making a marriage work. It ultimately depends on the people nurturing it. So, what's the secret ingredient to Dennis and Jennylyn's relationship? Citing one, she said, "'Yung lagi niyo pa rin pinapakilig ang isa’t-isa. 'Di porke't married na kayo, mawawala na 'yung pakilig moves niyo na mas madalas niyong ginawa nu'ng nagliligawan kayo or nagkakakilanlan pa lang."

Catch Everything About My Wife in cinemas on February 26, 2025.

Lead photo by @_kennethtangonan