May-December affairs are a common theme in the movies, and we see a lot of them in real life. For instance, as more women become empowered, they have no qualms about taking on guys half their age or older in the romance department.

This is the same plot twist viewers can expect in the age-gap relationship movie "X and Y," which shows nationwide cinemas on Wednesday, April 17. This is the comeback film of one of Philippine cinema's hot mamas, Ina Raymundo, who last appeared in the 2020 zombie thriller Block Z.

Ina doesn't mind appearing in a May-December movie because she looks as fresh as Daisy even though she's 48 and could shine her light beside her onscreen partner, 21-year-old Kapuso actor Will Ashley.

"X and Y"  refer to Xander and Ysha, the lead characters in the movie directed by Adolf Alix and produced by G Channel PH. Ysha is a 46-year-old woman who wants to travel to make amends with people she hurt in the past. She accidentally meets Xander, who is a breadwinner for his family. Ysha offers to pay Xander so he can accompany her on the journey. Will they fall in love along the way? That's where the story revolves.

Ina and Will were quick to admit that they didn't hesitate to accept the movie offer when it was presented to them, mainly because of Direk Adolf who they've both worked with in the past. 

Ina admitted though that her hesitation centered on Will because he was younger than her real-life first-born Erika, who's 22.

"To be honest, i was a little uncomfortable. Ang worry ko is baka pilit yung pagiging kami ni Will na parang... baka sobrang nanay na yung dating ko sa tabi nya. Kasi sobrang bata nya,di ba? Sya ang pinakabata kong naka-partner sa aking entire showbiz experience. So syempre mayron akong konting apprehension kung mag-wowork ba? Pero nakita ko naman ang pictures namin together. Hindi ko naman makakaila na pwede naman pala," she observed. 

Ina added that her character, Ysha, is her opposite in real life. " She's a matured single woman, workaholic, maldita with no maternal bone in her body. Marami syang nagawang mistakes pero ang similarity namin is, gusto nya talaga ng peace and redemption sa buhay nya, a vindication for all the wrongdoings she did in the past. In simple words, she wants to be a better person."

The director noted that the difference between "X and Y" and other May-December movies is that everything happens while on a road trip. Xander is driving while he and Ysha discuss the complexities of life.

The scriptwriter, Gina Marissa Tagasa, further commented on the film's narrative: "Marami ng kwento ng May-December pero ang theme (ng 'X and Y') is  from the point of view of an empowered woman. Lahat naman kasi ng babae ngayon gustong maging empowered eh pero pag andun na sila, masaya ba sila?"

"In the movie, it was clear to me that the best time to reassess your life is during your down moments. It is really during your low moments where you really need to focus on whether you will rise up and transcend your situation, or just get stuck in the rut," she added.

Although she's been happily married for the longest time to her Canadian hubby, Brian Poturnak, sexy Ina was asked the fictional question about whether she will go out with a man much younger than her. Will she allow it on her daughters too?

"Noong dalaga ako, I dated a younger man. I would say na mas mature pa siya sa mga exes ko in the past. So nasa tao talaga yun," Ina confessed."Kapag may connection ka,kahit mas bata siya, you can go for it. Hecould be more mature than most guys. So, no judgment dito. Yung mommy ko nga, may dinidate sya na 20 years younger than her. Wala akong judgment," she mused.

"X and Y" also stars Bembol Roso, Divine Tetay, Bugoy Carino, Kirst Viray, Ron Angeles, Thor Gomez, Jake Rosales, and Elizabeth Oropesa.