The tandem of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim dubbed as KimXi was one of high-flying love teams in Philippine showbiz.
And sooner than their fans had hoped, their enthralling chemistry on-screen became a real-life love story.
Kim and Xian began dating in 2012, but it was only in 2018 that they confirmed their relationship.
They seemed fine together until the past few months, when stories and speculations erupted on the Internet that KimXi had parted ways for unclear reasons.
Kim’s refusal to answer questions about the state of her relationship with Xian further fueled the hunch that the two were were going through a rough patch.
Fast forward to today: Kim and Xian officially called it quits on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
As fans mourn the breakup of KimXi, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), gazing back on their 12-year romance, lists down their projects as KimXi through the years.
My Binondo Girl (2011-2012)
Kim and Xian were first paired as a love team in the Kapamilya romantic-comedy series My Binondo Girl that ran from 2011 to 2012.
My Binondo Girl tells the story of Jade Yuan (Kim), a little girl who grows up under her protective and loving mother Zheny (Ai-Ai Delas Alas) and brusque yet adoring Grandma Amor (Gina Pareño).
Though never lacking in love and attention, Jade still yearns to feel the love of her estranged father Chen Sy (Richard Yap).
On the other side of the tale is Andy (Xian), Jade’s competition turned support system.
Also in the cast are Matteo Guidicelli, Jolo Revilla, Maja Salvador, Cherry Pie Picache, Glydel Mercado, and Ricardo Cepeda.
Ina, Kapatid, Anak (2012-2013)
After the success of their first rom-com stint as a love team in My Binondo Girl, Kim and Xian made another big hit in the melodrama series Ina, Kapatid, Anak together with Enchong Dee and Maja Salvador.
Ina, Kapatid, Anak tells the story of impoverished Celyn (Kim) and heiress Margaux (Maja).
They’ve become the best of friends until a well-kept secret causes a rift between them— it is revealed that Celyn is the long-lost daughter of Margaux’s adoptive parents.
Trivia: Halfway through its run, lead stars Kim and Maja got embroiled in a controversy. This was the time when Gerald Anderson, Kim’s ex-boyfriend, became Maja’s real-life boyfriend.
Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? (2013)
Star Cinema’s Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? was a 2013 rom-com film based on Ramon Bautista best-selling book of the same title and directed by Joyce Bernal.
This movie tells the story of Sandy (Kim), a girl employee obsessed with her boyfriend Gardo (Kean Cipriano) who dumps her.
She has a total breakdown when, on top of it, she is fired from work by Alex Prieto (Xian).
However, the boss realizes how much he needs Sandy when the other employees reveal her crucial role in the company.
Trivia: Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? was KimXi’s first movie together.
Bride For Rent (2014)
Kim and Xian starred in another rom-com movie Bride for Rent directed by Mae Czarina Cruz.
It tells the story of Raquilita Dela Cruz, a.k.a. Rocky (Kim), a devoted daughter and sister who will do whatever it takes to provide for her impoverished family.
Her love interest is a brash womanizer, the rich and winsome Rocco Espiritu (Xian), who grows up sheltered and spoiled by his famous celebrity grandmother (Pilita Corrales).
The love story of the two begins when Rocky, desperately seeking a job to pay for her family’s rent, auditions for a “role”—Rocco’s pretend-wife.
Past Tense (2014)
In the same year, Kim and Xian starred in their third Star Cinema film Past Tense, directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar.
It tells the story of Belle (Kim) and Babs (Xian), who has been best friend for many years.
Not knowing that Babs has always been in love with her, Belle has her eyes on Carlos (Daniel Matsunaga), the wealthy and dashing heir.
Belle and Carlos become lovers. Babs tells Belle what he discovers about Carlos being unfaithful to her. Still, she chases after Carlos that ultimately leads to a car crash.
Decades after, Belle (now played by Ai-Ai delas Alas) wakes up from her coma and discovers she is no longer the beautiful Belle from before the car crash.
She is given a chance by Papa Time (Benjie Paras) to correct her mistakes by going back to year 2014.
Must Date The Playboy (2015)
ABS-CBN’s StarFlix Must Date The Playboy was a Wattpad-based story starring Tori (Kim) and Zach (Xian).
Tori invades the playboy world of Zach and makes him fall in love with her as revenge tactic imposed by her bestfriend Chloe (Jessy Mendiola).
The series was directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar whom KimXi had worked with in their movies Bride for Rent and Past Tense.
The Story Of Us (2016)
Kim and Xian returned to Kapamilya primetime as stars of the romantic-drama series The Story Of Us.
Xian (Macoy) and Kim (Tin) are childhood friends who eventually fall for each other, only to be separated afterwards by their dreams of a better life.
Macoy chases his dream in Manila while Tin flies to the States to be with her estranged mother in New York.
Other cast members include Zsa Zsa Padilla, Aiko Melendez, John Arcilla, Susan Africa, Bryan Santos, Janus del Prado, Nonong “Bangky” de Andres, Gardo Versoza, Mara Lopez, and Travis Kraft.
Love Thy Woman (2019)
Love Thy Woman is a series infused with Filipino-Chinese culture under the direction of Jeffrey Jeturian, Andoy Ranay, and Jerry Lopez Sineneng.
Kim plays Jia, step sister of Dana (Yam Concepcion). Half-Chinese and half-Filipino, they are being groomed to take over the multi-million real estate business that their father established.
Both possessing charm and intelligence, Jia has a degree in interior design from a local university, while Dana finishes Architecture at a university in California in the USA.
Dana meets and falls in love with David (Xian), a fellow Chinese.
They get married, but after the wedding, they got into an accident that leaves David injured and Dana comatose.
During David’s time in the hospital, he’s assisted in taking care of Dana by her stepsister Jia—who develops feelings for her brother-in-law.
Trivia: Erich Gonzales was supposed to play the role of Kim’s half-sister and Xian’s wife, but the actress backed out of the series “due to creative differences” according to report of PEP.ph on June 13, 2019.
Also on March 23, 2020, Love Thy Woman had an airing break after ABS-CBN halted production of its entertainment and drama programs due to COVID-19 pandemic and resumed airing via the Kapamilya Channel on June 15, 2020.
Always (2022)
The Philippine adaptation of the hit 2011 South Korean movie Always was the comeback film of KimXi after COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.
This also served as the first project of the tandem after Xian moved to GMA network in August 2021, while Kim has remained with the ABS-CBN network.
The original romantic drama follows the story of a blind woman and a former boxer working as a parking attendant played by Korean stars So Ji-sub (Cheol-min) and Han Hyo-joo (Jung-hwa).
