More and more viewers in foreign countries are falling in love with the Philippines’ values-oriented and romance-filled programs led by popular ABS-CBN teleseryes like “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” “Forevermore,” and “Be Careful With My Heart.”
ABS-CBN International Sales and Distribution head Leng Raymundo revealed that while programs from countries like USA, Mexico, Taiwan, and Korea have become hits on local television, our own TV series have also been gaining following all over the world. In fact, she said “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” has already been dubbed and adapted by various local networks in over 20 foreign territories.
Other Kapamilya shows enjoying a strong viewership abroad include “Got 2 Believe,” “Bridges of Love,” and “On the Wings of Love,” turning our local talents into international celebrities, just like Jericho Rosales in Malaysia, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla in Vietnam, and James Reid and Nadine Lustre in Indonesia.
The good news was relayed to over 1,000 mass communications students at the 11th Pinoy Media Congress (PMC), the annual media conference organized by ABS-CBN and the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), held recently at the St. Mary’s College Quezon City campus, and beamed live via satellite to the Visayas State University.
In her presentation on “Creating Content for Global Audiences,” Leng shared the reason why ABS-CBN’s programs have been successful in capturing the hearts of audiences from the Asia Pacific region, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and in Latin America – the authenticity of its stories.
“Each country has a different culture but everyone is looking for the same thing – a strong love story, family and moral values, and an inspirational character who they can look up to,” she shared.
And with 60 years of experience and expertise in storytelling, ABS-CBN continues to deliver what local and foreign viewers are yearning to see, keeping in mind the goal to also empower and serve audiences apart from providing them entertainment.
“We want to see ourselves in those characters – the ones who triumph despite the hardships and tragedies they face without compromising their values,” she explained.
International award-giving bodies have also begun to notice the Philippines, with Jodi Sta. Maria nominated as Best Actress at the International Emmys, while “Bridges of Love” was nominated in the Best Telenovela category. ABS-CBN executive adviser to the chairman, chief content officer, and ABS-CBN University president Charo Santos-Concio, was also chosen as Gala Chair in 2015, the first Filipino to have been given this honor at the International Emmys.
However, while ABS-CBN is becoming one of the leading sources of content in the region, it continues to lead as well in acquiring quality stories and format from other nations that it believes will bring a meaningful viewing experience to Filipinos. PMC delegates cheered as they were teased with ABS-CBN newest acquisitions that included Korean top-raters “Goblin,” “Legend of the Blue Sea,” and “Love in the Moonlight,” the latter already airing on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida.
Apart from Leng, the students were also able to listen and participate in discussions on the theme “Media and Information Literacy: Understanding Media in Today’s Changing Society” with other speakers like ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN chief of reporters Lynda Jumilla, radio icon Ted Failon, broadcast journalists Ces Orena-Drilon and Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN Film Restoration head Leo Katigbak, renowned scriptwriter and book author Ricky Lee, “The Greatest Love” head writer Jerry Gracio, and ABS-CBN business unit head Ruel Bayani.
To wrap up PMC 11 this year, the country’s leading media and entertainment company also offered free workshops, tours, and film screenings to the delegates on the third day, to further give them exposure and training on their chosen career track. This year, PMC had its biggest turnout with almost 1,400 delegates. More than 9,000 students have been given inspiration and new learnings by the media congress for the past 11 years.
