- “Kambal, Karibal”, GMA Network’s supernatural drama is currently making waves on Philippine television.
- We listed down the Top 10 Reasons Why the hit series is continuously gaining viewership.
“Kambal, Karibal”, GMA Network’s supernatural drama is currently making waves on Philippine television. The series under the helm of director Don Michael Perez stars Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca Umali, Pauline Mendoza and Kyline Alcantara, with Jean Garcia, Marvin Agustin, Alfred Vargas, Carmina Villarroel, Gloria Romero and Christopher de Leon. “Kambal, Karibal” is a riveting tale of family and love that also transcends into the supernatural realm.
It tells the story of twins Crisanta and Criselda. Unfortunately, Criselda dies because of a rare disease and remains a spirit that only appears to Crisanta. However, their close bond will start to fall apart when they both fall in love with Diego. The rivalry between them builds up when their mother’s affections are focused on Crisanta. Eventually, Criselda’s emotions finally consume her and her soul finds another person’s body to inhabit. Now that she is “alive”, she is stopping at nothing to take both her mother’s affection and Diego’s love.
We listed down the Top 10 Reasons Why GMA Network’s “Kambal, Karibal” is continuously gaining viewership.
10. The Young Cast.
The Primetime series features some of GMA’s most sought-after young stars, led by the popular loveteam “BiGuel” – Miguel Tanfelix as Diego Ocampo de Villa and Bianca Umali as Crisanta “Crisan” Bautista / Criselda Bautista together with Pauline Mendoza as Criselda “Crisel” Bautista and Kyline Alcantara as Francheska “Cheska” Ocampo De Villa.
9. The Powerhouse Cast Featuring Veteran Actors.
Aside from its young casts, the series also boasts some of the biggest and most talented veteran actors today like Jean Garcia as Teresa Abaya vda. Bautista, Marvin Agustin as Raymond de Villa, Alfred Vargas as Allan Magpantay, Carmina Villarroel as Geraldine Enriquez-De Villa/Magpantay, Gloria Romero as Maria Anicia Enriquez and Christopher de Leon as Emmanuel “Manuel” de Villa.
The series also stars Jeric Gonzales as Mark Carlos “Makoy” Claveria, Rafa Siguion-Reyna as Vincent, Sheree Bautista as Lilian Ocampo and Raquel Monteza as Mildred Abaya.
8. Kapuso Comebacks.
The series serves as a comeback project from former Kapamilya star Marvin Agustin, whose last project in ABS-CBN was the “Maalala Mo Kaya” episode entitled “Tulay” back in 2017. The series is also one of former Kapamilya Carmina Villarroel’s projects in the Kapuso network after her return last year.
7. A unique take on the local Primetime drama.
Dubbed as GMA Telebabad’s “sanib-serye”, it’s probably the first local Primetime series that featured possession as a theme. It’s other supernatural aspects in the story even makes it more compelling.
6. A Twin thing.
Another thing is its story featuring twins. I don’t know why but we Filipinos have a thing for stories about twins, from “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” (1999) featuring Claudine Barretto portraying the triplets Rosenda, Rosario and Rosemarie, “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay” (2002) where Lorna Tolentino played twins Lorrea and Lorrinda Guinto, “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” (2011), “Doble Kara (2015) with Julia Montes playing the twins-cum-rivals Kara and Sara and “The Blood Sisters” with Erich Gonzales playing Erika, Carrie and Agatha.
Even Coco Martin played a pair of twin brothers in two hit teleseryes, “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” as twins Alexander and Javier and the very recent “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” as twins Ador and Cardo.
5. Believable Performances from the Veteran Actors.
It also helps that the series features a lot of veteran actors in it’s cast, with all of them are giving praise-worthy performances in the show, – from Marvin Agustin, Carmina Villarroel, Gloria Romero, Christopher de Leon and Jean Garcia.
4. Kyline’s superb acting.
Former Kapamilya actress and Internet sensation Kyline Alcantara is also a big advantage for the Primetime series. Kyline mostly played supporting roles back in ABS-CBN after graduating from being part of the cast for “Goin Bulilit”. Although she has received quite a following after becoming an Internet sensation from her video compilations of musical.ly on Youtube, she wasn’t really given a chance to shine in the Kapamilya network. But now that she’s part of GMA, she is now the center of attention of everyone because of her powerful performance in “Kambal, Karibal”.
3. Obviously GMA Network’s most promoted show.
From billboards, mall shows, commercials, guestings, etc, “Kambal, Karibal” is probably the only series in GMA Telebabad that is receiving quite the promotion and attention.
2. Controversies helped them a lot.
I guess it is true when people say “There’s No Such Thing as Bad Publicity”. A lot of controversies has hit the said series, but the biggest of them all would probably when veteran actor Christopher de Leon got wounded after an accident in the shooting of a scene from the show. The actor was hit in the thigh with a blank bullet in a scene where Marvin Agustin was supposed to shoot his character. The actor had to be brought to the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa for an examination where an x-ray showed that the actor had to be operated on.
“Ano ang assurance ng mga artista from mga unfortunate incidents na ganito?” the veteran actor commented. “I’ve been doing this for a long time already, yung mga barilan-barilan, ganun. Kaya lang, ngayon lang ito nangyari sa akin.”
1. Meme-worthy.
Among all of the current shows of GMA Network, nothing beats “Kambal, Karibal” with its series of unintentional (or maybe, a bit intentional) and hilarious mise en scène.
From the laughable CPR scene in the April 30 episode of the series showing a nurse trying to revive Geraldine, played by Carmina Villarroel, who is in critical condition after figuring in a car accident, to the hysterically funny scene showing the twins on a rooftop of a building, where one was threatening her twin and attacked.
And to everyone’s amusement, after Bianca’s character attacked her “twin”, she would’ve fallen to her demise. Instead, they hang on and grabbed that moment to actually have a heart to heart talk with her sister.
Great timing, guys! Good job.
