The pandemic took a great toll on the local entertainment scene. As stern health and safety measures were raised by the government, local production houses struggled to come up with new and fresh content, but there were some who manage the challenges presented by pandemic on filming strategies and practices.
Here’s a look at the best new and returning tv shows, that have—one way or another—helped viewers cope with being stuck at home.
As tense and dramatic as traditional Filipino soap operas, the year 2020 in the context of Philippine television is no doubt intense, with lots of shows getting cancelled, postponed, and the no.1 television network, was forcibly closed, too.
Options, definitely, are awfully reduced, but there are certain gems that stand out, and would surely still stand out, even when compared to last year’s debuts.
The Five Best Shockers
1. Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin (Kapamilya Channel, A2Z)
This absurdly chaotic and oversized-dramatic primetime soap has all the makings of the traditional campy dram, and its existence at a time when boredom easily takes viewers down is pure bliss. Dramatic actresses Jodi Sta.Maria and Iza Calzado wrestle in an immaculate showdown of threats, fatal stares, and revenge.
The show, which is seen across all available ABS-CBN platforms, is a regular topic among netizens, and its views are exploding on YouTube and Facebook, proving its massive popularity. Of course, by all means, one can accuse the show of being unoriginal—but who said hooked viewers are after originality?
Aside from its explosive plot, actors are brilliantly pulling off this drama extravaganza with ease that skipping an episode doesn’t sound forgivable at all.
2. A Soldier’s Heart (ABS-CBN, Kapamilya Channel)
Along with Love Thy Woman, A Soldier’s Heart was one of ABS-CBN shows that faced temporary postponement when safety and health protocols were strictly enforced. Its return marked the birth of the pay tv channel, Kapamilya Channel, which served as ABS-CBN’s interim platform while its franchise application in Congress was still ongoing.
Critically-acclaimed, the show was regularly lauded for its beautiful articulation of the long-standing conflict between Christians and Muslims, as well as between government forces and muslim separatists, in Mindanao.
Outstanding performances from Gerald Anderson, Sid Lucero, Irma Adlawan, and Mickey Ferriols received immense critical attention, and strong support performances were also noted. The show also excited crazy boys’ love fans, who swooned over the ‘bromance’ couple, Phil (Jerome Ponce) and Benjie (Yves Flores), particularly noting their palpable chemistry as a BL couple in a series that doesn’t even fall under the Boys’ love (BL) category.
3. Pamilya Ko (ABS-CBN)
The powerhouse cast of Pamilya Ko is truly a gem, having featured some of the most memorable performances in a local drama this year.
JM de Guzman didn’t surprise with those heartrending moments when his character confronted devastating truths about his identity and family, but we were taken aback, nonetheless, by how piercing his performances were, as if we were the ones bearing his pain.
Probably the most memorable family drama we’ve seen in years, Pamilya Ko is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Sadly, the show is also among the many productions to abruptly end in the wake of the persisting pandemic.
4. Walang Hanggang Paalam (Kapamilya Channel, A2Z)
There is one moment in Walang Hanggang Paalam that I believe should give Paulo Avelino his next Best Actor Award.
This show, almost fully shot during the pandemic, takes you in an emotional ride. Its main theme, child trafficking, alone is controversial and delicate and is probably a game-changer in the context of local tv series.
Impressive technical tricks are also pulled off by the production team to alter scenes. Since kids are not yet allowed to do tapings and be on sets, showrunners have to rely on utilizing green screens to insert child characters into crucial frames.
5. Descendants of the Sun (GMA Network)
Jennylyn Mercado’s and Dingdong Dantes’ casting as lead roles in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean international hit series of the same name can never be more perfect.
The chemistry, which may be the only needed to make Dr. Maxine and Lucas work, is magically forged between the two, and added with a very strong support, Descendants of the Sun PH is nothing short of lovely.
This must be one of GMA Network’s most cinematic tv series, as production design looks very elegant for a tv show, and its crisp visuals only suggest of the massive amount of technical attention spent to make it as good as such.
In No Particular Order:
I Can See You (GMA Network)
GMA Network managed to serve its loyal viewers with an experimental drama anthology that featured four different titles of different genres.
The show served as a filler for the returning episodes of regular Telebabad programs that are all forced to go off air, when filming was practically banned across the entertainment industry. Jennylyn Mercado, Alden Richards, Paolo Contis, and Tom Rodriguez, each starred in their own 5-episode mini-series, presented under the drama-anthology.
Among these four titles, the Jennylyn Mercado-starrer, Truly.Madly.Deeply. created the most buzz on social media, mostly for its exquisite and controversial theme—plus, Mercado and Dennis Trillo portrayed their roles really well, too.
Make It With You (ABS-CBN)
Probably the most beautiful ‘cancelled’-show of the year, Make It With You isn’t just beautiful because of its exquisite set location, but also because it stars two of the prettiest faces in local show business—Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil.
Shot in the beautiful Croatian city of Dubrovnik, the show follows two Filipinos trying to make ends meet in the scenic Croatian city, and how fate set their paths to cross over and over again.
This could have been given with a proper end, but the pandemic itself, imposed harsh restrictions for the actors to give up on it. Sadly, the show didn’t make it until the end.
Love Thy Woman (ABS-CBN, Kapamilya Channel)
Definitely one of the most talked-about series this year, Love Thy Woman’s 95-episode run is as dramatic as ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal ordeal.
The show went on hiatus for a few months, before successfully coming back on air in September. While it returned on air when ABS-CBN’s reach was awfully reduced, its followers online otherwise exploded.
Campy confrontations and surefire drama became its prominent trademarks, as Kim Chiu’s and Yam Concepcion’s characters engaged in a massive showdown for love and attention. This is definitely a one memorable tv series that audience can now always go back to on iWantTFC—ABS-CBN’s video streaming service.
Bagong Umaga (Kapamilya Channel, A2Z)
Hope springs in Bagong Umaga, ABS-CBN’s newest barkada-serye, which stars its new up-and-coming artists who may be the network’s frontrunners in its bid to recover from the tragedies it went through this year.
Bagong Umaga’s arrival is truly symbolic as it almost stands for ABS-CBN’s effort to begin with a clean slate, a fresh beginning from all the mess created by its failure to secure a fresh broadcast license.
FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (ABS-CBN, Kapamilya Channel, A2Z)
This five-year-old Coco Martin-starrer remains among ABS-CBN’s top raters, even after the network’s failure to secure a fresh broadcast franchise from Congress.
Its male-dominated audiences are sure to be still hooked on the show’s take on socio-political issues, while muscular tension between Cardo’s team and his villains, remain a regular feature. The show isn’t showing any suggestion that it’s saying goodbye any time soon.
Special Mentions:
TV5 has been aggressively filling-up its line-up with a variety of formats, an effort it largely owes to a couple of block time deals it made with production houses outside the company.
Among these new titles include the Jane Oineza/Beauty Gonzalez/RK Bagaysing-starrer, ‘I Got You’, a feel-good romcom on weekend that hopeless romantics will surely swoon over; Paano ang Pasko, a powerhouse drama featuring an ensemble of veteran and young stars, which takes a limited run this holiday season; Bella Bandida, starring Ryza Cenon, adapted from the pages of the Francisco Coching comic classic; and Stay-In Love, which stars up-and-coming actor, Kokoy de Santos, who first commanded massive attention from boys’ love lovers, with the online series, Gameboys.
The Maja Salvador-starrer, Hinahanap-hanap Kita finally arrived at the small screen this year, after having a successful iWantTFC and TFC release last year, while GMA Network Drama continues its tradition of serving its loyal audiences with traditional soaps, among which the top-rating Prima Donnas and its primetime drama, Anak ni Waray vs Anak ni Biday are the most notable.
