GMA Network
Actors: Gabby Concepcion, Sanya Lopez, Pancho Magno, Casey Legaspi, Buboy Garovillo, Sandy Andolong, Maxine Medina, Gardo Versoza, Kakai Bautista, Cai Cortez, Pilar Pilapil, Anjo Damiles
Format/Genre: TV Series/Romcom. Family Drama
Premise: ‘First Yaya’ is the aspirational, fairy-tale-like story of an ordinary woman who gets to lead an extraordinary life as the nanny of the children of a widower Philippine Vice-President who eventually becomes the President by accession and election.
Timeslot: Weeknights, 8:15 PM
Why You Should See It:
If you think ‘First Yaya’ will be light and breezy—on its pilot, at least—you’re definitely wrong. The maiden episode of the highly-anticipated series is a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
One of GMA’s most important drama series, this year, the new family drama seems poised to excite viewers with succeeding episodes to come.
In First Yaya, Melody (Sanya Lopez), is a striving OFW trying to make ends meet so she could send enough money to her family in the Philippines. She feels her boyfriend back home is about to propose marriage, while she thinks the time is not yet ripe for them to settle down, the possibility still excites her. A few weeks later, she’s back in the Philippines to surprise her family. Except to her horror, she’s the one to get surprised.
It turns out, her long-time boyfriend, Jasper (Anjo Damiles), has been trying to confess to her, something she definitely won’t want to hear—he got her younger sister, Gemrose, pregnant. That moment is Melody’s first heartbreak, within that single episode, the second being, the death of her father (played by Buboy Garovillo). Pure-hearted and brimming with forgiveness, Melody quickly made peace with her sister and Jasper—a moment that is definitely overwhelmingly heartwarming.
For a pilot episode, there are a few important things lacking in the series. It feels utterly confined in its choices, as far as location and resources are concerned.
In comparison with other series that debuted during the pandemic, First Yaya struggles too much to make some of its choices fit with the narrative it wants to weave. There is also this weird camerawork that frames scenes in unflattering angles, and that makes absorbing the story somewhat harder.
Nevertheless, this is a show that successfully balances humor and drama in one setting, and it comes out victoriously in both departments. In the latter, however, Lopez shines extravagantly, as it showcases her impressing acting chops.
Melody’s first encounter with Vice-President Glenn Acosta is a moment that is gloriously-filled with glitters and perfume—that’s another way of saying fairytale-like and dreamy. Their first conversation, however, is one magical moment, that feels to be the beginning of romantic fantasy, most viewers can relate to.
First Yaya’s plot isn’t unique, that’s for sure, but there are enough indications that suggest a level of “kilig” and romance, faithful Kapuso audiences have not yet experienced, one that would surely keep them glued on to their tv screens for many nights to come.
Now on its pilot week, First Yaya airs after 24 Oras on GMA Network, GTV, and House of Asia.
