Inspirational TV dramas became a common trend in Philippine local television ever since the onset of the modern Pinoy soap opera. They remain a big attraction today, but these two have arguably found a bigger audience in the late 2000s.
ABS-CBN and GMA Network both love soap operas with practically the same general plots and characters. Among the common elements in their dramas include revenge, fairytale romances, and redemption. Family is also of the usual anthem, and children are often among the most important players.
There are, however, several titles whose spotlight was on child characters. Two series in the late 2000s did not only focus their lens on child protagonists but also their miraculous powers.
Nope, they are not superheroes. They are, however, gifted individuals who received the power of healing from God.
May Bukas Pa (2009) and Mga Mata ni Anghelita (2007) are two family dramas that depicted strong, faith-based motivations.
Both starred by child stars, and the series performed very well in ratings.
May Bukas Pa was a consistent top-rater, according to TNS and Kantar rating board, while Mga Mata ni Anghelita also posted impressive AGB Mega Manila ratings.
ABS-CBN’s May Bukas Pa was then starred by then a newbie child actor, Zaijian Jaranilla. He played the role of the miracle boy, Santino. GMA Network’s Mga Mata ni Anghelita, on the other hand, had Krystal Reyes who topbilled the series.
May Bukas Pa remains today as ABS-CBN’s highest-rated inspirational dramas. Its success in TV ratings had prompted the Network to extend its airing up to a year, with many of the Network’s biggest stars tapped to appear as guest roles on the series. The show went head-to-head with GMA Network’s 2009 adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s superhero classic, Darna, which starred Marian Rivera.
May Bukas Pa won the TV rating battle, both in Kantar Media and AGB Nielsen’s scorebooks.
Mga Mata ni Anghelita, an adaptation of the late Julie Vega-starrer in the late 80s, went head-to-head against ABS-CBN’s TV adaptation of Kokey. The Kapuso serye largely won the TV rating battle according to AGB Nielsen’s figures but lost on TNS Media’s.
Regardless of their performances in the ratings, however, these two shows made TV-watching moments in the late 2000s, more pleasurable.
The life lessons and priceless anecdotes of faith they both shared are something one can still rely on today. One can’t set aside those lessons, especially now that the world is going through a phase that can easily make most people question their faith.
