Through the years, ABS-CBN has delivered top-rated teleseryes that explored plots on ‘cursed beauty’ and featured characters who became champions of either magic or technology.
The fascination with physical and aesthetic beauty is well-reflected on local TV shows whose main characters are girls or women who magically transformed from an ugly duckling to a beautiful lady-swan. More often, these shows contained elements of magic and fantasy. Hence, the number of female-led TV shows where the main character becomes beautiful through magic.
Similarly, TV shows that featured characters with facial deformities and later became beautiful through cosmetic procedures are also a hit among Filipino viewers.
Filipinos’ obsession with these shows somewhat reflects a problematic sense of beauty. It is also worth noting that many of these dramas are also inspiring in nature and created to teach how inner beauty is more important than physical looks.
Galema: Anak ni Zuma (2013).
Galema: Anak ni Zuma is based on Jim Fernandez’s classic comic book, Zuma, and starred by Andi Eigenmann in the title role.
The series followed the titular Galema, and the twin snakes behind her neck. Galema is the daughter of Zuma, who raped her mother, Galela.
The story follows Galema’s journey of finding true love and her quest to defeat her father. The series ran from 30 September 2013 to 28 March 2014.
Hiram na Mukha (2007).
Hiram na Mukha is Heart Evangelista’s last teleserye with ABS-CBN, before she transferred to GMA Network in 2008.
In the series, Carissa (Evangelista) was born with a deformed face. Because of her appearance, she was deemed a curse and bringer of misfortune by the whole town.
Along with her family, she got banished from the town, which extremely mistreated her and her family. Through an intensive facial procedure, she returned with a face of a beautiful woman and started exacting her revenge from those who made her life miserable.
The TV drama is part of ABS-CBN’s defunct SineSerye Presents series.
Kambal Sa Uma (2009).
Based on the comic book of the same name by renowned illustrator Jim Fernandez, Kambal Sa Uma tells the story of twin sisters, Ella (Melissa Ricks) and Vira (Shaina Magdayao), who both have the physical features of a rodent.
Vira, whose rat-like features are hidden, was given away to a wealthy family by her mother. Ella, on the other hand, stayed with them. She was kept from the sights of townspeople to avoid persecution for her rodential features.
The series served as Melissa Ricks and Matt Evans’s first lead project as a tandem after their successful Iisa Pa Lamang stint.
Kampanerang Kuba (2005).
Kampanerang Kuba gave Anne Curtis her first lead role in a primetime TV series, after transferring to ABS-CBN from GMA Network, a year earlier.
The series is based on Pablo S. Gomez’s classic comic book of the same title, from the ‘70s.
It follows the story of Imang, a hunchback bellringer, who transforms into a beautiful woman when a magical candle is lit. Curtis starred the series along with Christian Bautista, Luis Manzano, Mark Bautista, and Jodi Sta. Maria.
La Vida Lena (2021).
This currently-airing ABS-CBN series is probably among the feistiest revenge dramas ever produced by ABS-CBN.
Starring Erich Gonzales in the title role, La Vida Lena follows the life of Magda, a young barrio girl who was bullied and discriminated against by the Narcisos. A streak of bad luck struck Magda, which led her to spend years behind bars.
Vowing to take her revenge on the Narcisos, she returned with a new identity and new face. She became Lena Mendoza.
The series is still airing and will premiere its Book 3 in November.
Marina (2003).
Marina is widely-considered as the teleserye to have spearheaded the ‘fantaserye’ craze on Philippine television.
Starring Claudine Barretto in the title role, Marina tells the story of a young girl who was cursed by a witch to become a mermaid on her 7th birthday.
The top-rated fantasy series followed Marina’s journey to defeating Victoria and finding her way back to her family again.
Mirabella (2014).
This series marked former Kapamilya star Julia Barretto’s first lead role in a teleserye.
It also featured Enrique Gil, Sam Concepcion, and Mika de la Cruz in major roles. The story follows Mira, a young lady who inherited her mother’s curse, which made her skin looks like wood.
She temporarily breaks the curse with the help of a mysterious flower. The series was short-lived as it aired with only 73 episodes.
Moon of Desire (2014).
This top-rated ABS-CBN daytime drama starred Meg Imperial and JC de Vera in lead roles.
It also featured Ellen Adarna, Dominic Roque, and Miko Raval in supporting roles.
The story follows radio DJ Ayla and her popular radio show, Moon of Desire. Ayla is very popular with her listeners, but she never reveals her face and her looks. It is due to her rare skin condition called hypertrichosis, which makes her excessively grow hair all over her body.
The show lasted on-air for 98 episodes.
Rosalka (2010).
This ABS-CBN daytime drama served as Empress Schuck’s first lead-role in an ABS-CBN teleserye, following her transfer from GMA Network.
The show follows the story of a young woman, named Rosa, whose physical deformity made her the object of the public’s intolerance and discrimination.
Rosa, however, carries a big secret that is both a curse and a blessing.
She carries the monster, Alka, on her back, which detaches every full moon to make Rosa a beautiful lady, who is free from any deformity and flaws. The series won the PMPC Star Awards for TV’s Best Daytime Drama Series trophy in 2010.
Sabel (2010).
Based on Joey Gosiengfao’s 1981 film, Bata Pa Si Sabel, Sabel served as Jessy Mendiola’s launching TV series.
Its story follows the titular character who was born out of the forbidden affair between her mother Choleng and the priest Julio. Because of it, Sabel was regarded by the townspeople as a curse.
The series also starred the late AJ Perez and Joseph Marco.
Have you seen any of these teleseryes? What are your thoughts about them? Make your opinion known in the comment section.
