A simmering war of families takes the spotlight in this one-of-a-kind ensemble drama that features some of the GMA network’s most talented young stars.
GMA Network
Actors: Barbie Forteza, Boots Anson-Roa, Sunshine Cruz, Maricel Laxa, David Licauco, Rob Gomez, Nikki Co, Darwin Yu,Dustin Yu, Cassie Banks, David Chua
Genre: Drama, Romance
Premise: A wealthy Filipino-Chinese family gets thrown into chaos in the wake of the demise of an important family member, which prompts the matriarch to exert her full capacity in order to honor family and cultural traditions, and to ensure the future of the family business and fortune.
Running Time: 28-35 mins
Director: Ian Loreños,
Time slot: Weeknights, 9:35 PM
Why You Should See It:
Multi-generational dramas in the local entertainment setting may be relatively new but feel as if their themes are already worn-out with their frequent crisscrossing with traditional soap operas ’ spectrum of sub-genres. That said–there have been a few samples among the hefty library of shows under the genre that somewhat stand out. A great possibility is that the continuation to the rich Mano Po saga is among those few works.
‘Family Fortune’ follows the Chan family, headed by its protective matriarch, Consuelo (Boots Anson-Roa). She had to take some harsh measures since she’s hell-bent on protecting her family’s legacy and honoring the wishes of her departed husband.
When her eldest son died, the company’s business plunges to the brink of chaos, with ill-intentioned family members and distant relatives collectively taking a stance to make sure they get a share of the huge family fortune at stake.
Consuelo has to safeguard her family and make sure the leadership of the family’s businesses falls into the hand of a close ally.
That ally is Consuelo’s daughter, Christine (Sunshine Cruz), who overtakes the company to fill the void between her brother and the next male heir, Anton (David Licauco), who still has six years to prepare for his inevitable ascent. Christine finds opposition in her brother’s scheming mistress, Valerie (Maricel Laxa), who is all geared up to take advantage of her son, Jameson (Nikki Co), to get her share of the inheritance.
She gets reinforcement, however, in Steffy Dy (Barbie Forteza), her new admin assistant, and Joseph (Rob Gomez), her brother’s other illegitimate son.
Like the many multi-generational dramas that came before, Mano Po Legacy: Family Fortune is largely made interesting by the performances of its large ensemble.
The show’s themes are certainly just another version of what the viewers already saw before, but they became more interesting by how ‘Family Fortune’ takes them on a more interesting angle. Cruz, who plays here a crucial role, is no longer a stranger to playing a Filipino-Chinese role (she was on the similarly-themed ABS-CBN drama, Love Thy Woman).
In her second project since she returned to GMA network, the seasoned actress is no longer the other meek woman, but the feisty, intelligent boss, who is practically at the helm of everything to keep a threatened family empire afloat.
Things are expected to get spicy with the clash of personalities and interests in ‘Family Fortune’, and amid the chaos, Forteza’s character, Steffy, becomes an important player that could either end or further invoke the raging familiar war.
Forteza’s inherent quirk makes Steffy a fun character, although it’s how well-positioned the character to make-or-break any other player in the narrative is, that makes her utterly interesting. Campy confrontations are expected to explode, and us-against-the-world romances are likely to take center stage in the story, which makes it an intriguing television piece, albeit with its worn-out themes.
Mano Po Legacy: Family Fortune now airs on GMA Network’s primetime block, Telebabad, from Mondays to Fridays. Watch the official full trailer, below:
