Filipino American History Month has begun, and one way students can connect with their heritage is by diving into classic Filipino dramas, also known as teleserye.
As the name suggests, teleseries is to the Philippines what Korean dramas and telenovelas are to South Korea and Mexico, respectively. Similar to Korean dramas and telenovelas, teleserials appeal to Pinoy viewers in that they express real-life experiences and wish fulfillment, and help families stay connected even when separated by hundreds of miles. important for.
For those interested in the genre but new to the genre, here’s a beginner’s guide to five of the most iconic Pinoy dramas. All of these were broadcast on the Philippine Channel.
“Pangako sa yo” (porn a ko sa yo)
One of the earliest event dramas in the network’s history, “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” (2000) used tried and true archetypes and melodrama as a baseline to create a rich story that spans generations. I am telling you.
The drama, literally translated as “A Promise to You,” is a story of teenage lovers, an adopted poor girl, and a rich boy. Unbeknownst to them, the parents who are trying to separate them were once lovers.
The show is also notable for its place in television series history, as it launched the careers of many young stars and even spawned a remake in the 2010s.
“Robo”
If you’re looking for something more fantastical, 2008’s “Robo” might be for you.
The show depicts the romance between Rika, an aspiring fashion designer who is secretly a werewolf, and Noah, an army lieutenant who hunts werewolves for his job. Their relationship is further complicated by the “Chosen One” prophecy that Laika is the last hope for all werewolves.
The charm of this program is worth noting. Because it popularized werewolves in the Philippines a full year before “The Twilight Saga” and spawned two sequel shows that added vampires and hybrids.
“Please take care of my heart.”
If you prefer something more light-hearted and frolic, “Be Careful with My Heart” might be for you.
The show is a modern fairy tale about Maya, an aspiring flight attendant who becomes a nanny to the three children of Richard, a wealthy widow whom she affectionately calls “Sir Chief.” Maya and Richard eventually fall in love, and she overcomes the challenges of becoming a substitute mother to her children.
“Take Care of Your Heart” is a must-watch, mainly because it has amazing longevity. For several years, the show was the longest-running daytime drama on the Philippine Channel.
“Ride on the wings of love”
Another romantic TV series with an interesting setting is On the Wings of Love.
The show depicts the love story of Leah, a poor girl who immigrated to the United States in search of job opportunities, and Clark, a Filipino American with a scar on his shoulder. To prevent her from being deported to the Philippines, Clark reluctantly marries Leah on a green card basis, but their fake relationship soon develops into something real.
This is a must-watch due to its well-represented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and its significance as the peak of the teleserye’s recent “love team” era. Leading couple James Reid and Nadine Lustre, known by the portmanteau of “Jadeen,” were the third of three famous young celebrity couples to dominate Philippine Channel in the 2010s.
“Ang Probinshano” (PRO-bin-SHA-no)
The lengths of all the aforementioned shows combined will not reach the length of “Ang Probinsyano.”
“Ang Probinsyano,” literally translated as “province” and also known as “brother,” has over 1,000 episodes in its seven years of broadcasting. In terms of number of episodes, it is comparable to the popular Japanese anime series One Piece in the Philippines.
The show began as a remake of a classic Filipino action movie from the 90s, in which the twin brother of a fallen police officer pretends to be his younger brother in order to cover up his death and destroy the drug syndicate that murdered him. This is a story about having to do something. .
Eventually, the show becomes a Fast and Furious-style action thriller as protagonist Ricardo “Caldo” Dalisay turns out to be unkillable and must survive multiple recurring threats, lovers, and allies. Evolve.
You may have to suspend your disbelief, but Kaldo proves to be an action hero worth rooting for. Overall, this show is a great time to watch if you’re willing to spend your life watching it.
