HISTORY OF

PHILIPPINE DRAMA


Philippine drama (also known as teleserye, teledrama, and P-drama) is a television form of
melodramatic serialized fiction. It is rooted from two words: "tele", which is short for "television," and
"serye", a Tagalog term for "series" and "drama" for drama.

Teleseryes share some characteristics and have similar roots with classic soap operas and
telenovelas, yet the teleserye has evolved into a genre with its own unique characteristics, often working
as a reflection of the social realism of the Filipinos. Teleseryes are aired in prime-time five days a week,
and often replays during weekends. They attract a broad audience which crosses age and gender lines,
and they command the highest advertising rates in Philippine television. They last anywhere from three
months to a year, or even longer, depending on its rating.

Teleseryes are currently produced by ABS-CBN, GMA Network, and TV5. Some of them are
co-produced by TAPE Inc., Dreamscape Entertainment Television, VIVA Entertainment, and Star Cinema.

Other forms of Philippine dramas include serials and anthologies, which are usually shown on
a weekly basis. These dramas are also intended to air a finite number of episodes usually lasting one
season depending on the ratings.

Timeline

Soap operas in The Philippines originated when Gulong ng Palad was first heard on the radio
in 1949. The genre then expanded into television in the early 1960s. The first Philippine TV soap opera
was Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato in 1963, and was produced by ABS-CBN. Liwanag ng Pag-ibig, Prinsipe
Amante, and many others soon followed. The Radio Serial was also the longest running spanned serial
that spanned for decades by the co writer and revival writer Loida Virina in the Mid-70's the story also
was made into a soap starring Marianne Dela Riva as Luisa and Ronald Corveau as Carding in the decade
where rising soaps began it also made stars out of the young Romnick Sarmenta and also Beth Bautista
who was also a model and famous actress in the 80's the soap also starred veteran actress and character
actress Caridad Sanchez whose decades in showbiz spanned for more than 6 decades through present. In
the early 80's RPN-9 Produced Flordeluna Starring Award Winning Actress Janice de Belen the cast also
included the late Drama King Dindo Fernando Award Winning Actress and Director Laurice Guillen In the
early 80's GMA Network also produced the Timeless Hit tale Anna Liza (TV series) starring late child actress
and FAMAS awardee Julie Vega the series spanned for 5 years but due to Julie Vega's death the series had

an unfinished storyline and a two-hour special the series was controversial due to its big support of
viewers to the late young actress fellow actress and fellow TV Rival Janice De Belen also did there film
FlorDeliza a cross over between Flordeluna and Annaliza in film. In the early 2000s in 2006 Gulong ng
Palad ran from January 2006-May 2006 the cast starred Kristine Hermosa as Luisa TJ Trinidad as Carding
and Cherie Gil as Philiomena "Menang" Medel the corrupt town mayor and also the main antagonist of
the series the role of Mimi was given to Andrea del Rosario and Rio Locsin as Caridad "Idad" Santos the
series also was famous to International Viewers as well through TFC. In February 2007-June 3, 2007 the
remake of Maria Flordeluna starred young actress Eliza Pineda as the titular character the series added
the name "Maria" the cast also starred Albert Martinez as Leo Alicante and Eula Valdez as Mary Jo Esperitu
and John Estrada as Gary Alvarado the cast also starred Veteran Actors and Actress' Liza Lorena and The
late Actor Johnny Delgado and Roldan Aquino and Comedianne Minnie Aguilar the series ran for 93
Episodes and won the PMPC STAR AWARDS Best Television Series in 2008. In 2009 the series remake of
AnnaLiza also was shelved and was about to star Maja Salvador and Jason Abalos.

Primetime Power

In the 90's Television Dramas boosted many careers of many but long running dramas where
the ones that stood out to its popularity In 1992-1997 the intenser rivalry of The ABS-CBN drama Mara
Clara made fame to Judy Ann Santos as the protagonist Mara and 90's Villain Gladys Reyes as the evil Clara
the series was one of the longest running soaps of the 90's despite many time changes and also moving
to the Primetime Slot at 7pm and also spanned a successful movie and also spanned another much loved
soap which ran from 1997-1999 Esperanza (TV series) and also made a film which also made Judy Ann
Santos a Primetime Queen. In the 90's the Telenovela Valiente ran for 7 years as well but 3 years on ABS-
CBN and 4 years on GMA-7 in the Afternoon Block in mid-1997 Mula Sa Puso made fame to the Second
Primetime Queen Claudine Barretto where she played the heiress Via in the 3 year long running soap
which also gained her fame with her leading men Rico Yan and Diether Ocampo and Villain Princess
Punzalan as Selina the most influential character of the series in 2000-2002 the series Pangako Sa'yo took
GLORY in broadcasting in many networks across Asia and globally as the soap opera reached out to a
broader audience starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa and an ensemble cast

The Award-Winning Dramas

In the mid-90's drama became more acclaimed and in the 2000s powerful dramas such as
Pangako Sa'yo, Saan Ka Man Naroroon and Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan raved the airwaves the political
drama Kung Mawawala Ka became also one of the most loved powerful dramas which also revolved on
politics and even the most admist issues of corruption the series was headed by one of the most influential
dramatic actors Eddie Garcia where he played a powerful mayor who has three wives with different
children the show shown the dramatic abilities of the most outstanding award-winning actress' Hilda
Koronel, Liza Lorena, and Gloria Diaz as the powerful wives, the series ran from 2001-2002 and also won
a PMPC Award from the Philippine Movie Press Club but was also unrivaled to the ongoing television
drama Pangako Sa'yo which also reached its end in 2002. The TV Series Saan Ka Man Naroroon Starring
Claudine Barretto as the lead role as Rosemarie Rosenda and Rosario won her acclaim for her ongoing

roles and despite time conflict issues she accepted the award. There were also many timeless classics and
many imported dramas to be shown many favorites that came to mind was Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan
another Claudine Barretto starrer which told the timeless love story of the undying love of Angeline
Crisostimo/Angelina whose mistakes that appear in the present also have happened in the past as it
uncovered the lies and the loves of all around her which was actually reincarnated to the present. In 2005
film turned TV Remake Panday (TV series) starred Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista and the remake
of Mga Anghel na Walang Langit and Kampanerang Kuba starring Anne Curtis where just one of the top
trends of the year for ABS-CBN and also for GMA-7 as it brought life to Darna (2005 TV series) a role
reprised by the most famous Darna of all time Vilma Santos in the late 70's and early 80's. In 2006 the
"Sineserye" Bituing Walang Ningning starring Sarah Geronimo and Angelika de la Cruz as they reprised the
roles of Mega-Star Sharon Cuneta and Cherie Gil won prominence and also had a produced concert which
also was "The Grand Finale" this was the first television series which had a finale split in 5 episodes on a
finale week and also the highest rated finale episodes for a Musical-TV series. In 2007 GMA-7 remade the
international telenovela MariMar (Philippines TV series) was remade and starred Marian Rivera and
Dingdong Dantes who grew as bigger stars in their careers. In 2006 three TV Series became very viral the
remake of the 1977-1985 Soap Opera and first ever Filipino Soap Opera Gulong ng Palad starred Kristine
Hermosa and TJ Trinidad and the timeless Teleserye Sa Piling Mo as the comeback television drama series
to Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual with Albert Martinez and Rica Peralejo and the Phenominal TV Series
Maging Sino Ka Man the series became internationally such a hit starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo
and Sam Milby Anne Curtis which boosted its careers and was admired internationally.

Exportation and success

Philippine drama had its ability to the range of popularity in early 2000s (decade), many of
these dramas have become popular throughout Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa and North America,
particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia. These dramas are often dubbed into some
languages, and sometime have its English and other foreign subtitles when imported into those markets.

ABS-CBN has since started the exportation of their dramas, most likely classical dramas as
they often have a universal message. Pangako Sa Yo (The Promise) is one of the most successful Philippine
dramas abroad. Prior to China, the story mesmerized people in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia
and Africa. ABS-CBN has also introduced a website called ABS-CBN International Sales, for easy access to
their shows. Other ABS-CBN shows like Sana Maulit Muli (Taiwan), Lobo (dubbed as She-Wolf: The Last
Sentinel), Tayong Dalawa, Dahil May Isang Ikaw, Kahit Isang Saglit, Katorse, Mara Clara (Remake),
Magkaribal and Walang Hanggan were also exported.

GMA Network's Boys Nxt Door, a teen melodrama, was the first Philippine TV series aired in
South Korea and 1994 Mexican remake MariMar was aired in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore,
Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Hawaii, USA, another GMA Network shows
such as Habang Kapiling Ka, Kahit Kailan, Bakekang, Muli, Impostora, Mga Mata ni Anghelita and Dyesebel
was also released in some countries in Southeast Asia and East Asia.


Success

Today, Philippine dramas gained international recognition from international award-giving
bodies, cementing the reputation of the Philippines as a prime drama producer. Most of these nominated
dramas were from ABS-CBN. It started with Lobo winning the Best Telenovela category in the 30th BANFF
World Television Festival. Several dramas were also nominated in the International Emmy for the
telenovela category, including ABS-CBN's Dahil May Isang Ikaw, Kahit Isang Saglit and GMA's Magdusa Ka.
Magkaribal of ABS-CBN was recently nominated in the 2011 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards.
Another show, Eva Fonda managed to win awards from the Seoul International Drama Awards where the
lead actress Cristine Reyes managed to get a nomination as Best Leading Actress and a Special award for
the show.