May Bukas Pa (2009 TV series)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

May Bukas Pa
Title card
GenreChristian drama
Created byABS-CBN Studios
Dindo C. Perez
Julie Anne R. Benitez
Rondel P. Lindayag
Developed byABS-CBN Studios
Written by
  • Dindo Perez[1]
  • Shugo Praico
  • Ayis de Guzman
Directed by
  • Jerome Chavez Pobocan[1]
  • Jojo A. Saguin[1]
  • Erick C. Salud
Starring
Theme music composerCharo Unite[1]
Ernie Dela Peña[1]
Ending theme"May Bukas Pa" by Kyle Balili (eps. 1–31),[1][2]
by Kyle Balili and Erik Santos (eps. 32–263)[3]
ComposersVincent de Jesus (Eps. 1–20)[1][4]
Jessie Lasaten (Eps. 21–263)[5][2]
Country of originPhilippines
Original languageFilipino
No. of episodes263 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerRosselle Parana Soldao
Production locations
Editors
  • Froilan Francia[1]
  • Charlie Palanca[1]
  • Bren John de Leon
  • Irvin Cajayon
  • Ding Mora
  • Ray Ann Endaya
  • Mario Arbizo
Running time37–46 minutes
Production company
Dreamscape Entertainment Television
Original release
NetworkABS-CBN
ReleaseFebruary 2, 2009 (2009-02-02) –
February 5, 2010 (2010-02-05)

May Bukas Pa (lit.'There's Still Tomorrow') is a

Dreamscape Entertainment Television and directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan, Jojo A. Saguin, and Erick C. Salud. The series features an ensemble cast consisting of Zaijian Jaranilla, Albert Martinez, Dina Bonnevie, Tonton Gutierrez, Maja Salvador, Rayver Cruz, Dominic Ochoa, Desiree del Valle, Precious Lara Quigaman, Lito Pimentel, and Jaime Fabregas. The series aired on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida block from February 2, 2009 to February 5, 2010, replacing Precious Time and was replaced by Agua Bendita
.

Overview

This show has been developed by Mga Anghel na Walang Langit and Princess Sarah due to genre of inspirational, and values and religious-oriented drama series where Dreamscape Entertainment released these type of series from 2005 to 2021. It was succeeded by Agua Bendita and Juan dela Cruz when it comes to religious-oriented series in 2010 and 2013 respectively, and Mutya in 2011.

The series was announced in late 2008 (the same year

Bacolor, Pampanga
. Overall, the production process of the series which included its announcement and story conference spanned two years.

In 2009, Maja Salvador took a break from the show for three months in order to focus on Nagsimula sa Puso. At the same time, she and Precious Lara Quigaman had announced that they have joined their new show Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Impostor which came out in 2010.

As a result of the show's popularity, other media related to the series were aired or released.

The show aired two reruns of its first season, the first being from April 9 to 11, 2009 during the Paschal Triduum of that year, in which the first 48 episodes were re-aired during the said period.

The second reruns were re-aired from March 16, 2020 to May 4, 2020 ten years after the end of the show's original airing on February 5, 2010, temporarily replacing Ang Probinsyano due to the community quarantines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, which resulted in ABS-CBN suspending the tapings of their then-ongoing drama series. During this period, the first 65 episodes of the series were re-aired.[8]

The said reruns ended on May 5, 2020 due to the

network's shut down
on that night as a result of the expiration of its broadcast franchise granted in 1995 the day prior.

Series Chapter numbers
(with episode
numbers)
No. of
chapters
No. of
episodes
(each chapter
numbers)
No. of
episodes
(overall)
First aired
(by
chapter)
Last aired
(by
chapter)
First
aired
(overall)
Last
aired
(overall)
2009 1–12
(1–65)
34 65 237 February 2, 2009 May 5, 2009 February 2, 2009 December 31, 2009
12–28
(66–158)
93 May 6, 2009 September 11, 2009
28–29
(159–195)
37 September 14, 2009 November 3, 2009
29–34 (196–237) 42 November 4, 2009 December 31, 2009
2010 34 (238–240) 5 3 26 January 1, 2010 January 5, 2010 January 1, 2010 February 5, 2010
34–35 (241–247) 7 January 6, 2010 January 14, 2010
35–37 (248–258) 11 January 15, 2010 January 29, 2010
37–38 (259–263) 5 February 1, 2010 February 5, 2010
Specials and other media 2009 29 74 February 1, 2009 December 27, 2009 February 1, 2009 November 15, 2023
2010–2023 45 January 1, 2010 November 15, 2023

Plot

The story revolves around Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla), a wide-eyed young boy who was orphaned as a baby before being adopted and raised by Franciscans. Living in the fictional town of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, he eventually discovers the ability to see and speak with Jesus Christ, whom he fondly called “Bro”. He also gains the ability to miraculously heal the sick. With these special abilities, Santino goes out to help other people with their problems and make a difference in their lives.[9]

It focuses on kindness and morality in humanity. A child who believes that there's always a way to fix everything even if you did something bad. He believes that "Bro", his nickname for Jesus Christ, will always guide them by the light. It has such a great impact on most Filipinos on how they view life on a positive side.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Zaijian Jaranilla (left) portrays Santino. Andre Tiangco (right) portrays Fr. George
Precious Lara Quigaman portrays Criselda "Selda" Rodriguez-Sta. Maria
Maja Salvador portrays Stella R. Sta. Maria
Rayver Cruz portrays Francisco "Cocoy" Bautista
Jaime Fabregas portrays Fr. Anthony
Lead cast
Supporting cast

Spiritual characters

  • Love Thadani
    Jesus Christ
  • Uncredited voice actor as Satan
  • Mother Mary

The Priests

  • Badjie Mortiz as Fr. Paul Makopa
  • David Chua as Fr. Chino "Chi" Wang
  • Andre Tiangco as Fr. George
  • Ruben Gonzaga as Fr. Patrick
  • Edgar Sandalo as Fr. Jude

Recurring cast

  • Ogie Diaz as Renato "Atong" Arguelles
  • Arlene Muhlach as Viviana "Baby" Arguelles
  • Timothy Chan as Rico R. Rodrigo/Policarpio
  • Phoebe Khae Arbotante as Joy R. Sta. Maria
  • Victor Basa as Fr. John Delgado

Additional cast

  • Francis Magundayao as Paco
  • Miguelito de Guzman as Alfred
  • Liza Lorena as Doña Anita Rodriguez
  • Michael Conan as Dante Maoricio
  • Ron Morales as Robert Sanchez/ Gustavo Policarpio
  • Jerry O'Hara as Senior Superintendent Raul Guevarra
  • Rosalie, Kimberly, and Jennifer as fictitious versions of themselves
  • Erin Panlilio as Grace

Guest cast

Marketing

Merchandise

In line with the show's immense popularity, various merchandise such as tshirts, sandals and other items were made for children. They were available from 2009 to 2010, and can still able to be bought within 2010 even after the show ended on February 5, 2010 until there are no more left or they became out of stock on all stores.

Music

Theme song

The theme song of the religious drama with the same title was originally performed by Rico J. Puno. The first version is sung by Kyle Balili and the second version is sung by Erik Santos.

Soundtrack

May Bukas Pa (Conversations Of Bro & Santino)
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
Released2009 (2009)
GenreSoundtrack
Length47:11
LanguageFilipino
LabelStar Music
ProducerABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.
No.TitleArtistLength
1."May Bukas Pa"Kyle Balili4:25
2."Pagmamahal - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:49
3."Nariyan Ka"Juris4:32
4."Pagpapatawad - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:44
5."Gaya ng Dati"Erik Santos5:30
6."Kapayapaan - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:48
7."Sana"Yeng Constantino, Kyle Balili4:06
8."Pagpapagaling - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:40
9."Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad"Jaime Rivera3:05
10."Pagpaparaya - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:38
11."Pananagutan"Bugoy Drilon3:55
12."Pananampalataya - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:33
13."Awit ng Puso"Fatima Soriano3:35
14."Pagbibigayan"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:38
15."Ganyan ang Pasko"Toni Gonzaga3:47
16."Kaligayahan - Conversations"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:40
17."Tomorrow"Rhap Salazar3:31
18."Pag-Asa"Bro (Love Thadani), Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla)0:31
19."May Bukas Pa"Erik Santos4:37
Total length:47:11

ABS-CBN Christmas ID

Parol ni Bro Promotion

ABS-CBN's Christmas 2009 campaign was inspired by the show's popularity. The song is entitled "Star ng Pasko" (lit.'Star of Christmas'). Christmas lanterns were specially created by ABS-CBN that are sold to benefit ABS-CBN foundation's charity programs. ABS-CBN launched Parol ni Bro on November 4, 2009, where an 18-foot Christmas lantern on the top of the ABS-CBN building was lit up by the May Bukas Pa cast, ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio, and ABS-CBN chairman and CEO Eugenio Lopez III.[11]

It was later used for the network's 2010 and 2019 Christmas Station IDs "Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino" (lit.'This Christmas, the Filipinos will Shine') and "Family is Forever". It also has musical similarities with the 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2020, and 2023 Christmas Station IDs "Isang Pamilya, Isang Puso, Ngayong Pasko", "Sabay Tayo, Kapamilya", "Walang Mag-iisa Ngayong Pasko", "Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino", "Just Love Ngayong Christmas", and "Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya". GMA also had its 2019 Christmas Station ID "Love Shines" having scenes patterned after the 2009 ID.

Reception

Due to the show's ratings, ABS-CBN's management has decided to extend it for 20 weeks instead of the initial eight weeks.[12] On June 23, 2009, ABS-CBN television head Cory Vidanes announced that the show would be extended until February 2010.[13]

May Bukas Pa was the highest-rated program on Philippine television from 2009 to June 3, 2011 when the 2010–2011 series

switched to a nationwide TV ratings system in the opening day of 2009.[14][15][16]

Critical reception

Entertainment columnist Nestor Torre of the Philippine Daily Inquirer said "It must have been a big decision for the new show’s producers to get away from that downbeat view of life and come up with this Marcelino Pan Y Vino-inspired tale. But it’s great to note that the gamble has paid off in a big way: May Bukas Pa has been enjoying very good ratings, proving what we’ve been saying all this time--that viewers want to be inspired by the dramas they watch." However, he criticized the show's "religious" scenes which are "poorly, shallowly staged, thus making genuine inspiration and devotion difficult to come by while viewing the series." He further criticized the show's use of extras mostly playing sick people, who turn out to be bad actors. He adds, "Any director worth his salt would have sensed that the montage of healing needed good actors to make it meaningful and moving. Why were inept actors used instead? Possibly because the production was scrimping on talent fees. Well, it was a penny-wise pound-foolish decision, because the important sequence was botched."[17]

Accolades

As a result of the show's success, many awards associated with the show were awarded and announced through telecast from 2009 to 2011 (with Jeepney Fan Favorite Awards - Fave Child Star was awarded to the show's lead actor Zaijian Jaranilla in 2022 eleven years after the last award (1st Lingkod TV Awards - Most Favorite Child Personalities) was announced through TV broadcast in 2011). May Bukas Pa received an award at the 2009 Catholic Mass Media Awards (besides its Best Drama award), given by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales. The award was received by lead star Zaijian Jaranilla and the supporting actors who play priests (who also wore cassocks for the occasion).[18] Anak TV Seal Awards was also awarded twice in 2009 and 2010 (with the latter along with Noah, Jaranilla's next drama on-screen appearance after May Bukas Pa).

2009 Anak TV Seal Awards Mala Makabata Awardee (Zaijian Jaranilla) Included
1st MTRCB TV Awards Special Award for Promoting Moral Values Won
Seoul International Drama Awards[19] Best Drama Series Nominated
Catholic Mass Media Awards Best Drama (tied with Tayong Dalawa) Won
ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Awards
Pop Kapamilya New Face (Zaijian Jaranilla) Won
ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Awards
Pop Kapamilya TV Show Nominated
18th KBP Golden Dove Awards Best Primetime Drama Series Won
PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Primetime Drama Series Won
PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Male New TV Personality (Zaijian Jaranilla) Won
PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Drama Actor (Albert Martinez) Nominated
2010 8th Gawad Tanglaw Special Jury Award for Television Won
8th Gawad Tanglaw Natatanging Gawad TANGLAW para sa Sining ng Telebisyon (Zaijan Jaranilla) Won
6th USTv Awards Students' Choice of Actor in a Daily Soap Opera (Zaijian Jaranilla) Won
12th Gawad PASADO Awards Pinakapasadong Simbolo sa Kagandahang Asal (Zaijian Jaranilla) Won
41st GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment Awards[20]
TV Program of the Year Won
TV Directors of the Year (Jojo Saguin and Jerome Pobocan ) Won
32nd Catholic Mass Media Awards Best Inspirational Album (May Bukas Pa (Conversations of Bro and Santino)) Won
Anak TV Seal Awards 2010 Anak TV Roster of Makabata Stars (Zaijian Jaranilla; also with Noah) Won
2010–2011 1st Lingkod TV Awards Most Favorite Child Personalities (Zaijian Jaranilla; also with Noah) Won
2011 20th Golden Dove Awards Best TV Specials Program (Sunday's Best: Banál) Won
2012 8th USTv Awards Students’ Choice of Catholic Program (Sunday's Best: Banál) Won
2022 Jeepney Fan Favorite Awards Fave Child Star (Zaijian Jaranilla) Won

Similarities with the series

The movie Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!, released on April 23, 2011 one year and two months after May Bukas Pa ended, has similarities with the series where Zaijian Jaranilla (who portrays as Angelito in the movie) can able to do miracles to help other people such as healing the sick as well as communicating with spiritual beings (Bro/Jesus Christ and Satan (in the form of a red light) in May Bukas Pa, and God (as a white light) in Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!).

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i May Bukas Pa - Episode 1. YouTube. October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b May Bukas Pa - Episode 31. YouTube. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  3. ^ May Bukas Pa - Episode 32. YouTube. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  4. ^ May Bukas Pa - Episode 20. YouTube. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  5. ^ May Bukas Pa - Episode 21. YouTube. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  6. ABS-CBN News
    . December 16, 2009. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Eric John Salut (January 12, 2009). "Boy, idedemanda si John". People's Journal. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  8. ABS-CBN News
    . March 14, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  9. ^ ABS-CBN Entertainment. "May Bukas Pa - About". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Choose Your Own Jesus: 10 Actors Who Played the Son of God". SPOT.PH. April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Showbuzz". ABS-CBN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  12. ^ "May Bukas Pa” extended due to high ratings" Archived 22 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine by Noypitayo.com 15 February 2009.
  13. ABS-CBN News
    . June 23, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  14. ABS-CBN News. Manila, Philippines: ABS-CBN Corporation
    . Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  15. ^ ABS-CBN Corporation (January 5, 2011). "ABS-CBN cites Kantar Media report saying May Bukas Pa topped 2010 most watched list". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  16. ABS-CBN News
    . June 9, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "‘May Bukas Pa,’ plus and minus" Archived 20 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine by Nestor Torre, 16 March 2009.
  18. ^ ABS-CBN wins big at 31st CMMAs --- from ABS-CBN News Online
  19. ^ "Cristine Reyes attends Seoul International Drama Awards; Eva Fonda wins Special Prize". Telebisyon.net. November 23, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  20. ^ "Chiz: Don't extend Pagcor chief's term | Headlines, News, The Philippine Star". philstar.com. May 20, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.

External links