Based on the data of ratings provider, Kantar Media, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano won all of its 1,156 matches with GMA Telebabad. Now that the five-year-old program has departed from free television, let’s remember the 16 programs that GMA Network pitted against the Coco-Martin starrer since its debut.
MariMar
The 2015 adaptation of the 90’s mexicanovela hit of the same name, ‘MariMar’, starred Megan Young in the title role and Tom Rodriguez as Sergio. The show first went against FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on September 28, 2015, the latter’s pilot episode. The GMA Telebabad show suffered miserably in its bid to topple the Coco Martin starrer, which maintained a double digit-lead over MariMar throughout their three month-long match. (Sept 28, 2015-Jan 8, 2016)
Little Nanay
Kris Bernal played the title role in ‘Little Nanay’, where she was joined by Superstar Nora Aunor. The show switched timeslots with MariMar on January 11, 2016, after the latter’s three month battle with FPJAP. It’s 17.2% rating during its first night against the Coco Martin-starrer, only worsened to 16.9% on its last attempt to win. (Jan 11-Mar 23, 2016)
Poor Señorita
One can say the Regine Velasquez-Alcasid-led romcom was just aptly titled, after faring poorly in ratings against FPJAP, whose ratings in Kantar Media’s data only went below 40% eight times. (Mar 28-July 15,2016)
Encantadia
Arguably, the strongest show from GMA to ever face FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, the Sanggres’ power eventually fainted and inevitably collapsed after its 9-month duel with the mortal, Cardo Dalisay. Some actors from the fantasy series even went to play one of FPJAP’s new characters, most notable of which, is John Arcilla, who still remains with the show. (July 18, 2016-May 19,2017)
Mulawin vs Ravena
The second fantasy series to be pitted with FPJAP performed even more weakly than its predecessor. It’s less than three month-attempt to topple the then almost two-year-old Ang Probinsyano was a complete failure (May 22-Aug 11, 2017)
Alyas Robin Hood
GMA Network’s pitting its own primetime king, Dingdong Dantes, with Coco Martin, who by then, was already hailed as the “Primetime King” of the industry, was short-lived, and never generated a single win for the network.
(Aug 14-Sep 15,2017)
Super Ma’am
The job to unseat Cardo Dalisay from the top was placed by GMA Network on the shoulders of its primetime queen, Marian Rivera but to no avail. The fantasy-comedy series only suffered the same fate as Alyas Robinhood, which it traded timeslots with upon its pilot.
(Sep 28, 2017- Jan 26, 2018)
Sherlock Jr.
The Kapuso bid to topple FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano was continued by the Rura Madrid-starrer, Sherlock Jr. This proved to be as disastrous as its attempt to become a decent detective-themed show.
(Jan 29-Apr 27, 2018)
The Cure
The 65-episode long match between pandemic-themed, The Cure and FPJAP, didn’t make a single victory for GMA Network, either. This was the second time Tom Rodriguez starred in a losing show, against Coco Martin’s, the first being the second Pinoy reiteration of the Mexicanovela hit, MariMar.
(Apr 30-July 27, 2018)
Victor Magtanggol
The Thor-inspired Victor Magtanggol went head-to-head with FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano for three months, and didn’t return any favorable results for GMA Telebabad. The Alden Richards-led series was heavily-criticized for its poor and inconsistent special effects and its striking similarity with Marvel’s Thor.
(Jul 30-Nov 18,2018)
Cain at Abel
This show marked the second time Dingdong Dantes played a titular role to defeat Ang Probinsyano. He was joined here by Dennis Trillo, who also came from another show (Mulawin vs Ravena) that previously got pitted with and lost to the Coco Martin-starrer.
(Nov 19, 2018-Feb 15, 2019)
KaraMia
GMA Network took another gamble with a fantasy-themed series with KaraMia, but proved to be futile. The show about twins in one body, was a loser from its pilot to its finale.
(Feb 18-Jun 28, 2019)
Sahaya
Originally pitted against Angel Locsin-led The General’s Daughter, Sahaya occupied the timeslot vacated by KaraMia, in hopes to score GMA Telebabad’s first win against FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, but failed. (Jul 1-Sep 6, 2019)
Beautiful Justice
This show’s quest to defeat FPJAP started almost eclipsed the onset of the latter’s fourth year on air. It’s performance against then already the country’s longest running tv series, was never better than its predecessors.
(Sep 9, 2019-Jan 24, 2020)
Anak ni Biday vs Anak ni Waray
Rising stars Barbie Forteza and Kate Valdez starred in the 15th show to go against FPJAP. It didn’t give the network’s first victory in the Kantar’s ratings, as expected.
(Jan 27-Feb 28, 2020)
Descendants of the Sun
The Pinoy adaptation of the Korean hit of the same name, was the last GMA program to go against Cardo Dalisay, before content production was halted in the wake of the current pandemic. It is also possibly the last, as FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano can now only be seen via cable and online platforms, following ABS-CBN’s shutdown. The show’s short two-week battle with FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano didn’t return any win for GMA in either AGB Nielsen’s or Kantar Media ratings.
(Mar 2-Mar, 2020)
FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano continues to air with fresh new episodes over KAPAMILYA CHANNEL and KAPAMILYA ONLINE LIVE, after TV Patrol. Fresh and old episodes can also be streamed on ABS-CBN’s video streaming app, iwantTFC
