These titles prove theme songs and plots aren’t the only ones being used over and over again in the local entertainment scene.
Titles, like in books play a major part in a movie or TV series’ early success. Attention is grabbed by ingenious title, alone, and some simply bank on the rich history behind the title to produce the effective initial hook. However, as most viewers tend to fall for similar things, especially when it comes to romcoms and dramas, some titles get used from time to time. This choice usually leads to great success; hence it has become a practice.
ABS-CBN is one of those production outfits that has produced successful movies and TV series with the same titles. Below is a list of 10 of those TV shows and movies the company has so far released and aired.
Got to Believe.
Got to Believe is the title of both a box-office grossing Star Cinema film and a top-rated primetime TV series.
The title, alone, isn’t what makes these two Kapamilya projects similar, as both starred the biggest love teams of two different decades. The 2002 Star Cinema film was headlined by Rico Yan and Claudine Barretto, who then were the biggest young stars of their time.
The 2013 TV series, on the other hand, starred phenomenal box-office stars, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. The series is among the highest-rated TV series of 2013.
Forevermore.
In the film, Forevermore, Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa try to live a local romantic tale, in hopes of reviving an ailing mango orchard. As they were then also doing Pangako Sa ’Yo (2001) Rosales and Hermosa were at the peak of their fame when they did the film.
Similarly, Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil top-billed the TV series of the same title in 2014, while their careers were moving at a phenomenal pace.
The TV series, which was directed by the box-office director Cathy Garcia-Molina, also went on to be that year’s top-rated series.
Sana Maulit Muli.
Sana Maulit uli is the launching TV series of PBB alums Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson.
The 2007 top-rated TV series utilized the concept of borrowed time and second chances in its plot. The series was a definite success as it paved the way for further individual and solo projects for the two.
Interestingly, a film of the same title, but with a different plot, was released by Star Cinema, 11 years, earlier.
Sana Maulit Muli, the film, starred Aga Mulach and Lea Salonga as lovers whose relationship got tested when one had to work overseas. The box-office film is now digitally-restored.
Basta’t Kasama Kita.
The movie Basta’t Kasama Kita is just one of Filipino films Puerto Rican beauty queen who got crowned as Miss Universe 1994-turned-actress, Dayanara Torres starred in when she joined the local entertainment scene after her MU reign.
In the 1995 film, she starred as a runaway princess who escaped to the Philippines and fell in love with a jeepney driver, played by Aga Mulach.
The 2003 primetime series starred by Robin Padilla and Judy Ann Santos adopted action as one of its dominating themes. In the series, Padilla and Santos played police officers who also became romantic partners.
The series is best remembered for its live finale aired on September 10, 2004.
Tanging Yaman.
This ensemble Star Cinema film took home some of the top accolades from the country’s most prestigious award-giving bodies when it was released in 2000.
The film, which was inspired by the liturgical song composed by the renowned compositor, Manoling Francisco, SJ, starred Gloria Romero, Hilda Koronel, Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano, Johnny Delgado, Jericho Rosales, Shaina Magdayao, and Cherry Picache, among others.
In 2010, ABS-CBN produced a TV series adopting the same title, but with a political theme.
The new family drama starred then up-and-coming young actors Erich Gonzales, Enchong Dee, and Ejay Falcon.
Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.
Minsan Lang Kita Iibigan marked Coco Martin’s first lead-starrer in an ABS-CBN primetime series. In the 2011 series, he played the twin characters of Alex and Javier, whose personalities and ideologies were too opposite to make them reconcile as brothers.
The 1994 film released by Star Cinema, is a classic infidelity-themed movie that starred Maricel Soriano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Gabby Concepcion. Soriano and Padilla played best friends whose relationship went astray when the latter fell in love with Dave (Concepcion), Terry’s (Soriano) husband.
Patayin Sa Sindak si Barbara.
Patayin Sa Sindak si Barbara is one of those few Filipino horror classics that keeps being retold in both films and on television.
In 1995, Star Cinema’s take on the original Susan Roces-top billed film made Lorna Tolentino and Dawn Zulueta extremely popular. The movie’s screenplay was written by prolific film writer Ricky Lee.
ABS-CBN aired a mini-series with the same title, as part of its Susan Roces special, horror-drama anthology in 2008.
The series starred Kris Aquino and Jodi Sta. Maria. Susan Roces, herself, made a special appearance in the series.
Mula sa Puso.
It’s hard to question the success produced by the team-up of Claudine Barretto and the late Rico Yan, given the mind-blowing TV ratings and box-office grosses made by their TV shows and movies.
Mula sa Puso is a solid testament to their accomplishments as it both dominated the TV rating game and the local box office.
The 1997 TV series is considered one of the longest-running Filipino soap operas of all time.
A movie version was released by Star Cinema on February 10, 1999, or two months before the TV series aired its last episode.
Esperanza.
Just like Mula sa Puso, Esperanza is among those shows that cemented ABS-CBN’s status as premiere teleserye producers in the country.
The series came on the heels of the massive success of Mara Clara, which catapulted Judy Ann Santos to superstardom in the mid-‘90s.
The TV series went on to become one of the highest-rated soap operas in Philippine television history. A film that followed Esperanza and her family after the events of the series, was released by Star Cinema on December 25, 1999.
Mangarap Ka.
This 2004 TV series starred Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban in lead roles. Set in Quiapo, Mangarap Ka follows Oslec (Pascual), a street-smart guy, whose life is destined to change by a child and a dream waiting to be fulfilled.
A Star Cinema film, starred by Claudine Barretto and Mark Anthony Fernandez and at the same time, was released in 1995. The film follows childhood friends Nonoy (Fernandez) and Jenny (Barretto), who grew distant from each other when they moved to the city to pursue college.
Do you know another pair of Star Cinema films and TV series that you think should have made it to this list? Make your thoughts known in the comment section.
