Television &

Film
 DEFINTION OF TERMS
TELEVISION - an electronic system of
transmitting images with sound over a wire or
through space by devices that change light and
sound into electrical waves and then change
these back into light and sound
FILM - also known as a "movie" or a "motion
picture," is a series of moving images shown on a
screen, usually with sound, that make up a story
10 timeless Filipino dramas from ABS-CBN
and GMA Network

1.) .) Esperanza (1997-

1999) Judy Ann
Santos’s first solo title
role - one of the most
popular dramas of the
era with its record-
breaking 67% rating.
2.) Mula Sa Puso (1997-
1999) – first teleserye of
Claudine Barretto and
Rico Yan - The drama
features twists and
turns, such as a
character who is actually
alive after an accident
3. Got to Believe (2013-
2014) – featuring
KathNiel’s Chichay and
Joaquin - The drama has all
the elements of a teenage
rom-com: there’s
childhood lost love,
mystery, class drama, and
an enemies-turned-lovers
dynamic
4.) Forevermore (2014-
2015) – launched the
LizQuen loveteam - the
beloved TV series
Forevermore that’s best
remembered for featuring
the landscapes of Benguet.
The series ended with a
whopping 63% rating,
according to Kantar Media
5. FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano
(2015 – 2022) – ABS-CBN’s
longest running teleserye
- ABS-CBN’s longest
running teleserye, FPJ’s
Ang Probinsyano has
become a staple of
Philippine TV with its star-
studded cast frontlined by
Coco Martin.
6. Mulawin (2004-2005)
led by the ChardGel
loveteam - e fantasy
series follows humanoid
birds Alwina (Locsin) and
Aguiluz (Gutierrez) as they
lead the class of Mulawins
against the villain class of
Ravenas out to destroy
them.
7. Darna (2005) adaptation
of Mars Ravelo’s
superheroine - After
Mulawin’s popularity,
Angel Locsin starred in
what would become one of
her most enduring
teleseryes of all time.
Narda (Locsin), an ordinary
woman who chances
across a stone
8. Encantadia (2005-2006) –
introduced us to the
enchanted universe of
Encantadia - indeed has all the
makings of a great fantasy TV
series that it’s no wonder it’s
one of GMA Network’s
successful shows. In
introducing the four Sang’gre
sisters of Encantadia: Danaya
(Diana Zubiri), Amihan (Iza
Calzado), Alena (Karylle), and
Pirena (Sunshine Dizon).
9. Marimar (2007-2008)
Pinoy adaptation of the 1994
hit Mexican telenovela -
starring Marian Rivera as
Marimar and Dingdong
Dantes as Sergio, was also a
massive success with the
show’s lead stars also
eventually marrying in real life
in 2014. one of the highest-
rated teleseryes of all time,
with its final episode giving
the show a high rating of
52.6%.
10. Amaya (2011-2012)
epicserye featuring
Marian Rivera as a
princess - Considered
big during the time of its
release. The first epic
historical fiction TV
series on Philippine TV,
was daring in its scope
Notable TV
Shows
1. Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho -
also knowns as KMJS, is one
of the most-watched TV
shows in the Philippines. It is
an award-winning weekly
news and lifestyle magazine
program developed by GMA
News and Public Affairs.
Hosted by multi-awarded
broadcast journalist Jessica
Soho
2. Eat Bulaga - It is the
longest-running variety
show in the Philippines with
over 12,600 episodes and
one of the most popular TV
series in the Philippines. EB
has different segments such
as Bwal Judgemental and All
for Juan, Juan for All, where
hosts would pick a lucky
winner, call them through
their mobile phone, and visit
their house
3. Pepito Manaloto - It is a
Philippine television
situational comedy series
broadcast by GMA Network.
The show follows the life of
Pepito Manoloto, who was
blessed, which led to him
winning a lottery. If you
want some good laugh, you
can start binge-watching
Pepito Manaloto.
4. Maalala Mo Kaya - known
as MMK, is a Philippine
drama anthology series
broadcast on ABS-CBN
every Saturday evening and
hosted by Charo Santos-
Concio. The longest-running
drama anthology in
Philippine television and the
world. Features weekly real-
life stories or anecdotes of
ordinary people or even
celebrities and personalities
through letter sending.
5. i-Witness - The
Philippines is also known
for creating excellent
documentary and
informative shows, such as
i-Witness. If you want to
unravel some facts about
Philippine history, politics,
or even the people itself,
you might want to watch
all the episodes of this
documentary show.
Notable Films
1.) Goyo: The Young General
(2018) - also directed by
Tarog. The movie, which
stars Paolo Avelino as
General Gregorio Del Pilar, is
a meditative exploration on
what defines a hero. It begs
to ask if the hero is
determined by his
achievements or his
nationalism.
2.) Misteryo sa Tuwa (1984) -
was a revelation when it came
out. For a film that started very
light, seeing it unfold into a
provocative and deeply
disturbing exploration about a
community’s descent into
greed can be shocking. It is one
of those movies that are
genuinely scary, it can easily
be labelled as a horror movie.
3.) Kinatay / Butchered (2009)
- , Brillante Mendoza won the
Best Director Award for his
film Kinatay (2009) at the
Cannes International Film
Festival (a first from the
Philippines). A police officer
who was entangled in a
scheme to dismember a
troubled woman, the film
subtly goes through the
Philippines’ chaotic lineage of
crimes.
4.) Oda Sa Wala (2018) - a
funeral shop owner whose
mundane day brightens
when a mysterious corpse
enters her business
premises. If you are a fan of
reflective Asian films, or the
moody catharsis of Wong
Kar-Wai’s films, this is a
must-watch.
5.) Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo
Ngayon (1976) - 1976 was a great
time for Philippine cinema, a rare
year when a handful of classic
Filipino films were released month
after month (Minsa’y Isang Gamu-
Gamo, Nunal sa Tubig, Insiang).
Eddie Romero’s Ganito Kami Noon,
Paano Kayo Ngayon was special
because its message transcends
decades after. It explores
nationalism as something that isn’t
just bounded by residence, but by
the pure intentions of the heart.
 6.) Respeto (2017) - Treb
Montreras‘ Respeto (2017)
memorably interweaves two
dark periods of the
Philippines. The dictatorship
era of Former President
Ferdinand Marcos during the
1970s and a similar, heavily
pro-military administration of
the current President Rodrigo
Duterte. By way of different
methods of art expression and
poetry.
 7.) Moral (1982) - can easily be
assessed as a comedy-drama
movie about a group of female
friends overcoming adult
struggles. But on a closer look,
it’s surprisingly braver than you
think. Released at a time when
female representation in
Philippine cinema are mostly
reduced to their attachment
with a male/ patriarchal hero,
Moral paints its women as
fearless, free-spirited members
of a society driven by
conformities.
8.) On The Job (2013) - Erik
Matti premiered his crime
drama On The Job in Cannes
with positive feedback. When
the film eventually made its
theatrical release in the
Philippines, it’s as if an outburst
of hope was ignited in Philippine
cinema. The film treks in the
criminal underbelly of politics
and drug syndicates, polished to
feel like a Jason Bourne movie
made by David Fincher.
9.) Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
(1980) -The movie
amplifies its genre and wit
to tackle socio-political
issues involving local and
foreign governments, as
well as religion. It’s
hilarious, subversive, often
cruel, but a fun time
nevertheless.
10.) Batang West Side /
West Side Avenue (2001) - t
Batang West Side is more
than its mystery. It’s about
an alien’s ambition to follow
the American dream,
colonialization, the history
of film, and cinema as
petition. This is a very
packed film deserving of its
epic length.
11.) Jay (2008) - Francis Pasion
directed one of the best
independent films from
Philippines’ new wave of cinema
(films from the digital era), Jay, a
breathtaking study on media as
an arsenal for the truth. Pasion
used his background in creating
television documentaries to
craft the story of a television
producer blinded by
professional pressures to
question the morality of his work
12.) Cleaners (2019) - The
film features a rare case
where its gimmick becomes a
character in itself;
complementing the nostalgic
feeling of its high school-set
story. There a lot of truly
great coming-of-age Filipino
movies from the 2010s;
Cleaners is a strong
contender as one of the best.
13.) Norte, the End of
History (2013) -. This Filipino
movie goes in favor of a
streamlined narrative over
his usual dense stories. But
there is still so much to
uncover. If you’re interested
in exploring Lav Diaz or long
cinema in general, Norte is
the best film to start.
14.) Kung Mangarap Ka’t
Magising / Moments in a
Stolen Dream (1977) - The
film, about a college student
who fell in love with a
married woman, memorably
uses the iconic Philippine city
of Baguio as its backdrop. A
city popular for its healthy
eco-system awfully
destructed by rampant
tourism visits over the
decades.
15.) Karnal / Of The Flesh
(1983) - Much thanks to the
film’s soap opera-ish
treatment and unreliable
narrator. But the movie
handles its tension and
emotions superbly. If a vague
description is your thing, think
of it as Ari Aster‘s Midsommar
(2019) and Hereditary (2018)
with patriarchy as the main
villain.
16.) Batch ’81 (1982) - film
Batch ’81 (1982), he melds
the authoritative/ strongman
rule of college fraternities as
the template of his anti-
Martial Law messaging. The
result is a fearless anecdote
to a very tough subject
matter, and a compelling
statement on the effects of
inflicted violence on
everyone.
 17.) Himala / Miracle (1982) -
Himala features popular actress
Nora Aunor in her greatest role
yet. Up there with the ranks of
the best performances in a
Filipino film.Bernal’s film about
a faith healer who makes waves
in her community is not anti-
religion. But it’s brave enough
to show that the problems that
have continued to sprung
surrounding its existence needs
to be discussed.
 18.) Insiang (1976) - Lino
Brocka‘s Insiang was the first
Filipino film to have its own
release in the Criterion
Collection as part of Martin
Scorsese‘s World Cinema
Project initiative. It’s about a
daughter who got involved in
a scandalous affair with her
mother’s boyfriend.
19.) Kisapmata (1981) - This
Filipino film serves as a
testament to how well-
realized characters make a
movie. Based on a real-life
family murder in the
Philippines, the movie
follows a woman under
strict control by her father
even after marriage
 20.) Maynila Sa Mga Kuko ng
Liwanag / Manila: In the Claws
of Brightness (1975) - a single
film that would easily sum up
majority of Philippine cinema’s
greatest attributes, it would be
Lino Brocka‘s Maynila Sa Mga
Kuko ng Liwanag (1975). This
piece of amazing Philippine
cinema is about an adult from
the province who goes to the
urban setting of Manila to
rekindle with the love of his
life