Filipinos take their TV dramas very seriously. Unlike in other countries that release new episodes every week, Filipino primetime series run at the same time every weeknight because Filipinos can’t get enough. How long a series can run normally depends on audience approval. If a series is reported to run for a year or more, it usually means that it is loved by an audience. Solid examples are usually teleseryes starring Coco Martin (a crowd favorite) such as Ang Probinsyano (The Provincial Man) and Walang Hanggan (No End). Seeing different teleseryes come and go. It’s not hard to point out that there are a lot of tropes that are reused but with a different backstory and yet, Filipinos take it all in like it’s the first time they’ve ever seen it. Here are some elements you can expect from a Filipino Drama:

Rich vs. Poor Forbidden Romance

The beginning of every series usually showcases two contrasting protagonists in the story, a rich one and a poor one, in either order. Or at least a flashback of how either of the main characters’ childhoods made them into what they are today.

The rich one always appears to have it all on the surface but is later shown to have problems in their marriage or family or they feel like something’s missing. While the poor one always has a simple but happy life until they are suddenly struck with a major financial problem. 

And somehow, something in the plot allows their paths to cross and they suddenly fall in love, much to the disdain of the rich one’s strict parents. So, you can expect they either threaten, kill or bribe (but to no avail) the poor one and they go their separate ways (at least for the meantime). More often than not, the girl is usually secretly pregnant at this point and the baby gets separated from her.

Wife vs. Mistress/Third Party

Although the Philippines is a religious country, this type of series is one that gets everyone hooked. Everything from the discovery, the fights, and the scandals get the entire audience very hyped up as if it’s the first time they’ve seen anything like it on screen. 

While the erotic scenes in the Philippines are very mild due to the conservativeness of the country, these scenes on a Filipino show can get everyone hot and bothered more than in a foreign film. They even make dramas where the wife’s and mistress’s children start their own issues.

If asked why Filipinos enjoy this type of drama so much, it all boils down to a saying: “Masarap ang bawal” which literally means “Taboo is tasty.” Sounds crazy but this type of show keeps cult followings for MONTHS. 

Jealous Siblings/Friends/Rivals 

Jealousy is normal but jealous teleserye characters are next-level crazy. These characters are often wealthy but insecure and are hellbent on getting what they want. They will get hair strands from the main character’s hairbrush to do a paternity test that may disinherit them or may alter DNA tests, steal their love interest, kidnap them or their baby for ransom, and even plot murder to simply kill them by poisoning them, hiring a hitman or doing it themselves.

Scenes like these are very intense and are often placed on the Friday episode to keep the audience hanging over the weekend. Cue in the slow-motion and the crying and screaming.

Family Prevails

Amidst all the crazy plot twists and drama all the characters have to endure, they still make time to bond with their family. Even to the point where their family is unfortunately dragged into the threats, scandals, and drama that happens. 

Close family ties are very valuable to Filipino culture so this is often showcased on the side of the poor protagonist, proving that despite not having much, family is really all you’ll need at the end of the day. 

While “teleseryes” (tv series) are addicting and have occasional new elements added to them, many have said that they lack the capacity to be considered world-class. Some say it’s the lack of budget, others say it’s because the target audience is the masses who only need a simple plot to digest. Nevertheless, these “teleseryes” bring entertainment and stress relief to the average Filipino joe at the end of a long work day. However, it would be nice to showcase Filipino entertainment on a global scale someday in the future.

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