Maghihintay Pa Rin

Maghihintay Pa Rin
Title card
Also known as Bitter Sweet Life
Genre
Developed by Dode Cruz
Written by
  • Luningning Interio-Ribay
  • Geng Delgado
Directed by Don Michael Perez
Creative director(s) Jun Lana
Starring
Opening theme "Maghihintay Sa 'Yo" by Christian Bautista
Composer(s) Dingdong Avanzado
Country of origin Philippines
Original language(s) Tagalog
No. of episodes 85
Production
Executive producer(s) Darling Pulido-Torres
Production location(s)
Cinematography Carlo Montaño, Jr.
Camera setup Multiple-camera setup
Running time 30-45 minutes
Production company(s) GMA Entertainment TV
Release
Original network GMA Network
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Original release June 10 (2013-06-10) – September 27, 2013 (2013-09-27)

Maghihintay Pa Rin (International title: Bitter Sweet Life / lit. Still Waiting) is a 2013 Philippine television drama romance series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Don Michael Perez, it stars Bianca King, Rafael Rosell and Dion Ignacio. It premiered on June 10, 2013 on the network's Afternoon Prime line up replacing Bukod Kang Pinagpala and worldwide on June 12, 2013 on GMA Pinoy TV. The series concluded on September 27, 2013 with a total of 79 episodes. It was replaced by Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? in its timeslot.

The series narrates the story of ill-fated lovers Kiko Sebastian (played by Rosell) and Geneva de Villa (played by King) and the odds that they try to beat, including social status and their conflicting families.[1]

Premise

Geneva de Villa, a wealthy young lady who, despite having all the riches, longs for the love of a complete family. Right after her father died, all her mother Rio did is to tend their business, the De Villa Maritime Corporation and Manning Agency and treat their employees unfairly.

In the same company, Geneva meets Kiko Sebastian, whose father works in De Villa's agency. While working abroad, his father got sick and eventually died. Like any other case, Kiko didn't get any help from the agency. Geneva helps him until they became friends and developed feeling for each other.

Despite Rio's refusal of their relationship, Geneva fights for her love for Kiko and willingly endures the hardships of being poor. She will then meet Kiko's mother, Trinidad and siblings Cholo, Lita, and Bebot. She will also get close to one of Kiko's friends named Orlando Ramirez, who secretly admires Geneva.

Still adjusting to their situation, Kiko's mother suffers a heart attack and needs to undergo an operation as soon as possible. Because of lack of money, Kiko decides to work in Singapore with high hopes that their current situation will get better. Between struggling everyday lives and challenges in communication, Kiko and Geneva prove that distance means so little when someone means so much. Kiko crosses paths with Grace Lim, a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman in Singapore, who will help him look for a better job, while Geneva is being pursued by Orlando. But true love finds its way because Geneva flies to Singapore to visit Kiko.

Finally deciding to come back home to the Philippines, Kiko bids farewell to Grace, which the latter refuses. She sets up Kiko and accuses him of rape. Kiko will be sent to jail and sentenced to death. Upon knowing the fate of Kiko in Singapore, Geneva desperately seeks her mother's help. In exchange, Geneva agrees to her mother's wish for her to marry Orlando, who is now affluent.

Seven years later after Kiko was released in prison at Singapore and Geneva gives birth to their son, Franz. Geneva ends up being physically abused and imprisoned at home by Orlando who becomes extremely jealous towards her due to her feelings for Kiko and also involves her son from Kiko. But after Kiko reveals that he had a son with Geneva, he decides to save them both from Orlando's physical abuse. After reuniting with both of them which Kiko reveals to his son Franz that he was his father and Franz was happily accepts him.

Cast and characters

Rafael Rosell portrays Kiko Sebastian.

Lead cast

Kiko Sebastian's love interest; a beautiful young lass, born with a silver spoon in her mouth but remains humble still. Strong-willed, intelligent and compassionate, Gen helps her mother running their family business, the De Villa Maritime Corporation and Manning Agency. Her mother Rio is strongly against her relationship with Kiko, but in spite of this, Gen is willing to give up everything just for the man she loves. She later becomes the mother to Franz from Kiko.[2][3]
Geneva de Villa's love interest; a good-looking and persevering guy who comes from a poor family. He is characterized as a soft-spoken, responsible and principled man. Gen and his family are the most important people in his life and will do everything for them. He was imprisoned by Grace Lee in Singapore until his release in seven years. He later becomes the biological father to Franz from Geneva.[4]
Friend of Kiko who secretly pines for his girlfriend, Geneva. Since Gen's mother is against Kiko, he gets framed up and ends up in jail abroad, Orlando takes this vulnerable situation into his own hands and proposes to Geneva. As the story progresses, he becomes physically abusive towards Geneva and became extremely jealous towards her due to her feelings for Kiko and also realizes that he is not the father to Geneva's son, Franz. He was also responsible for imprisoning Geneva in their home. Towards the end of the series, he and Kiko are fighting for the gun while they are inside the plane only to be killed by Kiko as he accidentally pulls the trigger and was shot to his stomach.[5]

Supporting cast

The series' main antagonist. He coordinated with Orly to manipulate Kiko. He even betrays being Rio's unprincipled lover and trusted lackey. Ricky works as one of the top executives of De Villa Maritime Corporation and Manning Agency, and just like Rio, he is also greedy and scheming. He is a successful leech who does everything he can possibly do to acquire everything he wants.[6]
  • Tanya Gomez as Trinidad Sebastian
The mother of Kiko. A practical housemaker, Trinidad takes on the responsibility of supporting her family when her husband dies. Later, she suffered a fatal heart attack, and this forced Kiko to work abroad so that he would support her operation.
  • Julie Lee as Grace Lim
A Filipina-Chinese businesswoman based in Singapore who will help Kiko find a job while he is abroad. An extremely aggressive woman, Grace strives for perfection in everything she does. She begins to develop romantic feelings for Kiko, but when she finds out about Gen, she makes an evil scheme and throws Kiko behind bars. She is an antagonist.[7]
  • JM Reyes, Daniella Amable and Sachi Manahan as Cholo, Lita and Bebot Sebastian
Kiko's younger siblings who are always supportive of their brother’s decision, including his relationship with Geneva.
A brash woman who tries to fight for her feeling for Kiko Sebastian. She helps Orly as long as she will benefit and win back Kiko. She is an antagonist
  • Lou Sison as Leni
The supportive friend of Geneva through light and rough times.
  • Bryan Pagala as Francisco "Franz" de Villa Sebastian Jr.
Son of Kiko and Geneva.
  • Ynez Veneracion as Stella Ramirez
The domineering sister of Orly but is unsupportive to her brother's evil schemes.
Former fiancée of Geneva who has a mistress that lead to the separation of the latter.
The manipulative mother of Geneva and is the primary antagonist of the series. But later left the show. She is characterized by being strong-willed, arrogant, greedy and heartless woman. Rio runs De Villa Maritime Corporation and Manning Agency which was established by her late husband. She strongly opposes her daughter's relationship with Kiko and she will stop at nothing until she breaks them apart. She is later seen in the ending finally make peace with her daughter after realizing from her mistakes and knowing to have her own family with Kiko and Franz.

Production and development

Conceptualized by Richard Cruz and developed by Kit Villanueva-Langit, the project—which initially titled as Hindi Kita Iiwan (lit. I Will Never Leave You)—was put on the fast track by the network for a second week of June 2013 premiere. On the mid-part of April 2013, a detailed breakdown of the script was released, containing information on the plot and characters which would be in the series. It also revealed the names of two of the three actors chosen for the lead roles. However, during the casting process of the show, several revisions were made.[8]

Executive producer, Darling Pulido-Torres described the show a reminiscent of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but not a "stereotypical romance". She also added that the series is especially dedicated for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) around the world.

Bianca King and Dion Ignacio were personally chosen by the network management to portray the lead characters and were the first two actors to be cast. King was signed on to play Geneva de Villa, a Richie-rich young lass "who will do everything in the name of love." King summarized her character as being intelligent, brave and compassionate – far from the usual "damsel in distress" roles she portrayed in her past projects.[9] Ignacio was originally cast as Kiko Sebastian but ended up portraying the other love interest, Orlando Ramirez, following some changes made in the series' story lines. Rafael Rosell originally auditioned for Orlando. But the producers asked him to audition for the character of Kiko Sebastian as they envisioned him as Kiko, and so he got the said role.

Production began on the mid-part of May 2013. Most of the scenes were shot on location in Quezon City. They also filmed several scenes (good for two-week episodes) in Singapore. Filming locations were chosen by the series' director Don Michael Perez and by production designer Melvin Lacerna.[10]

International broadcast

Country Network Title Date
Vietnam SNTV SCTV6 Vị đắng cuộc tình March 20, 2015

Ratings

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of Maghihintay Pa Rin earned an 11.7% rating.[11] While the final episode scored a 14.4% rating.[12]

References

  1. ↑ http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/06/12/rafael-rosell-and-bianca-king-new-dramatic-pair-on-kapuso-afternoon-block/
  2. ↑ http://mb.com.ph/Entertainment/Entertainment_Main/15630/Bianca_King:_The_good_in_goodbye#.UbCeLOeqksc
  3. ↑ http://entertainment.inquirer.net/98043/bianca-gets-to-grow-up-after-a-breakup
  4. ↑ http://www.tempo.com.ph/2013/06/rafael-rosell-the-right-move/#.Ub6tT-eqksc
  5. ↑ http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/312731/showbiz/dion-ignacio-keeps-busy-with-a-tv-show-a-rock-band-and-martial-arts
  6. ↑ http://www.pep.ph/news/38963/jc-tiuseco-not-keen-on-may-december-romance-ldquodapat-hindi-ganoon-kalayomdash-at-least-magkasabay-pa-rin-kayordquo
  7. ↑ http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/gma/articles/2013-05-24/8646/Former-teen-star-Julianne-Lee-gears-up-for-her-first-TV-series-in-seven-years
  8. ↑ http://www.pep.ph/guide/guide/12011/bianca-king-and-rafael-rosell-fight-for-their-love-in-maghihintay-pa-rin
  9. ↑ http://mb.com.ph/Entertainment/Entertainment_Main/15858/Six_weeks_of_absence_from_showbiz_made_Bianca_King_stronger#.UbCdfueqksc
  10. ↑ http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/312324/showbiz/chikaminute/cast-ng-maghihintay-pa-rin-inaalay-ang-palabas-sa-mga-ofw
  11. ↑ Tuazon, Nikko (June 21, 2013). "AGB Nielsen Mega Manila Household Ratings (June 10 to 16, 2013): Ina Kapatid Anak final episode tops primetime; Sunday All Stars beats rival program on pilot episode". Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  12. ↑ Tuazon, Nikko (October 11, 2013). "AGB Nielsen Mega Manila Household Ratings (September 23 to 29, 2013): Prinsesa Ng Buhay Ko and Kahit Nasaan Ka Man register high ratings on pilot episodes; enter top 10 on primetime block". Retrieved March 1, 2018.
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