One True Love (TV series)

Late April 2012, GMA Network announces that they will give Alden Richards[12] and Louise delos Reyes[13] their own drama series, as the network pushes the love team into full stardom. The Alden-Louise tandem started gaining popularity and huge fan base after their first ever project together, the drama-fantasy series, Alakdana, which was a hit. It followed by several hit series, such as, the popular teeny-bop series Tween Hearts and its movie version Tween Academy: Class of 2012, and the recently concluded primetime series My Beloved, a Dingdong Dantes-Marian Rivera starrer, which they played supporting characters. In one of his interviews, Richards said that he is overwhelmed with the network's support for the love team. He further stated:

"I’m sure there were a lot of meetings before the network arrived at this big decision to give Louise and myself the opportunity to lead an evening drama, so I'm really hopeful that the fans who supported our tandems in the afternoon would be there for our biggest project yet—and I'm also hopeful that we win new fans as well."

— [14]

On the other hand, Delos Reyes finds this drama series as a dream come true. She stated... "I'm fine with whatever project that is offered to me. I did horror last year [referring to the horror flick The Road], this time, I'm into drama. They told me they see depth in my acting. I cannot pass up projects that have been given to me, like One True Love because of its interesting characters and engaging plotline."[15]

This television series also marks Agot Isidro's first plunge into GMA Drama after she transferred and inked two-year exclusive contract with the network.[16] In one of her interviews, the actress stated that her decision to switched network rooted on her cravings to work in a different environment, work with some old folks again, and try something new and more challenging roles.[17]

The production people also cast versatile actors, Jean Garcia and Raymond Bagatsing, both of them had recently completed Alice Bungisngis and Her Wonder Walis and The Good Daughter. Prior to this series, Garcia and Bagatsing paired in the so-called "dancerye" Time of My Life in 2011. In an interview, Garcia said that she is grateful in doing both damsel-in-distress and anti-hero roles for she is able to show her versatility as an actress.[18]

One True Love consists of various themes, such as love, family, friendships, rivalries, betrayal, and vengeance and explores the reasons behind them. The creator and head writer, Suzette Doctolero[19] explained that the series is a fresh and absorbing drama, more on about enduring power of love between two people from two different walks of life.[20]

The series' producer uses an original Filipino music (and somewhat a classic), which is "Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka" (lit. My Dream is to Love You) as the theme song. It was composed by the award-winning singer/songwriter Ogie Alcasid, re-arranged by Mon Faustino for the series, and interpreted by all-female trio La Diva. The song's lyrics tell of a woman confessing and expressing her secret feelings to someone she loves the most and wishing that person feels the same way too.

Prior to One True Love, the song has been used several times in the soundtracks for film and television series. Originally sung by Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, "Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka" was first used as the theme song of the 2003 romantic comedy flick[21] with the same title, which starred Velasquez opposite Christopher de Leon and Dingdong Dantes, directed by Louie Ignacio and produced by VIVA Films. The song was also included in Velasquez's album Regine: Silver Series, the singer's 25th anniversary album, released by VIVA Records on August 29, 2006.[22] The said album reached platinum status. Because of its popularity, the song became one of Velasquez's trademark songs. The same year, singer/actress Sharon Cuneta did her own version of the song for her Sharon sings Alcasid album[23] under Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The same year, 2006, GMA Network used that version of the song as the theme for Korean series My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law. The following year, 2007, singer Sarah Geronimo did her own version of the song for her television series Pangarap na Bituin.[24] Two years later, GMA Network uses the song, this time as one of the soundtracks of their 2009 primetime series Totoy Bato which also starred Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla in the title role.

Ricky L. Calderon, writer of Cebu-based newspaper, The Freeman, stated that the series is getting very good feedback in terms of the acting being dished out by the lead casts, especially Alden Richards, giving credence to the observation that the young man has the makings of a potential matinee idol.[25]

While Jerry Donato of The Philippine Star, finds One True Love as the melodramatic version of that Shakespearean tragedy and possesses the charm of Hollywood's Love Story. "It is not surprising why One True Love is doing well in the ratings' game. This can be attributed to Alden and Louise's chemistry as perennial onscreen partners", he added.[26]

According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of One True Love earned a 24.6% rating.[27] While the final episode scored a 28.2% rating.[28]