Eva Fonda Wins Special Prize in 2009 Seoul International Drama Awards
Eva Fonda herself, Cristine Reyes, accepted the trophy in Seoul, Korea where the awards ceremony was held. Eva Fonda bested the following in the special prize category:
Token IRIB Media Trade, Iran
Fathers and Sons TV channel Russia, Russia
Britannia High ITV Global Entertainment Ltd, UK
Fighting Spiders MediaCorp TV (S) Pte Ltd, Singapore
Forbidden Love Calinos Entertainment, Turkey
Eva Fondas victory marks the first time that a tv program from the Philippines had won in the 4-year-old award giving body for drama series around the world.
The two nominations for Eva Fonda are the only program/actress from the Philippines recognized by the Korean award-giving body .
Actress
Christiane Horbiger, The Visit Ziegler Film GmSH & Co.KG, Germany
Lindsay Duncan, Margaret BBC Worldwide Limited, UK
Charlotte Frogner, Maria Rubicon TV, Norway
Geun-young, Moon, The Painter of Wind SBS, Korea
Shu Chen, Love in a Fallen City Zhejiang Huace, China
Cristine Reyes, Eva Fonda ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Philippines
SPECIAL PRIZE
Token IRIB Media Trade, Iran
Fathers and Sons TV channel Russia, Russia
Britannia High ITV Global Entertainment Ltd, UK
Fighting Spiders MediaCorp TV (S) Pte Ltd, Singapore
Eva Fonda ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Philippines
Forbidden Love Calinos Entertainment, Turkey
Soap Opera in the U.S., Telenovela in Latin America, Lakorn in Thailand, Sinetron in Indonesia, Phim Bo in Vietnam & Dorama in Japan...
in the Philippines we call it Teleserye!
Teleserye is the local name of produced soap operas in the Philippines,derived from the terms "tele" short for television and serye, ("series"). They can have different sub-genres; they could be melodramatic, fantasy themed (fantaserye), action (actionserye),musical (music-serye), or they could be be derived from movies(sineserye).
Teleseryes are produced by the two main Philippine TV networks ABS-CBN, which is Philippine's largest producer and exporter of Teleseryes and,GMA Network,by the independent company TAPE Inc. and by the movie producer VIVA Entertainment.
Lalola
Entrant: Dori Media International
Country: Switzerland
The Fatties (Los Barriga)
Entrant: Frecuencia Latina International Limited, Inc
Country: USA/Peru
The Wolf (Lobo)
Entrant: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
Country: Philippines
The ABS-CBN teleserye Lobo has won in the Telenovela Program category of the 2009 Banff World Television Festival. Also called "The Rockies," the annual event in Canada is dedicated to world television programming and its creation and development.
The official website of the 30th Banff cites The Wolf (Lobo) as one of the 23 category winners that were chosen from over 800 entries representing 29 countries. It also explained that the Telenovela category features "melodramatic serialized fiction programs." This category "recognizes the Latin American origin of the Telenovela and will particularly look into the successful adaptations to different cultures around the globe while keeping the original spirit of complicated love stories intact."
The 30th Banff took place from June 7-10 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Canada. E! News Weekend's Arisa Cox handed out the awards to the 23 category winners.
The fantasy-thriller series Lobo marked the debut of Angel Locsin on the Kapamilya Network. It also launched the Angel-Piolo Pascual tandem in January 2008. Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, FM Reyes and Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Lobo lasted on the air until July 11, 2008.
It depicted the love story of Lyka, a woman who belongs to a clan of white wolves, and Noah, a second lieutenant of the Philippine Army.
The official website of Banff also gives this description of The Wolf:
"Two lovers who find in each other their greatest source of joy and their deepest source of despair. They form a bond as children only to lose each other as they grow up. They meet again as strangers, finding an unexpected connection in a world filled with uncertainty. They fall in love, eventually discovering they were the same children who sought and found comfort in each other in the past. The past that haunts Lyka wherein her mother struggled and gave up love to fulfill a mysterious and fascinating life given to her as LOBO (wolf). She will save her race together with Noah, to explore her life as a wolf but unlike her mother, not giving up love. And living her LOBO life in the open."
My Only Hope tells the story of nine young individuals who are faced with crucial decisions in their lives. Keeno (Gerald Anderson) takes his girlfriend Jessie (Niña Jose) and her brother Arnold (Carlo Guevara) to the hotel owned by his family in Boracay. Keeno is running away from the suffocating environment of home, while Jessie is haunted by guilt because of an accident she had after going on a joy ride with Keeno. Meanwhile, April (Kim Chiu) wins a free trip to and hotel accommodations in Boracay on her birthday and takes her brother August (David Chua) and friends Jhun (Enchong Dee) and Yang (Regine Angeles) with her. While still grieving over the unjust death of her father, April is also trying to define her friendship with Jhun whom she is beginning to fall for. By chance, April and Keeno are forced to attend a party together one night. Just when these two people from different worlds start to find some common ground, Jessies guilt pushes her over the edge and cuts short their budding relationship.
The story begins when soon-to-be-married couple Paul Jake (Castillo) and Sam (Pinto) is invited to stay in an exclusive beach resort together with Rica (Paras), Cathy (Remperas), and Patria (Patria). But instead of coming as a small group, their common friends later join them including Hermes (Bautista), Tom (Rodriguez), and Johan (Santos) who are all out to accomplish their hidden agendas. It could have been the perfect time for rest and relaxation if not for the mysterious Daniel (Anderson) who disguises himself as a mere bankero (boat rower/driver) when he actually owns the whole island where theyre at.
Cindy-rella begins in the fairy tale world, where Prince William (John James Uy) is celebrating his 21st birthday. His uncle invites all the ladies in the kingdom to a ball, hoping to find a wife for his nephew. Among those invited is the pretty, kindhearted Cindy-rella (Kim), but on the night of the ball, her evil stepsisters and stepmother tear her clothes and lock her in the basement.
Cindy-ella's fairy godmother comes to the rescue and enables her to go to the ball in a fancy dress and carriage. But she warns that Cindy-ella should be home by midnight or she'll be caught back in her usual filthy clothes.
The story goes on until after the prince chooses Cindy as his dancing partner. Her wicked family grows envious and throws her into a well, which links the fairytale world and the real world. The poor lass comes into the real world unconscious; fortunately, she is saved by a modern-day prince charming, Albert (Gerald).
He falls in love with her, so he helps Cindy-rella survive in the real world. But can they be together when they belong to different worlds? Will Cindy choose Albert, a normal human being, over a dashing prince in the fairytale realm? Will there be a happy ending for Cindy-ella?
ABS-CBN’s “Destined Hearts” and “Rivals” figure in 2011 NYF® Awards
ABS-CBN’s top-caliber drama “Destined Hearts” (Dahil May Isang Ikaw), starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa, and phenomenal fashion series “Rivals” (Magkaribal), top-billed by Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo are among the finalists in the newly introduced Best Telenovela category of the New York Festivals® International TV and Film Awards.
On its 54th year, the prestigious award-giving body announced an exciting set of categories in answer to current worldwide industry trends and in its effort to acknowledge and encourage current and next generation storytellers worthy of recognition. The new NYF® categories are Telenovelas; Best Sports Anchor; Best Sports Journalism; Best Sports Newscast; Animated Program; Choreography; Event Venue; Graphic Design; Special Events; and Online Educational Program.
All entries in the 2011 competition will be judged online by NYF’s Grand Jury® of active and renowned international television and film producers, directors, writers, and other creative media professionals representing 35 countries.
In this phase of the judging process, “Destined Hearts” and “Rivals”, along with the other final entries may advance to a Gold, Silver or Bronze trophy level and will each be awarded with a Finalist Certificate regardless if they achieve trophy status or not.
“Destined Hearts” which marks the reunion of the globally popular love team of “The Promise” (Pangako Sa ‘Yo) and “Timeless” (Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas), has also earned nominations for Best Telenovela and Best Performance by an Actor at the 2010 International Emmy© Awards. It also got nominated for Best Drama Series in Asian TV Awards which was held last December 2010.
"Rivals" on the other hand, won Best Drama Series at 2010's Gawad Tanglaw Awards and has been a consistent top-rater on Philippine primetime from pilot to concluding episodes. It also received raving reviews about its production value and the unquestionable acting prowess of its lead stars.
Aside from the two telenovelas, other ABS-CBN productions were also chosen as finalists at 54th NYF®: the cinematic documentary “Storyline” for Biography/Profiles, Community Portraits, and Social Issues/Current Events categories; “Bloodbath in Manila” for Coverage of Breaking News category; “I Survived” for Docudrama category and “Altar” for Copywriting: Promotion Spot category. With these, ABS-CBN has earned the most number of finalists from the Philippines in this year's competition.
The highly celebrated New York Festivals®, known as one of the most credible competitions on the globe, recognizes the "World's Best Work™" in news, sports, documentary, infotainment, music videos, infomercials, promotion spots, openings and IDs. The awards presentation will take place on April 12, 2011 (Tuesday) at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Magkaribal (lit. Rivals) is a Philippine suspense drama about love, fashion, and family,The show is set the fashion world and includes costuming and cameo appearances by local designers.
Popularly used in Latin-American literature, magical realism, as one of its famed Colombian proponents, the writer Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude) put it, is the “way [my] grandmother used to tell stories”—with touches of fantasy and the supernatural but presented in a natural yet inexplicable way.
When translated into film, perhaps the best contemporary example of its visual expression is the adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s novel, Like Water for Chocolate. In the story, Tita, the lead character, somehow makes her feelings of longing, frustration, rebellion, or love, known to others through her cooking. The food she prepares mysteriously affects everyone who tastes it. She is also often visited by the ghost of her dead mother at crucial points in her life, spirits being a favorite component of magical realist writers.
Magical realism, Filipinized
The impressive collaboration of the multiawarded director Joel Lamangan, the scriptwriter Ricky Lee and the young and talented director Don Cuaresma in Vietnam Rose (which premieres on September 19 on ABS-CBN 2) is responsible for Filipinizing the Latin-American concept for TV.
They believe that Filipinos will appreciate touches of fantasy and the supernatural even in a lifelike love story as theirs because magical realism is very much a part of the local culture too.
“It’s the Filipino pamahiin [belief] like seeing a black butterfly and predicting that a death in the family is looming,” explained Lee, “or when we say, ‘Nakikiramay ang langit [the heavens condole] when the skies are gloomy on the day of a funeral.”
The creative minds of Lamangan, Cuaresma and Lee were able to infuse such cultural idiosyncrasies into the story of Vietnam Rose where the multiawarded actress Maricel Soriano plays a Vietnamese girl who escapes the war in her country to live in the Philippines. Raised by an adoptive Filipino mother, she often encounters the supernatural as she embarks on a journey to her past: The spirit of her biological mother, calling her to return to Vietnam before she dies; or a flock of birds guiding her in her search.
A style that has never been used for TV according to Lamangan, ABS-CBN 2’s new playing card for the prime-time race will certainly intrigue viewers once it goes on air. Add to that a powerhouse cast, which, apart from Soriano, includes John Estrada, Jay Manalo, Assunta de Rossi, and young, promising talents Angelica Panganiban and Star Circle Quest finalist Michelle Madrigal. Now, the challenge is to keep viewers glued to the series; to air a nightly show that will make prime-time revelers forget about a sexy super-heroine, beautiful fairies and a handsome martial artist.
Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (lit. If We Were To Be Apart) is a Philippine primetime drama series that aired on ABS-CBN. It is part of the 60th Year of Pinoy Soap Opera Celebration.Celine is trapped in an unhappy marriage with Frank. One day, Celine was shocked to hear that Frank’s plane crashed. While grieving the loss of her husband, she also discovered that Frank had an affair with Astrud and they had a love child named Ringo. Steve from NBI, was the investigator assigned to Frank's case. Later on, they became friends and fell for each other.
Elisa, (Melissa Ricks) is a beautiful, wealthy teenager and the eldest daughter of Mariano (Albert Martinez) and Dana Altamira (Agot Isidro). She is lauded as the perfect daughter. Yet, Elisa is not who her parents think she is.
One night, after Mariano's party, Elisa insisted on her father to go out with her younger sister, Christina (Isabella De Leon) and her cousins, Santi (Franco Daza) and Edward (Aldred Gatchalian). They went to a local club where they were having a party, They saw Elisa, dancing gracefully. But after that, the three except Elisa got drunk and later discovered she was missing. They hire private investigators to find out what happened to Elisa. Secrets were unfolded and mysteries to solve. Would they find out where Elisa is? Nasaan Ka, Elisa? debuted at the fourth spot over-all nationwide (with a 26.7% rating or almost 27 million viewers), beating its rival program Munting Heredera with 18.2% ratings. On its second day, the series had 30.3% ratings. On a review done by Philippine Entertainment Portal, they mentioned that the series "offers something new to the local TV landscape based on its crime-thriller plot."
Alexander and Javier, will the mystery of their history affect their one great love?
This is a story of two opposing wolrds and two different families, bounded by lies, betrayals and life-changing secrets.
Alexander was born into a family with a strong military background, while Javier was raised in the mountain-based community of outlaws. Soon after graduation from the military academy, and bent on proving himself to his stern grandfather, Alexander accepts deployment to the territory of the outlaws.
In one battle, Alexander and Javier come face to face in a life changing encounter. Are they long lost win brothers?
Alexander and Javier form a pact and decide to keep their meeting a secret. They soon embark on an investigation that traces their roots in pursuit of the truth of their real identities. They switch places and immmerse themselves in each other's personal lives and with the respective families they grew up with. But as they push much deeper into unfamiliar territory, the line between family and duty begins to blur.
The truth that they wanted to realize becomes their worst nightmare, as it threatens to ruin everybody and everything that is important in their lives.
Three hundred years ago, a group of powerful beings arrived in our shores. Known as vampires, drinkers of human blood, their menace quickly spread throughout the land. But unknown to them, a powerful clan also lived in the islands, a group of beings who can transform themselves into powerful wolves - the Taong Lobos.
The Taong Lobos were the humans' protectors and they immediately formed an army to destroy the vampires. The blood drinkers were no match to the Taong Lobos. One by one, they fell. Those who survived were driven into hiding. What followed was peace among the humans and taong lobos, and the memory of the vampires started to fade. But the vampires are only lying in wait – organizing and fortifying their numbers until they are ready. They are holding a secret – a prophecy that foretells of an epic battle between them and the Taong Lobos that will finally decide the one blood that shall rule all. The battle shall be led by a powerful vampire and a powerful taong lobo who are each others nemesis and downfall. The vampires believe they have found their prophesied savior and now they are preparing to come out and start the war.
The Taong Lobos have grown complacent, and they know nothing about the prophecy. With the stage set for an epic battle, two individuals, Mateo and Lia, find themselves drawn to each other, unsuspecting that as they grow closer together, they are awakening the powers that are lying dormant in both of them – the same powers that will inevitably tear them apart.
The story begins with three children; Jules Romualdez (Aljur Abrenica), Romina Estrella (Kris Bernal) and, Luke Estrella (Renz Valerio). They promised to be best friends forever. However, one night, Luke decides to go for a swim, he then drowns and dies. Luke and Romina's mother, Amelia (Gelli de Belen) goes into depression due to the death of her son, Luke. Therefore, Amelia is driven to use Jules as a substitute for her deceased son. One night, Amelia almost kidnaps Jules, but his real mother, Marita (Lani Mercado), saves him. On the other hand, Amelia accidentally pushes Marita down the stairs. After that, Jules's father, Gary (Jay Manalo), decides to move his family to Manila to get away from Amelia. As soon as Romina finds out about Jules's move, she gets upset over this and harbours anger towards him.
Years later, Romina meets a young guy who saves her from a gang member. But, unknown to Romina, the guy who saves her is actually Jules. Soon enough, Romina finds out the truth and she is still angry with Jules over his leave years ago. These two then experience a roller coaster relationship.
Will Romina take Jules's love? Will Jules love Romina with his friend Maricar (LJ Reyes) around? Will their families accept their relationship?
The story is set in Central Visayas in the 1500s, during the time of Rajah Mangubat's reign. He was not only known as a good warrior, but also as an undefeated one. Nobody stood a chance against him especially with his extraordinary battle skills and his magical amulet. Not long after, a village priestess prophesizes that there will be a day that he will be defeated.
Rajah Mangubat becomes anxious about the prophecy not only because he will eventually be defeated, but also because the person who will take over his power is a girl - a girl who has a snake for a twin. With this, he orders all pregnant women in his own village tribe and also in others to be killed. Datu Bugna's village is the only one that survives Rajah Mangubat's terror because they have long been friends and alliances.
What Rajah Mangubat doesn't know is that the baby girl that he has been looking for to be killed has been born in Datu Bugna's village. Amaya is Datu Bugna's daughter from Dal'lang, a slave woman. And because he wants to protect Amaya, he hides her in a secret chamber as a "binukot" and tells her that Dal'lang, is already dead. Amaya's twin snake is thrown away to the forest and is told that it may only come back if Amaya is in dire need of help.
Amaya has once attempted to escape from her chamber when she wanted to see the outside world for the first time. That was when she saw Prince Bagani for the first time. They immediately fell in love with each other. No matter the distance and the years that have passed, they still have not forgotten that day when they first met.
Because of Lamitan's evil desire to get rid of Amaya, she betrays her husband Datu Bugna and tells Rajah Mangubat her husband's plan of revolt. Rajah Mangubat's men take Amaya from her chamber and use her as blackmail to make Datu Bugna confess. He eventually does and Rajah Mangubat kills him in front of Amaya.
Rajah Mangubat takes Amaya to his village and there, turns her as one of her slaves. Amaya sees the treacherous Lamitan and becomes enraged with her father's double-crossing wife. She promises that she will do anything to avenge her father. But Rajah Mangubat still has no idea about Amaya's true identity - the girl with the twin snake.
Amaya is surprised to see her long lost love, Bagani, but is devastated to find out that he is Rajah Mangubat's son. Bagani is shocked as well when he finds out that the girl he once fell in love with is now a slave. In spite of this, he still remains in love with her. However, Amaya tries to get rid of her feelings for him all for her father's sake.
Will she succeed in her battle against true love? Will she be able to finally avenge her father? Will her prophecy come true?
From the original concept of Suzette Doctolero together with the guidance of UP historians, Amaya takes a step above and beyond in the local TV landscape for assembling a supreme production team that recreated an extraordinary moment in Philippine history. With the ornate and complex craftsmanship of production designer Rodell Cruz, for creating hundreds of intricate costumes authentically attired by costume designer Gino Gonzales, for constructing a warship known as Karakoa built by 50 local artisans and budget worth millions of pesos, Amaya will definitely up the ante of primetime viewing and soon be winning the hearts of Filipinos all over the country.
It was dubbed as the grandest, most ambitious, and most expensive production for Philippine television.The series garnered both popular and critical at home and abroad, including winning the 2005 Teleserye (Television Series) of the Year at the Los Angeles-based Gawad Amerika Awards. In the enhanced realm of Encantadia, sisters Alena, Danaya, Amihan and Pirena reign over four different kingdoms. Entrusted to them are elemental jewels, which each must guard to maintain the balance of nature. Pirena, however, was raised to be her sisters' worst enemy. Ambition drives her to sever ties with her sisters - threatening not only the harmony of the entire land, but the future of mythical beings.
Encantadia is one of the most expensive series ever produced in Philippine television. In an attempt to create the feel of a land of beautiful creatures with extraordinary powers, GMA Network had to create a studio that would suit the theme of Encantadia perfectly. Encantadia was a fantaserye about four princesses, sisters whose characters represent the four elements of air, fire, water, and earth. Each sister has her own power according to her element. Encantadia told a story of family, friends, and the everlasting quest to find true love.
With an original story, Encantadia garnered a huge following. In addition to that, the costumes and the set were amazingly structured to compliment the beauty of the story . In its pilot episode aired on 2 May 2005, Encantadia earned a 47% rating. Shown in 2005, the series gained popular and critical recognition in the country and abroad. So successful was the show that phrases and lines used during the program became part of everyday conversations for the audience, such as “pashnea” which means “animal.”