Titser (TV series)

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Titser

Also known as	The Teacher
Genre	Political drama
Format	Telenovela
Created by	GMA News and Public Affairs
Developed by	Nessa Valdellon Alvin Yapan
Written by	Nessa Valdellon
Directed by	Dr. Alvin Yapan
Starring	Lovi Poe Mara Lopez Agot Isidro
Theme music composer	Teresa Barrozo
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language(s)	Tagalog
No. of episodes	10 episodes (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Alemberg Ang
Location(s)	Boso-Boso, Antipolo
Cinematography	Dexter dela Peña
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	45 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	GMA News TV
Picture format	HDTV (1080i)
Original run	August 11, 2013 (2013-08-11) – October 13, 2013 (2013-10-13)
Chronology
Related shows	Bayan Ko

Titser or The Teacher (international title) is a Filipino drama television series created and developed by Nessa Valdellon and executive produced by Alemberg Ang for GMA News and Public Affairs. The ten-part series aired from August 11, 2013 til October 13, 2013 Sundays at 7:15 p.m. timeslot on GMA News TV; and on August 24, 2013 til October 19, 2013 worldwide via GMA News TV International. It is directed by indie filmmaker and head of the Ateneo Filipino Department Dr. Alvin Yapan. Starting December 31, 2013, it currently special re-airs on GMA Pinoy TV worldwide. ^[1]

The series discusses issues in Philippine education: lack of books and chairs and classrooms, corruption in the procurement process, the high dropout rate and the fact that majority of the Philippine population has only reached a high school level, or less of education.

Overview

The series is GMA News TV's second original series after the critical and ratings success of Bayan Ko. it is conceptualized and written by Nessa Valdellon and directed by indie filmmaker and head of the Ateneo Filipino Department Dr. Alvin Yapan. The female-dominated series aims to show the teachers' dedication and passion to their chosen vocation. It also tackles serious matters regarding the present-day condition of education in the Philippines^[2] The show is inspired by Sandra Aguinaldo's I-Witness documentary "Iskul Ko No. 1", about an award-winning elementary schoolteacher who put herself through college by working as a househelper.

The series chronicles the story of Michelle and Rosa, best friends and both poverty stricken senior high school students. The two girls struggle against fate and financial limitations to reach their goal of finishing school.

The series featured seven regular speaking roles. The cast includes Lovi Poe as Michelle, a smart but poor high school student who dreams of teaching. Poe considers the role as "the most difficult role I have ever portrayed"; Mara Lopez portrays Rosa, Michelle's best friend and toughest competitor; Agot Isidro plays Sandra, Michelle and Rosa's mentor; Irma Adlawan as the corrupt principal; Gardo Versoza portrays Gil, the COOP president and the love interest of Sandra. Actor, Rocco Nacino reprises his character as Bayan Ko's Mayor Joseph Santiago.^[3]^[4]

The production begins in June 2013 and entirely shot on location in Boso-Boso, Antipolo. The series is shot entirely on high definition and goes through the color grading process.^[5]

A special behind-the-scenes primer episode aired by GMA News TV on August 4, 2013.^[6] The series premiered on August 11, 2013, Sundays at 7:15 p.m. slot.

Cast and characters

Lovi Poe portrays Michelle Maturan, a high school valedictorian from a poor barrio school who dreams of becoming a teacher, but whose only option after graduation is to work as a housemaid.^[7]

Mara Lopez portrays Rosa, Michelle's best friend and toughest competitor. She graduated as salutatorian but ends up a single mother.

Agot Isidro portrays Teacher Sandra, Michelle and Rosa's mentor and inspiration who leads her own fight against a corrupt principal.^[8]

Irma Adlawan portrays Principal May Deroca, the corrupt principal in the fictional San Simeon High School.

Gardo Versoza portrays Sir Gil, the Coop President who encourages young people of the province to enter agribusiness instead of looking for work abroad. He plays a pivotal role in the lives of all the characters, culminating in an unexpected romance with the old maid teacher Sandra.

Rocco Nacino portrays Mayor Joseph Santiago. His idealism changes the life direction of Michelle, resulting in the grand finale of the series.

Mikael Daez portrays Kurt Reyes, the son of the family that hires Michelle as a housemaid, and is witness to the physical abuse she encounters there.

Carl Guevarra portrays Neil, the most popular boy in San Simeon High School, who turns out to have a dark side.

List of episodes

Episode #	Title	Original air date	Production code
1	"Pilot"	August 11, 2013	T10001
The series opens up with Michelle and Rosa, best friends and both senior students of San Simeon High School. The two struggle against fate and financial limitations to reach their goal of finishing school—and pursuing their dreams of becoming a teacher.^[9]
2	"A Tough Competition"	August 18, 2013	T10002
The series begins to explore the issue of corruption in the educational system. Michelle and Rosa are in a tightly contested battle for the valedictorian post. The school Principal pits the girls against each other in a series of interviews. But competition is set aside when the girls discover something is terribly amiss in San Simeon High School – resulting in the suspension of their mentor Teacher Sandra.^[10]
3	"False Hopes"	August 25, 2013	T10003
Michelle graduates as valedictorian of her high school class. Along with the top honor, she has been promised a college scholarship in Manila by their provincial Governor Antonio Rubio. But Michelle cannot even afford transportation to the big city to avail of the scholarship. In comes a visiting recruiter, who offers Michelle and Rosa's airfare and lodging in Manila.
4	"Broken Dreams"	September 1, 2013	T10004
Michelle arrives in Manila to avail of her college scholarship, only to discover it was a scam! The Governor, who takes credit for providing an annual 16-million pesos worth of scholarships to deserving children in his province - including Michelle - cannot be contacted. In the meantime, Teacher Sandra attempts to track the scholarship only to be stonewalled by Principal May and Gov. Rubio's representative. In a disturbing reversal of fortune, the high school valedictorian must give up her dreams to look for work as a domestic helper. She is accepted into the Reyes household, only to encounter verbal then physical abuse.
5	"Tragedy in San Simeon High"	September 8, 2013	T10005
The corruption in San Simeon High School reaches a tragic conclusion. The funds for the reconstruction of unsafe classrooms are diverted by Principal May into her own pockets, putting the children's lives in danger. The teachers, led by Teacher Sandra, are left with no other option but to go on strike. This leaves the students without teachers and the teachers without income for weeks.
6	"An Unexpected Love Story"	September 15, 2013	T10006
Teacher Sandra, just recently promoted to Principal of San Simeon High School, has a lot on her hands. After dealing with the corruption of the previous school head, a valedictorian forced to work as a household helper, a tragic school accident and the teachers' strike, dating is the last thing on her mind. Teacher Sandra has absolutely no interest in the Cooperative President, Gil, introduced to her by her insistent wards Michelle and Rosa. She even tells him so straight to his face. But the girls invent all sorts of funny ways to bring their two single, middle-aged mentors together.
7	"Michelle as a Teacher"	September 22, 2013	T10007
Michelle finally begins work as a substitute teacher, balancing this new task with heavy requirements on her final year in Sibilan University. As a teacher, Michelle encounters students whose heartbreaking stories mirror her own childhood. One of the children, Joffrey, has to climb a mango tree during lunch break as this is the only way he can eat in peace. Joffrey is so poor his "baon" consists only of boiled camote every day–making him the prime target of class bullies. Before Joffrey takes notes, he has to erase lessons from the back pages of his old notebook as he cannot afford a new one. Teacher Michelle does her best to help the boy. Meanwhile, love is in the air in San Simeon High as Teacher Sandra finds her heart melting after patient pursuit by Sir Gil. Also in this episode, Michelle meets Kurt Reyes again—the arrogant son of her former employee—who is now a reporter from a national newspaper. Kurt investigates the overcharging of students in Sibilan University. He is happily reunited with Michelle, his family's former helper, who turns out to be the school whistle blower.^[11]
8	"Michelle meets the Mayor"	September 29, 2013	T10008
Mayor Joseph Santiago (see Bayan Ko) crosses paths with Michelle on one such tricycle trip to the town of San Simeon. Now a widower—after an assassination attempt that claimed the life of his wife—Mayor Joseph continues his inspiring fight for good governance in the town of Lagros. He also continues to move around on his signature tricycle and without a bodyguard. Michelle has no idea who he is, only that he served to further delay her arrival in class. Mayor Joseph also joins the series to stand as best man at the wedding of his childhood friend Sir Gil to Sandra. But beyond just the wedding, the Mayor and his ideals will have a huge influence on the future of Teacher Michelle.^[12]
9	"Finale Primer"	October 6, 2013	T10009
A special episode featuring summary recap of past episodes aired.
10	"The Greatest Dream"	October 13, 2013	T10010
Michelle attempts to fulfill her biggest dream. She and Rosa (who is now a successful entrepreneur) decide to put up an elementary school in the mountains, so the next generation of San Simeon barrio children will no longer have to cross rivers and walk for miles to get to school. But many obstacles are in the path of this school. Michelle is blocked by barrio parents who do not believe in her vision for their children's schooling. Then former employer, Mrs. Reyes, stakes a claim on the land upon which the new school is built.

External links

GMA News TV Official Site

References

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