Maghihintay Pa Rin

Maghihintay Pa Rin
Also known as	Bitter Sweet Life
Genre	Drama
Created by	GMA Entertainment TV Group
Developed by	Dode Cruz
Written by	Luningning Interio-Ribay Geng Delgado
Directed by	Don Michael Perez
Creative director(s)	Jun Lana
Starring	Bianca King Rafael Rosell Dion Ignacio
Opening theme	"Maghihintay Sa 'Yo" sung by Christian Bautista
Composer(s)	Dingdong Avanzado
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language(s)	Filipino, Tagalog, English
No. of episodes	79 episodes
Production
Executive producer(s)	Darling Pulido-Torres
Location(s)	Quezon City, Philippines Singapore, Singapore
Cinematography	Carlo Montaño, Jr.
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	30-45 minutes
Release
Original network	GMA Network
Picture format	480i NTSC
Original release	June 10, 2013 (2013-06-10) – September 27, 2013 (2013-09-27)
External links
Website

Maghihintay Pa Rin or Bitter Sweet Life (international title) is a Filipino drama television series created by Dode Cruz, developed by Kit Villanueva-Langit and produced by GMA Network. It premiered on June 10, 2013 on the network's coveted Afternoon Prime block, replacing Bukod Kang Pinagpala, and on June 12, 2013 worldwide via GMA Pinoy TV. The series headlines Bianca King, Rafael Rosell and Dion Ignacio playing the three main characters. It executive produced by Darling Pulido-Torres and directed by Don Michael Perez. The series concluded its sixteen-week run on September 27, 2013, comprising seventy nine episodes, and replaced by Magkano Ba ang Pag-ibig? on its timeslot.

The forty-five-minute scripted drama 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]

Synopsis

The story begins with 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. Fortunately, 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 unfortunately 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 unfortunate 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.

Towards the end of the series, Kiko, Geneva and Franz are travelling in Cebu by plane. But they are unaware that Orlando was there on the plane and wants to kill them. Both Kiko and Orlando are fighting each other for the gun inside the plane until Kiko accidentally pulls the trigger and shoots Orlando to his stomach, killing him. Their flight is soon postponed after the incident where Kiko, Geneva and Franz are seen leaving the airport.

After the incident, Geneva finally makes peace with her mother and later reunites with her own family with Kiko and their son, Franz.

Cast and characters

• Geneva "Gen" de Villa – the series' female protagonist portrayed by Bianca King, 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]

• Francisco "Kiko" Sebastian – the series' male protagonist portrayed by Rafael Rosell, 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]

• Orlando "Orly" Ramirez† – the series' main protagonist and later as the main antagonist of the series portrayed by Dion Ignacio, good 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]

• Catriona "Rio" de Villa – portrayed by Ayen Munji-Laurel, the controlling 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.

• Ricky Alvarado – portrayed by JC Tiuseco, the series main antagonist. He let Orly fight Kiko. He even betrays Rio. 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]

• Trinidad Sebastian – portrayed by Tanya Gomez, the loving 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.

• Grace Lim – the series' female antagonist portrayed by Julie Lee 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.^[7]

• Cholo, Lita and Bebot Sebastian – portrayed by JM Reyes, Daniella Amable and Sachi Manahan, respectively, Kiko's younger siblings who are always supportive of their brother’s decision, including his relationship with Geneva.
• Milan – portrayed by Diva Montelaba, a brash woman who tries to fight for her feeling for Kiko Sebastian.
• Leni – portrayed by Lou Sison, the supportive friend of Geneva.
• Franz - portrayed by Bryan Pagala, He is Kiko and Geneva's son.
• Stella Ramirez - portrayed by Ynez Veneracion, sister of Orly.

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/Region
Vietnam

Reception

The series is considered a "rating success" from its premiere episode. According to the widely recognized TV ratings data supplier Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, based on overnight household data recorded in National Urban Philippines for June 10 (pilot), the series scored 9.3% household rating versus ABS-CBN's Dugong Buhay with 7.1% ratings. In Urban Luzon, the series scored 10.7% household ratings compared to its counterpart program with 6% while in Mega Manila, Maghihintay Pa Rin posted 11.7% household rating against its counterpart program with 6%.^[11]

See also

• List of programs broadcast by GMA Network
• List of telenovelas of GMA Network
• Muli
• Kung Mahawi Man Ang Ulap

External links

• GMA Network official website
• GMA Network Official Facebook Page

References