Ang Probinsyano

FPJ's Ang Probinsyano (TV Series)
Also known as	Brothers
Genre	Action Thriller Family drama Crime Police Procedural
Created by	Rondel P. Lindayag
Based on	Ang Probinsyano (1997 film)
Developed by	Roldeo T. Endrinal Julie Anne R. Benitez
Written by	Joel Mercado John Joseph Tuason Noreen Capili
Directed by	Malu L. Sevilla Avel E. Sunpongco Toto Natividad Richard V. Somes Kevin de Vela Alan Chanliongco
Creative director(s)	Johnny de los Santos Dang Baldonado
Starring	Coco Martin
Opening theme	'Wag Ka Nang Umiyak by Gary Valenciano
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language(s)	Filipino, English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	485 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Eileen Angela T. Garcia Hazel Bolisay Parfan
Producer(s)	Dagang Vilbar
Location(s)	Metro Manila, Philippines Pandacan, Manila, Philippines Hong Kong Bulacan, Philippines Cebu, Philippines Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Editor(s)	Froilan Francia
Running time	35-45 minutes
Production company(s)	FPJ Productions Dreamscape Entertainment Television
Release
Original network	ABS-CBN
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Original release	September 28, 2015 (2015-09-28) – present
External links
Website	angprobinsyano.abs-cbn.com

Ang Probinsyano (Lit: The Man from the Province or The Provincial Man / English: Brothers), officially FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, is a 2015 Philippine action drama television series airing in ABS-CBN based on the 1997 Fernando Poe Jr. film of the same title, courtesy of FPJ Productions. Produced by Dreamscape Productions and directed by Malu Sevilla, Avel Sunpongco, Toto Natividad, Richard V. Somes, Kevin de Vela and Alan Chanliongco, it is topbilled by Coco Martin, together with an ensemble cast.^[1] The series premiered on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida evening block and worldwide on The Filipino Channel on 28 September 2015, replacing Nathaniel. The show will end at 2018.

Series overview

Premise

Syndicate Arc

The story revolves around the journey of twins JV and Dean (both played by Coco Martin), who were separated from each other because of financial reasons, even as they followed the path of being police officers.

Jv is a prominent and respected CIDG police official in Manila with a loving family as his support. Dean, on the other hand, loves the solitude of the mountains in the province of Botolan, Zambales as a SAF Trooper. Their lives take a sudden turn when Ador gets himself entangled in a syndicate after being betrayed by one of his own colleagues, resulting in his death. To conceal this fact, Cardo was ordered to take over Ador's life and finish the mission his brother left behind. He will also be forced to pretend to his brother's family and friends, and be reunited with his grandmother, whom he resented, for surmising she deserted him. Challenges later followed in life, and he promised to find the person who was behind his brother's death.

Cardo tackles various cases of people he meets along the way. However, he was later eventually framed up for illegal drug possession, and thus experiences life in prison. After escaping in a jailbreak and determined to clear his name, Cardo continues his goal in pursuing and ultimately obliterating the syndicate which is responsible for his framing. The organization continues to threaten his family and has many connections in society including the police and government. Unbeknownst to Cardo, the syndicate who framed him up was also the same syndicate responsible for the untimely death of his loved ones, including Ador.

Tomas Tuazon was later killed, and Don Emilio was jailed which avenged the death of Pablo. Cardo had his innocence proven and Joaquin Tuazon was exposed for his crimes. Cardo later killed Joaquin after the latter disrupted his wedding ceremony to his then fiancee, avenging Ador's death.

Rebellion Arc

Although retiring from the police, Cardo later decides to turn to vigilantism as the country deals with the threat of a rebel group, known as the Pulang Araw (English: Red Sun). After the death of his son Ricky Boy, Cardo decides to return to service in his original capacity as a PNP-SAF trooper.

Cast

Main

Protagonist

• Coco Martin as SPO2 Ricardo "Cardo" Dalisay and Police S/Insp. Dominador "Ador" B. de Leon+

Current

• Susan Roces as Kapitana Flora "Lola Kap" S. Borja-de Leon
• Jaime Fábregas as Police Director (General) Delfin S. Borja
• Eddie Garcia as Don Emilio Syquia
• John Arcilla as Director Renato Hipolito
• Angel Aquino as Brigadier General Diana T. Olegario
• Jhong Hilario as Homer/Alakdan
• Sid Lucero as Major Manolo "Nolo" Catindig
• John Prats^[2] as SPO3 Jerome Girona, Jr.
• Ronwaldo Martin as Roldan/Gagamba
• Mitch Valdes as Kapitana Gina Magtanggol

Former

• Maja Salvador as SPO1 Glenda "Glen" F. Corpuz
• Bela Padilla as Carmen M. Guzman-Tuazon+
• Arjo Atayde as Police C/Insp. Joaquin S. Tuazon+
• Albert Martinez as Tomas "Papa Tom" G. Tuazon+
• Agot Isidro as Verna Syquia-Tuazon+
• Pokwang as Amor

Supporting

Current regular

• Yassi Pressman as Alyanna Arevalo-Dalisay
• Joel Torre as Teodoro "Teddy" Arevalo
• Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino as Virginia "Virgie" Arevalo
• Malou Crisologo as Yolanda "Yolly" Capuyao-Santos
• Marvin Yap as Elmo Santos
• Long Mejia as Paco
• McNeal "Awra" Briguela as Macario "Makmak" Samonte, Jr.
• James "Paquito" Sagarino as Paquito Alvarado
• Rhian "Dang" Ramos as Dang
• Shantel Crislyn Layh "Ligaya" Ngujo as Ligaya
• John Medina as Police S/Insp. Avel "Billy" M. Guzman
• Lester Llansang as Police S/Insp. Mark Vargas
• Michael Roy Jornales as Police S/Insp. Francisco "Chikoy" Rivera
• Marc Solis as SPO1 Rigor Soriano
• Benj Manalo as Felipe "Pinggoy" Tanyag, Jr.
• PJ Endrinal as Wally
• Jeff Tam as Otep
• Pedro Caron Jr. as Nick
• Shernan Roy Gaite as Gido
• Jay Gonzaga as James
• Arlene Tolibas as Marikit
• Enzo Pelojero as Dexter

Recurring

• Lei Andrei Navarro as Dominador "Junior" G. de Leon, Jr.
• Dennis Padilla as Edgar Guzman
• Ana Roces as Leonora "Nora" Montano-Guzman
• Brace Arquiza as Ryan M. Guzman
• McCoy de Leon as Juan Pablo "JP" Arevalo
• Elisse Joson as Lorraine Pedrosa
• Daisy Reyes as Belen Girona
• Kiray Celis as Mitch

Former

• Joey Marquez as Nanding Corpuz
• Malou de Guzman as Lolit Fajardo-Corpuz
• Art Acuña as Police S/Supt. (Colonel) Roy Carreon+
• Pepe Herrera as Benjamin "Benny" Dimaapi+
• Beverly Salviejo as Cita "Yaya Cita" Roque+
• Eda Nolan as Brenda Corpuz
• Ping Medina as Diego Sahagun+
• Belle Mariano as Rachel S. Tuazon+
• Marc Acueza as Police S/Insp. Dino Robles+
• Rino Marco as Police S/Insp. Gregorio "Greg" Sebastian+
• Mhyco Aquino as Lorenz Gabriel+
• Lander Vera Perez as Alfred Borromeo+
• Simon Ezekiel Pineda as Honorio "Onyok" Amaba

Guest cast

Production

ABS-CBN president and CEO, Charo Santos-Concio, touted the creation of an action-drama series which particularly aims to give importance to the police force in an effort to help them "regain the love and respect of the people". Coco Martin, who would be later named as the series' lead actor, was involved in the production shoot for the series, who proposed that the production team create a television adaptation of Fernando Poe Jr. film Ang Probinsyano. Martin reasons that he and his grandmother enjoyed watching films of the action star while Martin grew up. The widow of Fernando Poe Jr., Susan Roces reportedly allowed the production team to adopt her late spouse's film. ^[3]

The series directed by Malu Sevilla, Avel Sunpongco and Toto Natividad is not a remake of the 1997 film of the same name. It was made to be run for months to be more suitable for teleserye viewers.^[4]

The title of the original film was inspired from the term "pulis patola" which is occasionally used to tease newbie police officers. Since patola, or cucumber of the luffa genus, is usually grown in the provinces outside urban areas such as Manila, the title Ang Probinsyano was decided to be the title of the 1997 film,^[4] which would be later adapted in the 2015 television series.

Casting changes

Singer-actress Angeline Quinto was supposedly part of the main cast to play the role of Lily, an original character yet different role. However, she was later pulled out from the cast due to conflicting schedules.^[5][6][7][8] Quinto was replaced by Maja Salvador, and thus the character renamed to Glen. This was Salvador's reunion project with Coco Martin four years after Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin.

On August 2016, Maja Salvador left the series due to numerous prior commitments (including the then-upcoming drama, Wildflower) and the expiration of her contract with Dreamscape. In the same month, Yassi Pressman joined the cast as Alyana Arevalo to substitute Salvador.

Deviations and connections to the film

• In the film version, Cardo ('Kardo' in the film) had a wife and children, who were murdered because the killers had mistaken Cardo for Ador.^[9]
• Ador's guilt was the reason for their separation in the film version. In the TV series version, their grandmother had young Cardo adopted by a childless couple as a condition for the treatment of Cardo's injuries in Singapore.^[9]
• Ador and Cardo's grandmother was not included in the film. In the TV series, the twins' grandmother is played by veteran actress Susan Roces, widow of the late Fernando Poe, Jr.^[9]
• Cardo's last name in the film version is still 'de Leon' instead of 'Dalisay'.^[9]
• Cardo in the TV series is a SAF trooper in Botolan. In the film version, Cardo is Santa Marcela's Police Chief.^[9]
• The main antagonists in the film version is a drug syndicate. In the TV series, it is a human-child trafficking syndicate (however, production soon reverted the antagonists into a drug syndicate).^[9]
• The child Cardo adopted in the film version is a girl, while in the TV series version, it is a boy.^[9]
• The name of Ador's wife in the film version is Lily, while in the TV series her name was known to be Carmen. Lily turns out to be the name of a Chinese syndicate master's (played by Richard Yap) female assistant in the TV series.^[9]
• Ben is one of Cardo's main antagonists in the film version, while the name Ben turns out into 'Benny', Benny is a funniest man and he is Cardo's wacky sidekick in the TV series. Nato (known as 'Natong Luga' in the film and was played by the late character actor Renato del Prado) is a police informer to Cardo in the 1997 film version and the 1998 film sequel Ang Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano, while the name Nato turns out into 'Donato' in Book 1 (played by comedian Jelson Bay) and 'Renato' in Book 2 (known as 'Renato Hipolito' in the primetime series and currently played by John Arcilla), Donato is one of Cebu City's syndicate master's (played by Ronnie Lazaro) henchmen and Renato is a corrupted Director of Department of National Defense in the TV series.^[9]
• Carmen in the film version is a night club entertainer and mother of the child Cardo adopted,^[9] whereas the TV series version is Cardo's sister-in-law and Ador's widow as the replaced of Lily from the film version.
• The 'Glen Corpuz' character was originally created only for the TV series.^[9]
• Ador's superior in the film version, who devised the plan for Cardo to assume Ador's identity, is not Ador and Cardo's grand-uncle.^[9]
• The person who killed Ador in the film version is a syndicate goon. In the TV series, Ador is killed by the main antagonist; a corrupted policeman.^[9]
• The 'Paloma Picache'^[10] character was created only for the TV series, and was an idea proposed by lead actor Coco Martin to Dreamscape Entertainment. Paloma is actually Cardo in drag during his mission to rescue women who were kidnapped by a prostitution syndicate. Martin, who portrayed the character, said that he had to study the mannerisms of a woman for the role. He remarked that this particular role was hard noting that women spend about two hours doing their make-up for a date and on how it is hard and painful to walk on high-heels.^[11] Cardo's "Paloma" persona also appeared in a storyline involving a blackmailing case of an American businessman.
• Janus del Prado, Tom Olivar, Dindo Arroyo and Joey Padilla were the only cast members from the 1997 film version who had guest appearances in the TV series. Ricardo Cepeda, Daniel Fernando and Jethro Ramirez^[12]who were included in the 1998 film sequel Ang Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano, also had guest appearances in the TV series.^[9] Jaime Fabregas served as musical director for both the original film and its sequel.

Extension

The action drama was confirmed to air until 2017 due to its high ratings, action scenes and "real life lessons" which was well received by the audience. Furthermore, the series has also been known to educate its viewers about Philippine laws and issues.^[13]

On 21 April 2017, ABS-CBN announced that FPJ's Ang Probinsyano is officially extended until March 2018.^[14]

On 28 September 2017, this series will be celebrating its 2nd Anniversary.

Soundtrack

The following is a list of songs featured in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.

Reception

Ratings

FPJ's Ang Probinsyano is considered one of the most-watched telenovela in the Philippines, garnering the highest-rated pilot episode of all time with 41.6% in 2015, and also received the highest peak nationwide rating of 46.7% on its 92nd episode in 2016. The series is well received by the public due to its action sequences, life lessons and crime prevention tips.

Special citation from the CIDG

Coco Martin was given a certificate of appreciation for his favorable portrayal as a highly dedicated and responsible CIDG Police officer in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano given in the 63rd Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Founding Anniversary.^[17]

Awards and nominations

Notes

^ Ador died with the rank of Police Senior Inspector. When Cardo was pretending as Ador, he solved a case thus promoting "Ador" to Chief Inspector because everyone thought that he was really Ador. When it was revealed that he was Cardo, the promotion became null and invalid. The reason why Cardo and his father don't share the same surname because Cardo was adopted at a young age. Borja was the middle name used by Ador in the series, even though it was not his mother's maiden name. It may not be explicitly stated in the series but Ador used "Borja" as his middle name for reasons unknown. In the Pilot Episode, although in certificates and portraits he was named as "Dominador M. de Leon", however due to continuity errors, he was introduced as "Cadet Dominador Borja de Leon" during the PNPA Graduation Ceremony,^[18] as well as in his promotion to Police Senior Inspector in the third episode.^[19] In some episodes, Ador's gravestone in the cemetery was also shown as "PS/INSP. Dominador B. de Leon".^[20]

^ "Paloma Picache" is one of Cardo's disguises and is not a separate character.

^ The show has received high praise from Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno who stated that the police force should make an example of the lead character Cardo.

See also

• Ang Probinsyano (film)
• List of programs broadcast by ABS-CBN
• List of telenovelas of ABS-CBN

References

External links

• Ang Probinsyano on IMDb
• Ang Pagbabalik ng Probinsyano (1998 film) on IMDb