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Drama Tropes Filipinos Can’t Get Enough of

Filipinos take their TV dramas very seriously. Unlike in other countries that release new episodes every week, Filipino primetime series run at the same time every weeknight because Filipinos can’t get enough. How long a series can run normally depends on audience approval . If a series is reported to run for a year or more, it usually means that it is loved by an audience . Solid examples are usually teleseryes starring Coco Martin (a crowd favorite) such as Ang Probinsyano (The Provincial Man) and Walang Hanggan (No End). Seeing different teleseryes come and go. It’s not hard to point out that there are a lot of tropes that are reused but with a different backstory and yet, Filipinos take it all in like it’s the first time they’ve ever seen it. Here are some elements you can expect from a Filipino Drama:

Rich vs. Poor Forbidden Romance

The beginning of every series usually showcases two contrasting protagonists in the story , a rich one and a poor one, in either order. Or at least a flashback of how either of the main characters’ childhoods made them into what they are today.

The rich one always appears to have it all on the surface but is later shown to have problems in their marriage or family or they feel like something’s missing . While the poor one always has a simple but happy life until they are suddenly struck with a major financial problem. 

And somehow, something in the plot allows their paths to cross and they suddenly fall in love , much to the disdain of the rich one’s strict parents . So, you can expect they either threaten, kill or bribe (but to no avail) the poor one and they go their separate ways (at least for the meantime). More often than not, the girl is usually secretly pregnant at this point and the baby gets separated from her.

Wife vs. Mistress/Third Party

Although the Philippines is a religious country , this type of series is one that gets everyone hooked. Everything from the discovery, the fights, and the scandals get the entire audience very hyped up as if it’s the first time they’ve seen anything like it on screen. 

While the erotic scenes in the Philippines are very mild due to the conservativeness of the country , these scenes on a Filipino show can get everyone hot and bothered more than in a foreign film. They even make dramas where the wife’s and mistress’s children start their own issues.

If asked why Filipinos enjoy this type of drama so much, it all boils down to a saying: “Masarap ang bawal” which literally means “Taboo is tasty.” Sounds crazy but this type of show keeps cult followings for MONTHS. 

Jealous Siblings /Friends /Rivals 

Jealousy is normal but jealous teleserye characters are next-level crazy. These characters are often wealthy but insecure and are hellbent on getting what they want. They will get hair strands from the main character’s hairbrush to do a paternity test that may disinherit them or may alter DNA tests, steal their love interest , kidnap them or their baby for ransom, and even plot murder to simply kill them by poisoning them, hiring a hitman or doing it themselves.

Scenes like these are very intense and are often placed on the Friday episode to keep the audience hanging over the weekend. Cue in the slow-motion and the crying and screaming.

Family Prevails

Amidst all the crazy plot twists and drama all the characters have to endure, they still make time to bond with their family . Even to the point where their family is unfortunately dragged into the threats, scandals, and drama that happens. 

Close family ties are very valuable to Filipino culture so this is often showcased on the side of the poor protagonist, proving that despite not having much, family is really all you’ll need at the end of the day . 

While “teleseryes” (tv series) are addicting and have occasional new elements added to them, many have said that they lack the capacity to be considered world -class. Some say it’s the lack of budget, others say it’s because the target audience is the masses who only need a simple plot to digest. Nevertheless, these “teleseryes” bring entertainment and stress relief to the average Filipino joe at the end of a long work day . However, it would be nice to showcase Filipino entertainment on a global scale someday in the future.

Learn Tagalog

release new episodes - maglabas ng mga bagong bahagi
depends on audience approval - depende sa pag-apruba ng madla
loved by an audience - nagustuhan ng madla
reused but with a different backstory - ginamit muli ngunit may ibang kuwento na nangyari
showcases two contrasting protagonists - nagpapakita ng dalawang magkasalungat na protagonista
appears to have it all - mukhang nasa kanya na lahat
threaten, kill or bribe - magbanta, pumatay o sumuhol
usually secretly pregnant - minsan patago na buntis
wealthy but insecure - mayaman pero mabuway
may disinherit them - maaaring mawalan sila ng mana
very intense - matindi
bond with their family - pakikisalamuha sa kanilang mga pamilya
occasional new elements - paminsan-minsang mga bagong elemento
lack the capacity - kulang sa kapasidad
bring entertainment and stress relief - magdala ng aliwan at pampawala ng tensyon
1. release new episodes - maglabas ng mga bagong bahagi
0:04
2. depends on audience approval - depende sa pag-apruba ng madla
0:05
3. loved by an audience - nagustuhan ng madla
0:04
4. reused but with a different backstory - ginamit muli ngunit may ibang kuwento na nangyari
0:05
5. showcases two contrasting protagonists - nagpapakita ng dalawang magkasalungat na protagonista
0:06
6. appears to have it all - mukhang nasa kanya na lahat
0:04
7. threaten, kill or bribe - magbanta, pumatay o sumuhol
0:05
8. usually secretly pregnant - minsan patago na buntis
0:04
9. wealthy but insecure - mayaman pero mabuway
0:04
10. may disinherit them - maaaring mawalan sila ng mana
0:05
11. very intense - matindi
0:02
12. bond with their family - pakikisalamuha sa kanilang mga pamilya
0:04
13. occasional new elements - paminsan-minsang mga bagong elemento
0:05
14. lack the capacity - kulang sa kapasidad
0:03
15. bring entertainment and stress relief - magdala ng aliwan at pampawala ng tensyon
0:06

Learn Cebuano

release new episodes - magpagawas ang bag-ong mga yugto
depends on audience approval - depende sa pag-uyon sa mamiminaw
loved by an audience - giganahan sa mga mamiminaw
reused but with a different backstory - gigamit pag-usab apan adunay lahi nga backstory
showcases two contrasting protagonists - nagpakita sa duha ka magkalahi nga protagonista
appears to have it all - murag naa na tanan
threaten, kill or bribe - magbanta, pumatay o sumuhol
usually secretly pregnant - kasagarang sekretong mabdos
wealthy but insecure - dato pero walay kasegurohan
may disinherit them - pwede makasalikway sa ila
very intense - grabe kaayo
bond with their family - bonding kuyog sa ilang pamilya
occasional new elements - panagsa bag-ong mga elemento
lack the capacity - kulang sa kapasidad
bring entertainment and stress relief - magdala og kalingawan ug paghupay sa tensiyon
1. release new episodes - magpagawas ang bag-ong mga yugto
0:03
2. depends on audience approval - depende sa pag-uyon sa mamiminaw
0:03
3. loved by an audience - giganahan sa mga mamiminaw
0:03
4. reused but with a different backstory - gigamit pag-usab apan adunay lahi nga backstory
0:04
5. showcases two contrasting protagonists - nagpakita sa duha ka magkalahi nga protagonista
0:04
6. appears to have it all - murag naa na tanan
0:02
7. threaten, kill or bribe - magbanta, pumatay o sumuhol
0:03
8. usually secretly pregnant - kasagarang sekretong mabdos
0:02
9. wealthy but insecure - dato pero walay kasegurohan
0:03
10. may disinherit them - pwede makasalikway sa ila
0:02
11. very intense - grabe kaayo
0:01
12. bond with their family - bonding kuyog sa ilang pamilya
0:02
13. occasional new elements - panagsa bag-ong mga elemento
0:02
14. lack the capacity - kulang sa kapasidad
0:02
15. bring entertainment and stress relief - magdala og kalingawan ug paghupay sa tensiyon
0:04

Learn Ilocano

release new episodes - baro nga paset
depends on audience approval - nakadependar ti panangapbrubar ti agbuya
loved by an audience - magustuan ti agbuya
reused but with a different backstory - nausar ngem sabali ti istorya na
showcases two contrasting protagonists - maipakita ti agsabali nga kinatao
appears to have it all - makita nga adda amin
threaten, kill or bribe - butbutngen, patayen wenno takawan
usually secretly pregnant - kanayon nga masikog
wealthy but insecure - nabaknang ngem saan nga naikananama
may disinherit them - maawanan ti mana
very intense - grabe ti kinapigsa
bond with their family - kinairut ti relasyon ti pamilya
occasional new elements - sagpaminsan nga elemento
lack the capacity - kurang ti kapasidad
bring entertainment and stress relief - makaited ti buya ken makapabang-ar ti parikut
1. release new episodes - baro nga paset
0:03
2. depends on audience approval - nakadependar ti panangapbrubar ti agbuya
0:04
3. loved by an audience - magustuan ti agbuya
0:03
4. reused but with a different backstory - nausar ngem sabali ti istorya na
0:04
5. showcases two contrasting protagonists - maipakita ti agsabali nga kinatao
0:05
6. appears to have it all - makita nga adda amin
0:04
7. threaten, kill or bribe - butbutngen, patayen wenno takawan
0:05
8. usually secretly pregnant - kanayon nga masikog
0:04
9. wealthy but insecure - nabaknang ngem saan nga naikananama
0:05
10. may disinherit them - maawanan ti mana
0:03
11. very intense - grabe ti kinapigsa
0:04
12. bond with their family - kinairut ti relasyon ti pamilya
0:05
13. occasional new elements - sagpaminsan nga elemento
0:04
14. lack the capacity - kurang ti kapasidad
0:04
15. bring entertainment and stress relief - makaited ti buya ken makapabang-ar ti parikut
0:05

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