The longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television gets the silver treatment.
For older viewers, it is still known as ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’, but for the younger generation, it is now simply known as ‘MMK’. Regardless, the program that touched the lives of Filipinos here and around the world is still going strong, and just recently, it celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The very first episode of ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ was aired on May 15, 1991. The first episode, ‘Rubber Shoes’, starred Romnick Sarmenta, Vina Morales, Robert Arevalo, Hero Bautista and Ray Ventura, and it launched a tradition of reading letters through Charo Santos-Concio and naming episode titles after various objects, people or places.
From there, ‘MMK’ took off. The anthology became popular, earning numerous awards here and abroad, and it inspired more Filipinos to write stories of their own, each depicting their trials and tribulations in life.
In 1994, Star Cinema decided to produce a movie based on ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’. Released as one of the entries in that year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, it starred Richard Gomez, Aiko Melendez, Chin-Chin Gutierrez and Caridad Sanchez, among others.
In 2007, a radio program also based on ‘MMK’ began airing on DZMM, and earned similar praise as its television counterpart. Five years later, a rerun of classic ‘MMK’ episodes (titled ‘MMK Klasik’) also began to air on The Filipino Channel and on DZMM TeleRadyo.
Even though ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ has been on a roll since its first episode in 1991, rivals have tried to keep up with this long-running anthology. The most notable of these rivals was GMA’s ‘Magpakailanman’, which first aired in 2002 and has continued to air since (other than a four-year hiatus from 2008 to 2012).
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ remains an iconic program to many Filipinos. And as it turned 25, more stories are about to unfold, with each of them maintaining a tradition of inspiration and dedication to all Filipinos.
Hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ airs every Saturday at 8:15 p.m*. on ABS-CBN.
*‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ has been airing every Saturday night since 2008. The show originally aired every Wednesday, Thursday and then Friday night.
From the Tube 
I already made a perspective of MMK as a political springboard as part of my election series. A life story of a vice-presidential candidate last February became one of the indirect factors of winning the race — though with a narrow margin. Apparently, that’s not the only case, though. It happened also in 2013, 2010 and 2004.
Anyway, congratulations and 25 more years* of letter reading, Ma’am Charo.
*If the incoming Duterte administration decides to leave ABS-CBN alone or Ma’am Charo decides to have enough (health reasons)
MMK viewers and letter-senders, young or old, should be proud of this achievement.
Speaking of Charo Santos, her own music video (and song release) of his rendition of “Desiderata” will be aired before MMK on July 23, 2016. It will be aired, not just on ABS-CBN, but on all radio and television (free TV, cable and digital) channels of ABS-CBN, and TFC.
And now maam charo has some endorsement deals and she is now back in doing films. And a possibility of starting her own MMK episode.
It’s essentially a tribute to her after 25 years of hosting MMK. It’s a good thing she ceded her executive powers to Carlo Katigbak just for this moment.