Philippine television has always been lensed towards the monumental rise of heroes just as it is fair towards the climactic fall of villains. It is a black and white concept that the local producers have mastered over time—successfully integrating it not only in action but also in romance, comedy, and other fitting genres. 

But while the local landscape has always been distinct, it is interesting to see how some filmmakers and directors carefully tapped on the thin line between the good and the bad in an attempt to deliver a more nuanced storytelling—hence the rise of anti-heroines. 

And so, in celebration of the individualistic complexities of the female anti-heroes or what we call the bida-kontrabida, we rewind the reels for the laudable Filipino characters who made their mark for being unvarnished, morally gray, but with a heart. 

Angelica Panganiban in Rubi 

Probably the most explicit display of this archetype would have to be the 2010 remake of Rubi, bannered by Angelica Panganiban. The series was adapted from the 2004 Mexican telenovela of the same name led by Barbara Mori. 

Apt to its title “Ang Bidang-Kontrabida,” Rubi sits under the spotlight as a strong-willed woman who is highly motivated by her poor socio-economic background. Driven by her ambition to ease herself out of the shackles, she will then resort to manipulation, deception, and exploitation —intentionally trampling other people in the process. 

Rubi is a bold and sensual tale of how obsessive greed for power and money can lead to one’s own fall. 

Jennylyn Mercado in Rhodora X

GMA-7’s Rhodora X, starring Jennylyn Mercado takes a closer look at duality, studying the concept of morality and the premises in which it is built upon. 

What makes this 2014 series a story of its own is the bold and unapologetic pathologization of a female lead through dissociative identity disorder or commonly known as split personality. 

With the severity of her case, brought by distant trauma from abduction, Rhodora becomes internally conflicted and villainous as she deals with recurring patterns of abuse, dysfunctional family, and inner struggles. 

Maja Salvador in Wildflower

“A wronged woman is a dangerous woman.” This phrase stayed true for Lily Cruz in the 2017 ABS-CBN series Wildflower. 

Thick with narratives of revenge, Lily Cruz carefully rebrands herself as Ivy Aguas to take justice into her own hands. Such a decision was motivated by her father Dante’s and mother Camia’s deaths orchestrated by the evil Ardiente family. 

Fueled by her strong anguish over the loss of her family, Lily Cruz will push towards the edge just to impose accountability. And this plot is made even more effective by Maja’s nuanced performance by bringing in raw emotions in the face of power. 

Janella Salvador in The Killer Bride

ABS-CBN’s The Killer Bride presents an intriguing homage to Macchiavelian puppetry. With Maja Salvador and Janella Salvador as its frontline, the 2019 series explores deep into the anti-heroine archetype by embedding a meek woman in bad faith.

The beauty of this series does not reside on heavy scenes alone but rather in moments when Emma is having conflicting values between the good and the bad—despite being conditioned by her mother Camilla (Maja Salvador) to seek revenge for her. 

Series and films with anti-heroines are just as important as those with their male counterparts. Such plot points lead to a richer storytelling by allowing women to be viewed as multifaceted beings who go through a whole spectrum of emotions and feelings, as well as their redemption and the change to become better.