ABS-CBN’s drama anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) is home to many great real-life stories. But beyond the greatness it evokes from its own storytelling, the showcase of real-life narratives has ushered in a lasting legacy that transcends across the masses.

It was in May 1991 when MMK aired its pilot episode. Three decades later, and more than 1,300 episodes that followed, the program would later become the longest-running drama anthology in all of Asia. 

As MMK cemented its name as part of the Filipino Sunday habit for many years, it then transformed into a well-loved, classic program that highlights the diverse Filipino narratives right from the core—or as its tagline goes, “Ikaw ang bida sa kwento ng buhay mo.” 

Living up to its tagline, MMK has successfully brought to television the stories of struggles and victories that make up the Filipino experience. Usually delivered in bold, unapologetic, and heart-wrenching manner, these episodes vividly reflect all that there is—somehow inviting anyone to relate to and empathize with. 

Slated to return this April 24, 2025, Charo Santos-Concio fondly reminisced about the show’s origin, as she divulged a piece of information that became the foundation on which MMK was built. 

Charo recalls in a TikTok video, “It was in 1991, I was in a programming meeting. Our president [Freddie M. Garcia] asked me this question: ‘If we replace this program with another concept, what will you pitch?’” 

In response to Freddie’s demand, Charo politely asked for a two-week timeframe to produce a working concept, but then the executive had this to say, “Naku, Charo! Sa telebisyon lahat mabilis. Ang mantra talaga, ‘The show must go on.’ Hindi ito katulad ng pelikula na pwede mong igalaw ang playdate.” 

Brought about by pressure and anxiety, Charo recalled having to zone out for a moment—until her eyes landed on a piece of paper clip on the table. Picking up the piece of metal, she then blurted out, “Ito! Napaka-simpleng bagay, hindi ito pinapansin, pero maaaring may mahalagang kwento sa likod ng simpleng bagay.” 

As explained by Charo, there’s a deeper meaning and untold stories that lie beneath every mundane, often neglected object. For one, a simple paper clip—little as it may seem—might have played as a significant tool in a love story—hence, naming the episodes after simple objects became MMK’s signature. 

Expressed at length in Charo’s 2017 book, My Journey: The Story of an Unexpected Leader, the concept would be pegged to the concept of the telegraph, which would “ask letter senders to tell [us[ about their life story through ordinary objects.” 

As if drifting between plain curiosity and interest, Freddie then asked what might be an apt title for it, to which Charo responded, “Among My Souvenirs,” alluding to American singer-actor Frank Sinatra’s hit song of the same title. 

However, the executive wanted to bring it closer to home, saying, “Dapat Tagalog song iyan. It should be a kundiman… Maalaala Mo Kaya! That’s the theme song and that’s the title.” Thus, the popular Pinoy drama anthology series Maalala Mo Kaya came to be. 

The making of MMK’s pilot episode 

Pairing up with director Olivia Lamasan or whom Charo fondly addresses as Olive, the duo had been tasked to produce and air MMK’s pilot episode immediately in May. However, as Charo shares in her book, the challenge of bringing the concept to life was a different challenge.

With fervent trust in their chemistry and “backgrounds in cinema,” Charo and Direk Olive planned the production with quality that is on the same level as how movies are made. At the center of it all were the audience whom Charo dreamed of immersing one with the stories.

“We wanted the audience to be swept into the narrative, to feel themselves one with the characters’ sense of loss, and then to emerge redeemed with the character,” she shares. 

To give it a more reality-based appeal, Charo says that the production must go beyond the walls of their sets, in hopes of giving the anthology a form of its own. It was only through this way that the viewers “would find it believable enough to invest their emotions in.” 

Actor Romnick Sarmenta, who was only around 19 years old at the time, was handpicked to banner the pilot episode titled “Rubber Shoes.” He plays a young boy coming from a poor socio-economic background who dreams of owning a pair of running shoes. Romnick was cast alongside veteran actor Robert Arevalo, tasked to portray the role of a father who works as a janitor. 

The project required much from Charo and Direk Olive, as it also put an equally heavy demand on Romnick and Robert. For the leads, they were challenged to bring out a more nuanced acting that would go beyond materialism. As for Charo and Direk Olive, they were faced with the fear of not being able to put out a good program. 

But this dilemma turned out wrong when the pilot episode finally aired on May 21, 1991. Charo recalled having to watch it live with her mother, whose eyes welled up upon hearing the famous line, “Dear Charo.” 

As Maalaala Mo Kaya lives on as a testament to Charo’s mettle, the stories born out of this program also stand as a visual relic of the triumphant stories from real people. Pitiful most of the stories may be, they remain concrete evidence of how these people persevered and prevailed.