The classic Kapuso teledrama Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga, headlined by Tanya Garcia and Dingdong Dantes and aired from December 2001 to April 2003, is probably one of the most unforgettable shows produced by GMA-7.

In fact, it continues to resonate with viewers today based on comments on GMA-7’s YouTube channel that their request to have its full episodes uploaded had been granted by the network.

Yes, you read that right: Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga‘s original version is now available on GMA Network’s YouTube channel!

In an interview with The Rewined Podcast, the show’s creator, RJ Nuevas, recalled how he experienced firsthand the show’s success, mainly because of its comics-like concept.

The story is about Cecilia (Tanya), a young barrio lass who falls in love with the rich Carlos Miguel (Dingdong), who in turn has a girlfriend named Olga (Maricar de Mesa).

Cecilia and Olga then meet a freak accident, causing Olga to sustain burns and become unrecognizable. Believing that she is Cecilia, Carlos Miguel spends money to restore Olga’s face and pretends to be Cecilia.

Cecilia, on the other hand, loses her sanity as she gets drifted in a remote area because of the accident.

He recalls, “Very comics ang concept ng Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga, pinalitan yung mukha—pinapangit yung isang mukha ng babae ‘tapos [yung isa] pinaganda. So, may dual role si Tanya, isang babaeng pangit at saka isang kontrabidang maganda.

“Noong panahon na yun, ang feerling ko wala pang gumagawa ng ganun, kaya rin sobrang hit siya. Tandang-tanda ko, yung Pangako Sa ‘Yo, umeere na yun at malakas ang Pangako Sa ‘Yo ‘tapos biglang pumasok ang Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga, bigla siyang hit talaga.

“Nasa mall ako, nagsha-shopping ako, tumawag sa akin si Lilybeth Rasonable [GMA-7 executive], ‘RJ, hindi pa umeere ang Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga, naghihintayan sila ng Pangako Sa ‘Yo kasi kailangan mauna ang isang show bago ka papasok, e. Ewan ko basta ganun ang labanan dati ng GMA at ABS, naghihintayan kung sino unang papasok kaya puro commercials.

“‘Tapos one time, kumakain kami ni Suzette sa isang sosyal na restaurant, narinig namin yung katabi naming table, nag-uusap, mga sosyal na babae. Ang pinag-uusapan si Carlos Miguel at Cecilia!”

GMA-7 exec defends Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga

Despite the success that Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga had been attaining during its run, the show still faced criticisms and comments, even inside GMA-7.

RJ reveals, “There was a time, hindi ko na matandaan, [pero] within GMA, medyo nagrereklamo na ang baduy o ang comics niya, parang hindi na realistic.

“[Sinasabi], ‘Tignan mo yan, nagpalit ng mukha.’ May mga nagrereklamo na within GMA na imposible yan.”

It was Wilma V. Galvante, then head of entertainment group for GMA-7, who stepped in and defended the show.

RJ continues, “Tuwang-tuwa ako kay Ma’am Wilma, ipinagtanggol niya. [Sabi niya], ‘That is the genre of the show. It is comics, comics siya talaga. Anything can happen. It is absurd, it is preposterous pero it’s in the realm of the story, it’s comics.’

“So, ipinagtanggol niya. Natuwa naman ako kay Ma’am Wilma noon. Kumbaga, alam niya yung genre at yung bentahe ng show. Comics siya e, hindi siya mangyayari pero ang sarap lang panoorin the possibility na it can happen sa ganitong mundo.”

Watch the full The Rewined Podcast episode of “The Story Behind GMA Drama Classics: Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga” here: