Television: Sizzling series from Kapamilya and Kapuso stations

After a very long wait, Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee starrer Maria la del barrio will finally air on primetime. The local adaptation of the popular Mexican series that originally starred Latin superstar Thalia, will take the timeslot of Mula Sa Puso.

It can be recalled that Marian Rivera’s portrayal of another Thalia role (MariMar) catapulted her as the queen of primetime TV. Will the same magic work to Erich this time?

Meanwhile, whilst Kapamilya aficionados are anticipating the onscreen reunion of Erich and Enchong, GMA-7 is proud for its first dance series that replaced Captain Barbell entitled Time of My Life. Top-billed by the StarStruck graduates Mark Herras, Kris Bernal, and Rocco Nacino, the series that started airing on Monday is said to be shot and filmed using the HD technology to give the program a crisp and fine resolution (which might not work to most television sets in the country that are configured with standard definition). The program also include seasoned actors Jean Garcia and Cherie Gil in the cast.

Still in the Kapuso yard, tween tandem Jake Vargas and Bea Binene will have their first show without the more popular team-up of Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza in the cast. Jake and Bea will headline an afternoon soap called Pahiram ng Isang Ina, which automatically will replace Blusang Itim on Dramarama sa Hapon once it ends.

Another much-anticipated comeback on primetime, if you will ask her fans, is Claudine Barreto. After a long dry spell, the 32-year-old former ABS-CBN talent returns on primetime TV with fantasy series about a magical egg called Iglot, which will premiere once Munting Heredera bids goodbye late this August.

Claudine who strongly denied rumors she took drugs and was placed in a rehab facility to overcome drug addiction, but admitted she underwent psychiatric treatment to help her cope with her problems, will be joined by Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin, and Luis Alandy in the new television project.

Back to ABS-CBN’s turf, the network revamps its Sunday afternoon lineup by putting Mara Clara stars on the spot light again. Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes lead the afternoon teen-oriented mini-series that will take over the slot vacated by Kapamilya’s other youth-oriented show, Good Vibes. Diego Loyzaga and Daniel Padilla will play Kathryn and Julia’s leading men. The program is titled Growing Up and by the way entirely is different from the defunct youth-oriented show that aired on GMA-7 from 1997 to 1999 that also served serves as a sequel to TGIS.

Another much-awaited television comeback is Gerald Anderson’s newest assignment in Budoy. Gerald will be joined by future Darna Jessy Mendiola in this so-called advocacy series. The program is about mentally challenged people.

In previous interviews, Gerald said that he is hoping that young kids would pick up important values from the new soap, such as the importance of education given the declining rate of literacy among Filipinos at present.

Now, which among these programs excite the fans, and which of them will make a mark in the ratings game?