Maalaala Mo Kaya


Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine television drama anthology series broadcast by ABS-CBN and Kapamilya Channel. Hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, its first iteration was aired from May 15, 1991, to December 10, 2022. The show returned for its second iteration on April 24, 2025 as a limited series for iWantTFC and consists of 13 episodes and on April 26, 2025 on the network's Yes Weekend line up. Its format is a dramatization of real life stories sent in by letter writers. It is the longest running drama anthology series in the Philippines.
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History

The program is named after the song "Maalaala Mo Kaya," originally by Constancio de Guzman. A version performed by Dulce was the program's theme until 2004, when it was replaced by Carol Banawa's cover. In 2021, JM Yosures' cover became the new theme. Dulce's version is still used in the final episode's closing credits.
In 2025, Tawag ng Tanghalan alumnus and The Voice US Season 26 grand champion Sofronio Vasquez and Tawag ng Tanghalan: The School Showdown grand champion Carmelle Collado sang the theme song for its limited series comeback.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, production of new episodes was suspended, starting March 14, 2020, with reruns airing until May 2, 2020. Three days later, ABS-CBN was shut down after the network's 25-year franchise, originally granted in 1995, had expired and the National Telecommunications Commission gave a cease and desist order. The program resumed, with new episodes, on Kapamilya Channel on November 28, 2020.
A classics re-run version of the anthology series, MMK Classics, premiered on June 3, 2012, on The Filipino Channel. To reach more international audiences, every episode was translated with English subtitles.
The Philippine version of the anthology, entitled "MMK Klasiks," aired on ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Gold afternoon block as a temporary replacement program from December 17, 2012 to January 18, 2013.
MMK Klasiks also airs on DZMM TeleRadyo as a fill-in to its radio counterpart, because the latter was pre-recorded. The Jeepney TV YouTube channel has The Best of MMK available to view.
On November 21, 2022, Santos-Concio announced the show's first iteration would air its three-part finale episode before the final episode on December 10, 2022 in order to focus on her role as Tindeng in FPJ's Batang Quiapo on the following year. A special "MMK Tatlong Dekadang Pasasalamat: Grand Kumustahan" was aired on December 24, 2022.
In April 2025, the show has been revived for its second iteration after over two years of hiatus with Charo Santos-Concio returning as host. It would be also simulcasted on All TV, thus marking the return of this program to channels 2 and 16 in Mega Manila and regional channels previously held by ABS-CBN until 2020. This occurred just a year after ABS-CBN Corporation and All TV's owner, Advanced Media Broadcasting System, signed content agreements to air ABS-CBN programs on All TV.

Episodes

''Translations of the Filipino titles are in parentheses.''

Notable episodes

  • "Rubber Shoes"
  • "Regalo"
  • "Lobo"
  • "Pier 39"
  • "Ferris Wheel"
  • "Unan"
  • "Fried Chicken"
  • "Pendant"
  • "Reseta"
  • "Sapatos"
  • "Blusa"
  • "Ice Cream"
  • "Teddy Bear"
  • "Kwintas"
  • "Gitara"
  • "Upuan"
  • The Ninoy and Cory Aquino Story
  • "Cupcake"
  • "Tsinelas"
  • "Krus"
  • "Kuweba"
  • "Singsing"
  • "Lente"
  • "T-shirt"
  • "Manika"
  • "Singsing"
  • "Sanggol"
  • "Lubid"
  • "Flash Cards"
  • "Scrapbook"
  • "Red Envelope"
  • "Bintana"
  • "Pasa"
  • "Kweba"
  • "Korona"
  • '''"Passport"'''

Award-winning episodes

  • "Abo"
  • "Wristwatch"
  • "Song Book"
  • "Rehas"
  • "Pilat"
  • "Lobo"
  • "Skating Rink"
  • "Sako"
  • "Regalo"
  • "Lupa"
  • "Basket"
  • '''"Kotse-kotsehan"/"Litrato"'''

Best of ''MMK''

As listed on the official website of the show:
"Rubber Shoes"
"Sako"
"Regalo"
"Pier 39"
"Baul"
"Unan"
"Sing-along Bar"
"Sa Kandungan mo, Inay"
"Retaso"
"Burda"
"Lapida"
"'Bisikleta"'''''

Specials

10th Anniversary Celebration

On October 11, 2001, MMK marked their 10th anniversary on television by presenting a TV Special entitled " Isang Dekada ng Ginintuang Alaala".

15th Anniversary Celebration

On May 13, 2006, MMK marked their 15th anniversary on television by presenting a two-part special episode that stars Vilma Santos, Ricky Davao and Maja Salvador entitled “Regalo”. The story was about Daisy Hernandez, a mother who devoted most of her time to her daughter.

16th Anniversary Celebration

In 2007, MMK presented an episode of their 16th anniversary entitled “Rehas” where actress Gina Pareño played the story of a mother who struggles to take care of her three mentally ill children in Aklan. Her acting won her Best Drama Performance By An Actress at the 12th Asian Television Awards while director Jerry Lopez Sineneng won the Best Direction in 2008. Also for this episode, MMK won the Special Award in Drama at the 2008 Seoul International Drama Awards.

18th Anniversary Celebration

In 2009, MMK celebrated their 18th anniversary by presenting five special episodes and four of which were filmed in the United States, in association with The Filipino Channel.


20th Anniversary – Dalawang Dekada

Documentary

On September 25, 2011, Sunday's Best, Maalaala Mo Kaya aired its 20th anniversary documentary special called MMK 20: Maalaala Mo Kaya Dalawang Dekada on ABS-CBN. During the documentary special, it features different segments including the highlights of the best episodes in the series, commentaries from the artists, director and producers who contributed to the program and featured stories relayed in the program for 20 years. Segment hosts are Sarah Geronimo for dramatic episodes, Angelica Panganiban for romance and comedy episodes, Vhong Navarro for MMKs episode titles, KC Concepcion for celebrity portrayals, Piolo Pascual for love stories by the period of time, and Sam Milby for out of the country episodes. The last part of the special is an interview with Vilma Santos with the program's main host Charo Santos.

Celebration

Similar to its 18th anniversary celebration, the show's 20th anniversary was celebrated with five special episodes taped in varying locations in the Philippines and abroad including Bukidnon, Palawan, Japan, and Spain.

Films

''Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie'' (1994)

As part of the third anniversary of the program, a film version was created, produced by Star Cinema and directed by Olivia Lamasan. The film was released on June 22, 1994. The plot revolves around the story of Ana, a young girl who took the responsibility of being the mother of her cousin Marissa's son while Marissa latter spent her life in Japan as an entertainer. It stars Aiko Melendez, Richard Gomez and Chin-Chin Gutierrez. The film was one of the entries for the 1994 Manila Film Festival. Melendez was awarded Best Actress.

Planned ''Maalaala Mo Kaya'' 20th anniversary film

In 2011, it was announced that the program would do another film for its 20th anniversary. The film would have starred Bea Alonzo, Zanjoe Marudo and Angel Locsin, and would have been directed by Laurenti M. Dyogi for Star Cinema. However, for unknown reasons, the film was permanently shelved.

Radio drama

In 2003, MMK started its radio counterpart Maalaala Mo Kaya sa DZMM as a daily radio drama being broadcast on DZMM. It is also hosted by Charo Santos-Concio and airs weekdays from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM. It was recently recognized as the Best Drama Program at the 32nd Catholic Mass Media Awards. Other awards included Best Radio Drama Program at the 18th KBP Golden Dove Awards 2009, Best Drama Program at the 31st Catholic Mass Media Awards 2009, Best Drama at the 29th Catholic Mass Media Awards 2007, and Best Drama Program at the 16th KBP Golden Dove Awards 2007.
The radio program previously aired on DZMM TeleRadyo, but since it was already pre-recorded, the DZMM station ID was shown instead of a shot of the booth during its air time. Eventually, it was replaced by MMK Klasiks and is only aired on DZMM TeleRadyo.
On October 10, 2016, MMK Klasiks moved to 1 pm because of the new program Headline Pilipinas, in honor of DZMM's 30th anniversary. The next year, MMK sa DZMM moved to a later timeslot to make way for the news program. From June 19, 2017 until May 5, 2020, MMK sa DZMM airs every weekdays from 2 pm to 2:30 pm only on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, and MMK Klasiks airs at 9:30 pm to 10 pm only on DZMM TeleRadyo.
Upon relaunch of DZMM in May 29, 2025, the program moved to 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm which airs on both Radyo Patrol 630 and TeleRadyo.

Literary adaptations

''Maalaala Mo Kaya Komiks''

The drama anthology also created a comic book adaptation under Bituin Komiks owned by Mango Comics and Sterling with its initial issue on March 27, 2008. The first comic series was about the life story of Philippine comedian Chokoleit with art direction of Arnel Avetria. It was adapted by Jonas Diego from the teleplay by Maribel G. Ilag. It was illustrated by Mannie Abeleda and Jim Faustino, with tones and letters by Sandy Gonzaga, and edited by Lawrence Mijares.

''Maalaala Mo Kaya Romance Paperback''

The drama anthology also has a paperback novels under ABS-CBN Publishing. The novels only feature romantic stories.