How MMK began

Charo Santos-Concio marks another birthday today. The bigger celebration in her life these days, however, is her Maalaala Mo Kaya’s turning 20. Starting this month until the end of October, every episode of the drama series aired Saturday nights is considered a special.

The history of Maalaala Mo Kaya actually began more than 20 years ago — 1988 to be exact.

To give today’s generation a better picture of local TV’s background, let’s go back briefly to the past.

ABS-CBN was the first TV network to open in the early ’50s and by the time it was shut down by martial law in 1972, it was the biggest broadcast corporation in this side of the continent.

Its facilities in that whole ABS-CBN block along Sgt. Esguerra (formerly Bohol Avenue), in fact, were the most modern in the Far East and had been there for hardly four years when it was confiscated by Ferdinand Marcos and turned over to one of his cronies.

The story was that the old Channel 9 studio in Pasay was deliberately set on fire so that there could be an excuse for this Marcos-controlled station to take over the ABS-CBN complex.

Broadcast City off Tandang Sora was then built and eventually housed Channels 2 (called BBC-2 and later City 2), 9 and 13. The ABS-CBN property was occupied by the government station Channel 4 and the now-abolished National Media Production Center.

The aftermath of EDSA I made it possible for the Lopez family to recover ABS-CBN, but the network had to share the compound with Channel 4 that was already under the reins of the Cory Aquino government.

ABS-CBN resurfaced and managed to get back its broadcast complex, but had to share half of it with Channel 4, which is now in Visayas Avenue.

ABS-CBN wanted to recover its lost glory, except that it had very few properties to sell to viewers. Lily Monteverde had to come to its aid and produced local shows for the station.

Freddie Garcia (now of Pilipinas Got Talent), who was already with pre-martial law ABS-CBN and had resumed his still unequalled marketing career on Channel 7, was called back by the Lopezes and brought with him some of the network’s programs and talents.

In 1988, came in Charo, a respected actress (and beauty), who had by then already established herself as a brilliant young executive producer (she eventually even bankrolled some of her projects).

Charo lent her film industry connection to ABS-CBN where she then functioned as head of production, later becoming vice president for television and now president.

Since she was among Lino Brocka’s muses (it was, in fact, this great director, who tipped off Mike de Leon to cast her in Itim after watching her win as Baron Travel Girl), Charo was able to sign him up to do a 13-part drama series for ABS-CBN.

Lino, however, had always been in demand for the movies and only finished three episodes for Channel 2. In May 1991, he died in a car accident.

It was then ABS-CBN merchandising director Salvii Casino who remembered the still unaired Brocka works. Charo, Salvii and other network executives decided to air the three drama episodes under the banner Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Since the Brocka teleplays were getting rave reviews from critics, ABS-CBN continued the series. Like with what she did with those three episodes by Brocka, Charo was hands on with every succeeding production of Maalaala Mo Kaya.

Letters from people who had a personal story to share began writing her. In time, Charo was flooded with so many letters she didn’t know what to do with. I told her to do what Lovingly Yours, Helen did when it was faced with a similar situation: Do composite stories from various letter-writers per episode.

But Charo wanted the stories pure and chose only the best and most colorful tales of tragedy that mostly ended in success. She also selected the best people to work with her.

Some were untried directors (usually coming from the ranks of writers and production people), but she always took a chance with these budding talents.

Among the finest filmmakers today both in mainstream and independent cinema were part of Maalaala Mo Kaya’s successful 20 years.

More than 20 actually as per my mathematics.