Walang Iwanan entertains amidst sorrow

It was with a feeling of excitement that we welcomed the afternoon series Walang Iwanan (Don’t Leave Me) from ABS-CBN, which tells the true-to-life story of siblings who seek to survive upon their mother’s death. Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo and Ces Quesada opened the series, the former strict and the latter more forgiving. We enjoyed tremendously the opening, especially that part where the difference between the elder persons (lolas) became more pronounced with Ces following a kid everywhere he went to make certain nothing bad would occur. Not too long after, Ces dies and Boots needs an operation.

The series was adapted from the real story of survival dramatized in Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) featuring Jose Bautista and his seven siblings, later made to five to render the set more manageable, and also because numerous children are part of the series. Production also introduced changes in the story to make it more relevant to the present generation since Jose’s story was set in the early ’80s.

Directed by Jerome Pobocan, Walang Iwanan stars the returning Kapamilya Roxanne Guinoo, Jhong Hilario, John Estrada, Beauty Gonzales, and child actors Louise Abuel, Raikko Mateo, Jon Michael, Micko Laurente and Karla Cruz.

“We made this story more real, adapted to life today,” direk Jerome said. Comedy Business Unit head Linggit Tan admitted to having been inspired by the story when she first watched it in MMK. Jose took care of all the kids, acting as both mother and brother to all, and sending them to school, Linggit noted.

With the help of a generous Chinese businessman, Jose finished a degree in accountancy from the Philippine School of Business Administration and then worked for a bank abroad. His family now tries to give back to poor communities and street children through their feeding program.

“We helped one another even if it was difficult, in return for the goodness of God to us,” said Jose.

He hopes his story will inspire more people, most especially those who no longer have parents. The newest afternoon soap opera follows the story of Jose (played by Louise), tasked to care for his siblings, but is devastated to find their parents had gone missing and now they only have each other to rely on. Jhong returns to playing a villain via the series.

As Kamlon, Anita’s husband, Jhong makes her life and that of her son from a previous relationship a living hell. Like Roxanne, Jhong did not hesitate to accept another kontrabida role because of how the audience accepted his character Gary in Mara Clara before. The It’s Showtime host’s last teleserye was Little Champ in 2013 where he played someone kind, for a change.

There are now three new child wonders to offer the public. Direk Jerome said that it is already a challenge for them to work with a lot of kids on the set. Louise, who was first known as the sidekick of Xyriel Manabat’s character in 100 Days To Heaven, was personally chosen by the production staff to play the role of big brother Jose. According to them, the 11-year-old boy is already ready to play lead among other child stars of his generation. Raikko, better known as Honesto in the 2013 inspiring TV series Honesto, was also handpicked to play Michael, the youngest in the brood of five children because of his cuteness. The other child stars — Micko as the stubborn Boy, Karla as the only girl Maribel and Jon Michael as Criscencio — went through screening and workshops before they were chosen to play their roles in Walang Iwanan.

Follow how the introductions given above will be given life as we go through the series daily in the early evening.

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