How Wansapanataym teaches values to Pinoy kids

With stories that highlight Filipino values and culture, ABS-CBN’s Wansapantaym has influenced a whole generation of viewers since the ‘90s. Some even consider it a big part of their childhood, with some scenes still ingrained in their minds up to this day.

Julius Bueno, a certified ‘90s kid and a Wansapanataym fan, can attest to this. He still remembers how he was affected as a child with an episode shown in 1998, which told the story of an orphan girl who did not believe in the spirit of giving until she experienced the true meaning of Christmas.

“I can still remember the show’s Christmas special starring Serena Dalrymple and Roderick Paulate. After watching the episode, I immediately shared some of my ‘aguinaldo’ with my siblings. It really affected me,” said Julius.

For more than a decade, Wansapanataym has taught lessons that resonated with Filipinos nationwide. A hit among audiences, the Kapamilya children’s program has left a mark on viewers’ hearts and stood the test of time.

“The goal is really to teach values to children,” said Rondel Lindayag, the show’s business unit head. “Our brainstorming starts with the central values that the episode should share. The storytelling should also be fairytale-like, something larger than life to appeal to children. The formula is always ‘from bad to good.’ You should see the character’s transformation in the end.”

In terms of stories, he also shared that they adapt to what is current and on-trend, while maintaining the program’s moral values.

“We attended a seminar about honing children’s character and we learned that when kids watch cartoons, they do not get tired of watching them repeatedly. We used this as part of our technique to constantly share essential values by just giving them a new handle,” he said.

The technique also lets them impart lessons to different generations of viewers here and abroad.

“The kid who watched Wansa before might be already in his 20s. So, we should teach the lessons all over again to other kids and some of them might be TFC subscribers,” said Rondel. “This enables us to show them how to be Filipinos through values such as doing ‘mano’ and saying ‘po’ and ‘opo.’”

With all the values tackled in the show, Rondel said the program never fails to impart the lesson that children should value education.

“Our population has high-literacy rate. We give much importance to education that is why we always include it in our stories. If you have education, you already have a weapon in life,” he said.

He has also met several viewers who are big fans of the program.

“When we attend award ceremonies, students come up to me and share their memories of Wansa. I noticed that they would always have a particular episode that made a mark and defined their childhood. They always have an episode that they cannot forget.”

With Wansapanataym’s years of success, Rondel never felt that it has been almost two decades since he started working on the show.

“The show’s ratings are good. It makes us push ourselves even more to inspire more Filipino families,” he ended.

First aired in 1997, Wansapanataym’s very first episode titled Ang Mahiwagang Palasyo starred Judy Ann Santos and Rico Yan. It featured an unconventional love story of a boy and a princess who fought for their love despite their differences.

Its notable episodes also include Kapirasong Langit, which was about love and acceptance; Bessy Basura, which tackled proper garbage disposal; and Mahiwagang Paru-Paro, which featured the unconditional love of parents for their children.

The show’s influence also went beyond television when a movie of the same title was released in 1999 under Star Cinema. The movie told the touching story of Anna (Shaina Magdayao), an orphan who searched for her long-lost father (Christopher de Leon), whom she was able to find with the help of a guardian angel named Barbiel (Serena).

At present, Wansapanataym has featured some of the industry’s biggest names namely Kathryn Bernardo, James Reid, Nadine Lustre and Janella Salvador, among others, and captivated a new generation of Filipino audience. It has also given a modern twist to its storytelling, including some of today’s relevant issues such as the adverse effects of technology and climate change.

This month, Daytime Drama Queen Julia Montes stars in Wansapantaym Presents: Annika Pintasera. She plays Annika, a lady who has a high regard of herself, and was cursed to be trapped inside a painting by a powerful fairy. But she will have the chance to escape if she gets a true love’s kiss before the time runs out.

Through the years, Wanspanataym has influenced youth of different generations, keeping the Filipino tradition ingrained in their minds and hearts. The magic continues for Wansapanataym. Its stories about love, family and Filipino values will never fade away and will continue to resonate to viewers of all ages.

Wansapanataym has received numerous awards through the years. Several award-giving bodies namely Prix Jeunesse International Festival in Germany, KBP Golden Dove Awards, Gawad Tanglaw, PMPC Star Awards and Catholic Mass Media Awards have also recognized the show for its good influence.