Maalaala Mo Kaya


Maalaala Mo Kaya, also known as Memories, is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. It has become the longest-running drama anthology in Philippine television and in the world, reaching its 25th year in 2016. The program features weekly real-life stories or anecdotes of common people or even famous celebrities and personalities through letter sending. The series has a counterpart radio program being broadcast on DZMM called "Maalaala Mo Kaya sa DZMM", a paperback adaptation and a comic book adaptation under Mango Comics & Sterling.
From March 14, 2020, the production of the program's new episodes were suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, airing reruns of old episodes until May 2, 2020, due to the temporary closure of ABS-CBN because of the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission, following the expiration of the network's 25-year franchise granted in 1995.
The program is named after the eponymous song, "Maalaala Mo Kaya" by Constancio de Guzman. The song also serves as the program's opening theme, which was performed by Dulce. Beginning in the mid 2000s airings, the opening has been covered by Carol Banawa, replacing Dulce's version.
A classics re-run version of the anthology series MMK Classics premiered on June 3, 2012 on The Filipino Channel. Because of the outreach abroad, the TFC series focused on fully translating every episode with English subtitles. The Philippine version 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 before replaced into May Isang Pangarap. MMK Klasiks also airs on DZMM TeleRadyo as a fill-in to its radio counterpart, because the latter was pre-recorded, as well as on Jeepney TV dubbed as The Best of MMK.

Episodes

Translations of the Filipino titles are in parentheses.

Notable episodes

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

15th Anniversary Celebration

In 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 devote 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 would be celebrated month-long with five special episodes. The episodes were taped in varying locations in the Philippines and abroad including Bukidnon, Palawan, Japan, and Barcelona, Spain.

All-time ''MMK'' actors/actresses

During the MMK 20: Maalaala Mo Kaya Dalawang Dekada documentary special in 2011, they listed the actors and actresses that appeared most in MMK episodes.
ListActorNumber of episodes†Notable episodes
1Eula Valdez32 episodesTalaarawan
Yen
Walis Tambo
2Ricky Davao31 episodes^Regalo
3Cherry Pie Picache31 episodes^Oto San
Origami
Aklat
Basag na Manika
4Rio Locsin27 episodes^Lubid
4Joel Torre25 episodesPoon
5Gina Pareño23 episodes^Rehas
5Gardo Versoza22 episodesOto San
Dapithapon
Working Visa
5Albert Martinez22 episodesBato
5Bembol Roco24 episodes^Korte
Singsing
6Jennifer Sevilla21 episodesSugat
6Gina Alajar21 episodesBracelet
Teddy Bear
7Carlo Aquino23 episodes^Maong
Scapular
7Jean Garcia20 episodesRosaryong Itim
8Jodi Sta. Maria18 episodes^Piso
Harang-Taga
Bracelet
9Thara Jordana25 episodeS^Piano
School ID
Cross-Stitch
10Romnick Sarmenta17 episodes^Kasulatan
Kandila
Rubber Shoes
11Tirso Cruz III15 episodesPatalim
Lovebirds

Schedule

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 released on June 22, 1994. The plot of the film revolves around the story of Ana, a young girl who took the responsibility of being the mother of her cousin Marrisa's son while the latter spent her life in Japan as an entertainer. It stars Aiko Melendez, Richard Gomez and Chin-Chin Gutierrez. Also the film compete as one of the entries for the 1994 Metro Manila Film Festival and awarded Melendez as the Best Actress.

Planned ''Maalaala Mo Kaya (20th Anniversary)'' movie

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

Radio drama

In March 2007, 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 to 1:00 PM. It was recently recognized as the Best Drama Program at the 32nd Catholic Mass Media Awards. Other awards including 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 itself 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. In 2016, MMK Klasiks moved to 1:00pm 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 of the said news program to be heard on radio. Since June 19, 2017 MMK sa DZMM airs every weekdays from 2:00pm to 2:30pm only on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and MMK Klasiks airs at 9:30pm to 10:00pm only on DZMM 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, adapted by Jonas Diego from a teleplay by Maribel G. Ilag, illustrated by Mannie Abeleda and Jim Faustino, 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. Although the novels only features romantic stories.