‘MAGPAKAILANMAN’ started its telecast on December 2, 2002 and it has since harvested so many awards as best drama program from various award-giving bodies.
It has also won many best single performance awards for the actors who performed in it.
Foremost would be Jolina Magdangal (the Asian TV Award no less for the “Abot Kamay na Pangarap” episode) and Nonie Buencamino (also the Asian TV Award for “An Aids Victim Story”).
Then there’s Sunshine Dizon (for “Kakaibang Mukha ng Pag-ibig”), Jean Garcia (for “Kalbaryo ng Isang Ina”), Ara Mina (for “Kapag Pag-ibig ay Wagas”), Lorna Tolentino (for “Sa Kabila ng Karamdaman”), Kristoffer Martin (for “Mag-ama sa Bilangguan”), Ruru Madrid (for “Takbo ng Buhay”), Jeric Gonzales (for “Sex Slave sa Saudi”) and many more.
The show’s host, Mel Tiangco, says she’s glad to see all the press people invited to the show’s 20th anniversary presscon.
“I’m happy to see you all again after the pandemic,” she says. “Nalampasan natin ang lahat ng ating pinagdaanan and we’re all survivors, pati na ang ‘Magpakailanman’.
"After the lockdown in 2020, three months akong walang trabaho. Kasi bawal daw lumabas ang mga senior. I can’t do ‘24 Oras’ and we cannot tape new episodes for ‘Magpakailanman’ kasi bawal ang mag-taping.
"Puro replays muna ang ipinalabas. Sabi ko, wala naman akong sakit, but we have to follow the rules.”
When restrictions were relaxed in 2021, she was elated to go back to work.
“But nang nagka-lockdown uli because of the new strain of virus, three months na naman akong walang trabaho so naglinis na lang ako nang naglinis ng aming bahay. And now, we’re glad we all survived it.”
“Magpakailanman” rested in 2007 but returned with a vengeance in November, 2012.
“And since then, tuloy-tuloy na kami. When we started, I was doing the intros in remote locations na ang background is a big body of water that symbolizes life and being limitless.
"Naku, hirap na hirap ako doon. Once, nabagsakan ako ng bubong ng isang bahay kubo kasi sobrang lakas ng hangin. Laging pagod na pagod ako after each taping.”
Which of the many episodes in “Magpakailanman” are the most memorable ones for her?
“Marami, but the ones I really like the most are the ones na nakakatulong talaga sa kapwa.
"Hindi lang basta entertaining, but yung nakaka-uplift talaga ng viewers, that will help inspire them in their own lives.
"Just recently, I was interviewing a young man, nakiusap na kung puede lakasan ko ang boses ko kasi mahina raw ang kanyang pandinig.
"Sabi ko, sige, lalakasan ko ang boses ko, then bigla siyang umiyak.”
She was so surprised.
“Sabi ko, bakit ka umiiyak? Kasi, kasiraan ko po yun. Sabi ko, hindi mo kasiraan yun. Kasiraan yun kung gumagawa ka ng masama sa kapwa mo.
"So I gave him a referral to a doctor para malaman how we can help him. And that’s what we want to do in ‘Magpakailanman’, to help improve the lives of other people.”
The 20th anniversary celebration of “Magpakailanman” started with the episode starring Gina Alajar as a mother whose three sons (Dave Bornea, Joaquin Domagoso and Kim de Leon) are all accused of being rapists.
This will be followed by the Maegan Aguilar episode starring Sanya Lopez and with Neil Ryan Sese as Freddie Aguilar. This consists of two episodes, with Jason Abalos, Dion Ignacio and Jon Lucas as the men in Sanya's love life.
The show’s head writer, Senedy Que, says the final episode will star Bea Alonzo in her first “MPK” appearance. “This will be a horror-suspense episode,” says Sennedy. “Kasi yun mismo ang request ni Bea dahil hindi pa raw niya nagagawa.”