Christmas Fern – Polystichum acrostichoides

May Bukas Pa (lit. 'There's Still Tomorrow') is a Philippine drama television series produced by Dreamscape Entertainment Television and directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan, Jojo A. Saguin, and Erick C. Salud. The series features an ensemble cast consisting of Zaijian Jaranilla, Albert Martinez, Dina Bonnevie, Tonton Gutierrez, Maja Salvador, Rayver Cruz, Dominic Ochoa, Desiree del Valle, Precious Lara Quigaman, Lito Pimentel, and Jaime Fabregas. It aired on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida block from February 2, 2009 to February 5, 2010, replacing Precious Time and was succeeded by Agua Bendita.

The show was developed following the success of Mga Anghel na Walang Langit and Princess Sarah as part of a lineup of Dreamscape Entertainment family and religious-oriented series since 2005. It was succeeded by Agua Bendita and Momay aired from February 8 to September 17, 2010.

The series was announced in late 2008, the same year Zaijian Jaranilla became an actor for ABS-CBN/Star Magic. The network's TV production team sought a church suitable for the series' religious-themed story. Initially titled "Marcelino," the name was later changed to its final title, May Bukas Pa, a few months after the show's announcement. The story conference for the series took place on January 9, 2009, where the show's logo was revealed. Taping or principal photography of the series occurred from January 15, 2009, to February 5, 2010.^[7] Most of the scenes were taped in San Guillermo Parish Church in Barangay Cabambangan and the Municipal Hall of Bacolor in Barangay Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga. The overall production process of the series, including its announcement and story conference, spanned two years.

In 2009, Maja Salvador took a three-month break from the show to focus on Nagsimula sa Puso. During this time, she and Precious Lara Quigaman announced that they had joined the new show Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Impostor, which premiered in 2010.

As a result of the show's popularity, other media related to the series continued to be aired and released.

The show aired two reruns of its first season. The first rerun was from April 9 to 11, 2009, during the Paschal Triduum of that year, in which the first 48 episodes were re-aired.

The second rerun aired from March 16, 2020, to May 4, 2020, ten years after the show's original ending on February 5, 2010. It temporarily replaced Ang Probinsyano due to the community quarantines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, which led ABS-CBN to suspend tapings of their ongoing drama series. During this period, the first 65 episodes of the series were re-aired.^[8] It ended on May 5, 2020 due to the network's shutdown that night, following the expiration of its broadcast franchise granted in 1995 the day prior.

The third rerun on ALLTV, channel 2, formerly ABS-CBN's channel space as DWWX-TV, premiered on May 13, 2024, as part of Jeepney TV on ALLTV's programming.

The story revolves around Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla), a wide-eyed young boy who was orphaned as a baby before being adopted and raised by Franciscans. Living in the fictional town of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, he eventually discovers the ability to see and speak with Jesus Christ, whom he fondly called “Bro”. He also gains the ability to miraculously heal the sick. With these special abilities, Santino goes out to help other people with their problems and make a difference in their lives.^[9]

The series focuses on kindness and morality in humanity, depicting a child who believes that there's always a way to rectify mistakes, no matter how serious. He trusts that "Bro," his nickname for Jesus Christ, will always guide them with light. The show has had a significant impact on many Filipinos, shaping their outlook on life in a positive manner.

Lead cast

• Zaijian Jaranilla as Santino Guillermo/Gabriel M. Policarpio/Rodrigo

Supporting cast

• Albert Martinez as Mayor Enrique D. Rodrigo/Gonzalvo Policarpio†
  • Jairus Aquino as young Enrique Rodrigo/Gonzalvo Policarpio
• Dina Bonnevie as Malena Rodriguez-Rodrigo/Policarpio†
• Precious Lara Quigaman as SPO3 (P/MCSgt.) Criselda "Sélda" Rodriguez-Sta. Maria
• Tonton Gutierrez as SPO1 (P/MSgt.) (Mario Sta. Maria
• Jaime Fabregas as Fr. Anthony Ruiz
• Dominic Ochoa as Fr. José dela Cruz
• Lito Pimentel as Fr. Gregorio "Ringo" Samonte
  • Rodjun Cruz as young Gregorio "Ringo" Samonte
• Maja Salvador as Stella R. Sta. Maria
• Rayver Cruz as Francisco "Cocoy" Bautista
• Desiree del Valle as Clautilde Katerina "Tilde" Magdayo-Rodrigo/Policarpio

• Love Thadani^[10] (uncredited) as Jesus Christ
• Uncredited voice actor as Satan
• Charo Santos-Concio as Mother Mary

• Badjie Mortiz as Fr. Paul Makopa
• David Chua as Fr. Chino "Chi" Wang
• Andre Tiangco as Fr. George
• Ruben Gonzaga as Fr. Patrick
• Edgar Sandalo as Fr. Jude

• Ogie Diaz as Renato "Atong" Arguelles
• Arlene Muhlach as Viviana "Baby" Arguelles
• Timothy Chan as Rico R. Rodrigo/Policarpio
• Phoebe Khae Arbotante as Joy R. Sta. Maria
• Victor Basa as Fr. John Delgado

• Francis Magundayao as Paco
• Miguelito de Guzman as Alfred
• Liza Lorena as Doña Anita Rodriguez
• Michael Conan as Dante Maoricio
• Ron Morales as Robert Sanchez/ Gustavo Policarpio
• Jerry O'Hara as Senior Superintendent Raul Guevarra
• Rosalie, Kimberly, and Jennifer as fictitious versions of themselves
• Erin Panlilio as Grace

In line with the show's immense popularity, various merchandise such as t-shirts, sandals, and other items were produced for children. They were available from 2009 to 2010 and could still be purchased until the stock ran out or they became out of stock in all stores after the show ended on February 5, 2010.

The theme song of the religious drama with the same title was originally performed by Rico J. Puno. The first version is sung by Kyle Balili, and the second version is sung by Erik Santos.

ABS-CBN's Christmas 2009 campaign was inspired by the show's popularity. The song is entitled "Star ng Pasko" (lit. 'Star of Christmas'). Christmas lanterns were specially created by ABS-CBN and sold to benefit ABS-CBN Foundation's charity programs. ABS-CBN launched Parol ni Bro on November 4, 2009, where an 18-foot Christmas lantern atop the ABS-CBN building was lit up by the cast of May Bukas Pa, ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio, and ABS-CBN chairman and CEO Eugenio Lopez III.^[11]

It was later used for the network's 2010 and 2019 Christmas Station IDs: "Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino" (lit. 'This Christmas, the Filipinos will Shine') and "Family is Forever". The song also shares musical similarities with the 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2017, and 2020 Christmas Station IDs: "Isang Pamilya, Isang Puso, Ngayong Pasko", "Sabay Tayo, Kapamilya", "Walang Mag-iisa Ngayong Pasko", "Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino", "Just Love Ngayong Christmas", and "Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya". GMA also featured its 2019 Christmas Station ID "Love Shines" with scenes reminiscent of the 2009 ID.

Due to the show's ratings, ABS-CBN's management decided to extend it for 20 weeks instead of the initial eight weeks.^[12] On June 23, 2009, ABS-CBN television head Cory Vidanes announced that the show would be extended until February 2010.^[13]

May Bukas Pa was the highest-rated program on Philippine television from 2009 to June 3, 2011, when the 2010–2011 series Mara Clara took over as the highest-rating show from 2011 to 2012. The series became the first primetime TV series in the Philippines to last at least a full year and end in the 2010s decade, peaking during its finale with a 47.3% nationwide rating according to Kantar Media/TNS. It currently holds the record as the country's highest-rated show of all time since Philippine television switched to a nationwide TV ratings system on the opening day of 2009.^[14][15][16]

Entertainment columnist Nestor Torre of the Philippine Daily Inquirer said, "It must have been a big decision for the new show’s producers to get away from that downbeat view of life and come up with this Marcelino Pan Y Vino-inspired tale. But it’s great to note that the gamble has paid off in a big way: May Bukas Pa has been enjoying very good ratings, proving what we’ve been saying all this time--that viewers want to be inspired by the dramas they watch." However, he criticized the show's "religious" scenes as "poorly, shallowly staged," which he felt made genuine inspiration and devotion difficult to come by while viewing the series. He further criticized the show's use of extras, who mostly played sick people but were perceived as bad actors. He adds, "Any director worth his salt would have sensed that the montage of healing needed good actors to make it meaningful and moving. Why were inept actors used instead? Possibly because the production was scrimping on talent fees. Well, it was a penny-wise pound-foolish decision, because the important sequence was botched."^[17]

As a result of the show's success, many awards associated with it were announced via telecast from 2009 to 2011. In 2022, eleven years after the last award (1st Lingkod TV Awards - Most Favorite Child Personalities) was broadcast on TV in 2011, the Jeepney Fan Favorite Awards - Fave Child Star was awarded to the show's lead actor Zaijian Jaranilla. May Bukas Pa also received an award at the 2009 Catholic Mass Media Awards, besides its Best Drama award, presented by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales. The award was accepted by lead star Zaijian Jaranilla and the supporting actors who portrayed priests, dressed in cassocks for the occasion.^[18] The Anak TV Seal Awards were also awarded twice, in 2009 and 2010. From 2010 to 2011, Noah, Jaranilla's next drama appearance after May Bukas Pa, also received the award.

Due to the success of the 2009–2010 Star ng Pasko, the musical tune originally used in the 2002 Isang Pamilya, Isang Puso, Ngayong Pasko (with the same tune used in Star ng Pasko itself) and its lyrics continued to be used in ABS-CBN's succeeding Christmas Station IDs. These include the 2010–2011 Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino (lit. 'The Filipinos will Shine this Christmas'), which also features Filipino nationalism and patriotism with montages highlighting Pinoy pride, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to coincide its three-year quadricentennial celebration from December 18, 2009 to January 27, 2012, and the Philippine flag's sun as the star, making it an octagram or eight-sided star; the 2017–2018 Just Love Ngayong Christmas (lit. 'Just Love This Christmas'), representing ABS-CBN's colors in the musical tune after the first bridge; the 2019–2020 Family is Forever, incorporating lyrics from previous IDs to commemorate ABS-CBN's year-long 65th anniversary celebration and 10th anniversary of Star ng Pasko's release; and the 2020–2021 Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya (lit. 'You Are the Light and Joy'), which also conveys a message of faith in God. These IDs were released on November 4, 2010, November 2, 2017, November 18, 2019, and November 27, 2020, respectively, marking 1–2, 7–8, 10–11, and 11–12 years after Star ng Pasko's release. The ABS-CBN jingle for Ikaw ang Liwanag at Ligaya is used at the start of YouTube videos uploaded by the network's entertainment division since 2020.

The main distinction between Star ng Pasko itself and its four succeeding station IDs (2010–2011, 2017–2018, 2019–2020, and 2020–2021) is that the former includes both the ABS-CBN and its slogan "The Philippines’ Largest Network” jingle, while the latter four Christmas station IDs only use the network's jingle at the end.

The movie Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!, released on April 23, 2011, one year and two months after May Bukas Pa ended, shares similarities with the series. Zaijian Jaranilla, who portrays Angelito in the movie, has the ability to perform miracles such as healing the sick and communicating with spiritual beings. In May Bukas Pa, he communicates with Bro/Jesus Christ and Satan (in the form of a red light), while in Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!, he communicates with God (depicted as a white light).

On May 22, 2011, ABS-CBN aired a documentary entitled Banál (Tagalog for "holy") to commemorate the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Zaijian Jaranilla and Jaime Fabregas reprised their roles as Santino and Father Anthony to present the life of John Paul II and his significance for Filipinos.

As a result of the show's popularity, it spawned two sequels: Budoy and Dahil sa Pag-ibig, which aired from October 10, 2011, to June 29, 2012. Nine years later, a reboot named Huwag Kang Mangamba aired from March 22 to November 12, 2021.

In June 2019, Zaijian Jaranilla returned to Bacolor Church, where he revisited Bro (Jesus Christ) as part of ABS-CBN's 65th anniversary celebration.^[21]

• May Bukas Pa at IMDb