Mel Tiangco on 23 years of 'Magpakailanman': Staying true in a changing world

November 25 ------ When “Magpakailanman” first aired in 2002, even Mel Tiangco had her doubts. Known then — and still — as one of the country’s most respected journalists, she didn’t expect her name to be associa­ted with a drama anthology.

“People were surprised. ‘She’s doing drama?’ they said,” Tiangco recalled. “I was a news personality from the very beginning. But the wisdom of GMA Network was this: news is also about people. Why shouldn’t I tell their stories in another form?” she told The Manila Times in an interview Monday.

Twenty-three years later, Tiangco remains at the helm of Magpakailanman, proud that the show continues to serve its original mission — sharing true, often difficult but inspiring stories that resonate with the Filipino spirit. “True stories make excellent content. And when we tell them respectfully, they can inspire, even heal,” she said.

The show’s longevity, she believes, is a combination of trust and staying grounded. “We’re still here because viewers trust us. They see us as a show with credibility, with heart. We don’t exploit,” Tiangco added. “It also means the show has earned for the company, and that means a lot.” But there was a time Magpakailanman disappeared from the airwaves. “For a few years, an executive at the network said contests were the in thing and drama was out. So we were cancelled. I cried privately because I didn’t think that was a good enough reason,” she shared. “But when Atty. Felipe Gozon [then GMA’s CEO and now Chairman] we should return, we did as he asked. That for me, is the biggest milestone because look at where we are now.”

She attributes the program’s continued success not only to her hard-working staff, the network, and advertisers, but to the very people whose stories they tell. “It’s our faith in people and their stories and our faith in service,” Tiangco quietly averred.

Long before Magpakailanman, Tiangco was already connecting with Filipinos across the country through her outreach work under GMA Kapuso Foundation. “I would ride army trucks, boats, even Ro-Ro ferries. We were there, skin to skin with people, serving. So Magpa­kailanman didn’t make me accessible to the masses — I was already there,” she said in the interview. “But yes, the show brought me even closer.”

The anniversary special, airing in two parts on November 29 and December 6 at 8:15 p.m. on GMA Network, reflects the kind of storytelling Magpakailanman is known for: raw, real and relevant. Featuring Beauty Gonzalez and Mikee Quintos as present‑day and younger versions of Linda, respectively, the two‑part special — “Ang Babae sa Loob ng Krimen” and “Ang Babae sa Death Row” — charts the life of a woman who survives abuse, turns to crime, and ends up on death row while longing for reconciliation with her mother.

Directed by Zig Dulay, the special also features Sharmaine Arnaiz, Shamaine Buencamino, Gina Alajar, Sef Cadayona, Mia Pangyarihan, and Jenzel Angeles. As for how the stories have changed over two decades, Tiangco noted the shifts brought by time and technology. “Social media, new generations — millennials, Gen Z — they’ve changed the landscape. But just because things evolve doesn’t mean we forget where we came from,” she shared. “We still eat the same food, we still share the same blessings from the Lord. In the end, we still live in the same universe.”

Source: manilatimes.net