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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Bida and Kontrabida of Filipino Soap Operas

It's 7 o'clock and already, the family's about to start dinner. Dad calls everyone to the table with his infamous script, "How many times do I have to call you?" but Yaya refuses to eat and counters back, "Mauna na kayo." - a scene common in the Filipino household. It may not be the exact scene but more or less, it is like that. The question is, why does Yaya refuse to eat? Ding, ding, ding! Alas! We have an answer. It's because Mara Clara or Mula Sa Puso or Ikaw na Sana is on.

I was practically in that scene before. Of course, we don't have Yaya's (we have butlers who carry us to our table and put food on our mouth - wishful thinking). But I grew up watching these telenovelas from ABS CBN and GMA. And in a span of years, I finally found out the secret formula of a Filipino Soap Opera.


First you add a 'Bida'. The 'Bida' has to be poor, adopted, rich parents-still to be discovered, with abusive step mothers/fathers/uncles, etc. otherwise, it wouldn't be a good filipino soap opera.

Second, you include a 'Kontrabida'. There was a moment in my childhood, upon watching these soap operas with my sisters, that I wanted to be a 'Kontrabida'. Who does not? She gets everything. She is, of course, adopted as well (come on, you must have figured out that one). She gets to dress up with shoes on and will still change when she goes out. She has her own maid (which could be the Bida). She talks to herself when in rage without looking like a psych patient - "May oras ka rin Mara. May orad ka rin.". She gets to laugh her sinister laugh. I mean, who wouldn't want that right? The 'Kontrabida' also has 9 lives. She could get hit by a car, be exploded by a bomb, buried alive but will still live to get revenge.

Finally, you have to insert the extremes of the story. A poor bida has to be really poor. If she is nice, she's extremely nice to the point that when she gets beaten up by the kontrabida, she's fine with it. She'll cry alone and not tell anyone about it because she is a freakin' martyr. On the other hand, the kontrabida will be tremendously rich. After all, where else would she get the money to assasinate anyone who gets in her way?

So that's how telenovelas work in the Philippines.

2 comments:

  1. Sara (or Jolina?), you are so much like my 13 year old daughter, she never cares for the "bida". Truth is, she adores the "kontrabidas", and the more stuck up and mata-pobre the better for them - and her :) She frequently mimes these backstabbing but "sosyal" antagonists although she's actually a kind-hearted person. She just likes the power of these "kontrabidas" and their gumption to stick out their tongues and say bleahh to do-gooders.
    hey i like your blog - you have your own unique voice. keep it up! :)

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  2. full name's Jolina Sara.. :)

    BIG THANKS!! this made my day (reading your comments)

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