“Precious Hearts Romances is local Mills and Boon”
Last monday, March 1, the taping for the episode “Lumang Piso Para Sa Puso” of the “Precious Hearts Romances” series started with the municipality of Pila, Laguna used as location. However, I did not have a call slip since the role of Mayor Gasti does not have scenes yet in the script for the first week.
I reported for work that day. While I was inside the elevator, my officemates asked me the magical question: “What is your next project?”. I had a quick answer: “Lumang Piso Para sa Puso”- an episode of “Precious Hearts Romances” series which is aired every day from Monday to Friday, 5:30 pm, ABS-CBN.
Rose, the elevator girl joined the conversation and told me that she knew the story of “Lumang Piso Para Sa Puso”. She narrated that it is about a girl who sold an old coin owned by her dead grandmother to a hobby shop. Curious, I asked Rose how come she knew the story. She told me that she had read the the story in a “Precious Hearts Romances” pocketbook.
That evening, while I was surfing the internet, I decided to google “Precious Hearts Romances” “Lumang Piso Para sa Puso”. Lo, and behold, one can make an order “on-line” for pocketbooks containing stories under the “Precious Hearts Romances” series!
The following day, I had a meeting at the Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association at the Camp Aguinaldo. Instead of bringing my car, I decided to take an aircon bus so that I would not be bothered looking for parking space upon my return to the office. I was seated beside a lady who looked like a young executive working in a Makati office who was reading a pocketbook. When I made a side glance to take a look what was the lady reading, to my surprise she was reading what else but a “Precious Hearts Romances” pocketbook.
It was then that I came to realize that indeed, the “Precious Hearts Romances” pocketbook is very popular! It seemed to have replaced the komiks which was the popular reading material in the 60's and 70's. It is the local Mills and Boon pocketbooks.
Cognizant of such enormous popularity, the ABS-CBN decided to produce a tv series featuring bestseller stories of the “Precious Hearts Romances”. I recalled that it premiered a few months after the the May Bukas Pa started to air in Febuary 2009 since I got a text message from a staff of Precious Hearts Romances then asking if I am available for taping. It has been more than a year and it is still airing. I read the ratings it got, it is a consistent double figures a proof that it has a decent following.
On March 15 to 31, the 5:30 pm slot will feature Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Boy Sotto for the episode titled “Lumang Piso Para Sa Puso”. Nina Jose completes a love triangle. I play the role of the town Mayor and dad of Erika (Nina Jose). Hope you have time to watch it.
