Best Shows: The Top 40 Philippine TV Programs in 2024 (Full Version)

Here are our picks for the best Filipino productions of 2024.

Trendrod’s ‘Best Shows’ special feature is back to give recognition to the best Filipino stories and content of 2024 in television.

For this special feature, the Top 40 programs that have graced both linear television and streaming media in the Philippines have been ranked and listed.

To qualify, these shows must be originally produced by Filipino content creation companies, TV networks, or streaming services.

Additionally, their respective series or season premieres must have taken place between January 1 and December 22, 2024.

40. Heart World (GMA)

Kicking off the list is this limited reality series starring and produced by the one of the Philippines’ leading faces in fashion.

Last October, GMA premiered the reality format hosted by Heart Evangelista that gives the public a peek into her personal and professional lives — basically entering her world.

Originally a segment in her YouTube channel, ‘Heart World’ shares highlights of her trips abroad, her showbiz commitments, inner circle of friends, and her private life as a wife and mother.

Honest take: Viewers who watch or who are at least familiar with Heart’s YouTube channel and its style, would agree that the ‘Heart World’ television series takes its core strength with it as it makes the jump to mainstream.

But it obviously became too reliant to its power, as it has quite become a repackage of the previous vlogs, with Heart only providing additional commentary and newly added scenes have been quite limited in certain episodes.

For those who are interested in both fashion and showbiz, this show could be a good watch on a Saturday mid-evening. However, for others who are not into it, missing the TV show should not cause a ‘FOMO’ moment for you.

39. Julius Babao Unplugged (TV5)

Can you still remember some of the many stars that have brighten up our local showbiz scene?

‘Frontline Pilipinas’ anchor Julius Babao has spoken up to them for his eponymous interview program on the Kapatid network.

‘Julius Babao Unplugged’ is the title of his YouTube segment where he not only revisits, but talks with the icons, character actors, musicians, and other personalities of the past, and for those who are still active in the industry, reminisce their lived experiences on- and off-camera.

Honest take: Like ‘Heart World,’ this show is only basically a rehash of the previous episodes already uploaded onto YouTube.

The main difference being is that they have been trimmed to fit three personalities within the 60-minute runtime. Therefore, the entire interview is not aired on television anyway.

Its existence also jives very well with how the network’s grid is shaping up and seems to be targeting these days — a slightly older demographic.

Adding another nostalgia factor is the fact that it is broadcast every Sunday afternoon, reminiscent of how showbiz-oriented talk shows were aired until the mid-2010s.

38. Barangay Singko Panalo (TV5)

Who would have thought that a distinctly Filipino-style gameshow and sitcom could actually be blended together for a TV program.

Serving as the chairman of the fictional Barangay Singko is the show’s lead host Jerald Napoles, who is billed as ‘Kags Je’ and his trusted “village SK chairwoman,” co-host Kayla Rivera.

Each episode follows a storyline for the situational comedy segment, with contestants competing in game portions of the show.

It ran from March 11 until June 28, 2024 over 75 episodes.

Honest take: The program’s entire premise is relatively simple, which reflects on its relatively easy-to-watch format.

Given that, the over three-month run was clearly not enough for the show to reach its full potential during its “first season,” which had to end to make way for ‘Wil To Win’.

A few tweaks, such as in the gameplay and perhaps, incorporation of the players in the actual storyline of the sitcom part, could be done if TV5 is interested in doing season 2 in the future.

Overall, ‘Barangay Singko Panalo’ is one of the network’s stronger offerings in the non-scripted category this year.

37. My Guardian Alien (GMA)

This is the comeback series of Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, where she was finally paired with Gabby Concepcion — whom she was supposed to work with in ‘First Yaya’ in 2020, but got replaced by Sanya Lopez due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fantasy drama sees an alien taking over the body of a woman after accidentally landing on Earth. With her “uncanny resemblance” to the dead, she disguised herself from the bereaved family.

She later discovers secrets behind the human’s death, while she also tries to protect the world from the threat of other intergalactic species.

‘My Guardian Alien’ aired from April to June 2024 with 65 episodes.

Honest take: The series, despite its intriguing plot, was underwhelming and failed to capture the viewership it should have gotten.

With that, from a viewer standpoint, the supposedly lighthearted story had to take a detour midway into the series and injected a “jealousy” plotline involving Rivera and Concecpion’s characters Grace and Carlos, along with Max Collins’ Venus.

In spite of its flaws, the show is watchable, but not enough to be placed on top of the list.

36. Makiling (GMA)

It is the opening salvo of GMA Afternoon Prime in 2024.

The fantasy-revenge series starred Elle Villanueva and Derrick Monasterio in the lead roles, and follows Amira (Villanueva) as she seeks to get even with the “Crazy Five” led by Portia (Myrtle Sarrosa) who caused her simple barrio life and family to be ruined.

The mystical twist to an otherwise cookie-cutter storyline is that Amira has been known to have discovered a healing plant that became the bigger subject of the feud between her and Portia’s gang.

After a near-death experience, Amira was given a second lease in life by the titular goddess, Matia Makiling (Rabiya Mateo).

It had a successful 83-episode run in the 4:00 pm slot from January 8 until May 3, 2024.

Honest take: The series had its fair share of shining moments, especially during the revenge plot line orchestrated by Amira.

But, due to its broadcast date being close to that of the 2023 series ‘Magandang Dilag,’ there had been comparisons between that and this show.

Noting its afternoon slot, ‘Makiling’ gave a much better storyline than its contemporaries in the block despite its familiar genre. But in the overall scheme of things, it was good at best — hence, landing at the other end of this list.

35. Top 5 Mga Kwentong Marc Logan (TV5)

A Philippine news icon has joined the Kapatid network.

In April this year, longtime ABS-CBN News figure Marc Logan made the jump after leaving the Kapamilya network to join TV5.

For his first project, the former chief ‘TV Patrol’ humorist brought his brand of storytelling for a new magazine show, which features five human interest stories in each episode.

Honest take: Marc Logan is Marc Logan. His comedic approach in giving lighthearted stories further uplifts the vibe of the show.

This show is also a great improvement and utilization of his talent, which in recent years have been mostly seen in providing commentaries for viral TikTok clips on ‘TV Patrol’.

Additionally, just in the tone and presentation, you could tell that ‘MKML’ is a different type of magazine show than the one hosted by Senator Raffy Tulfo, ‘Kapatid Mo, Idol Raffy Tulfo’ every Sunday.

34. Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa (TV5)

After more than a decade, the Kapatid network finally gambled in doing a new solo production for its afternoon block.

That was how the action series ‘Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa’ starring Kiko Estrada started when it premiered last April 2024.

Based on the Carlo J. Caparas story, the drama follows Norman Dela Cruz as he seeks justice for his mother Tacing after a dispute with her non-biological brother Benito Balmores.

After becoming a lawyer and hiding his identity as Abra Espiritu, Norman meets and falls in love with Benito’s already-married daughter, Mercy.

After two months in its original ‘Hapon Champion’ slot, it got “promoted” to ‘Todomax Primetime Singko’ and has been airing after flagship TV5 newscast ‘Frontline Pilipinas’ ever since.

Honest take: The dramatic storyline molds well with the action direction of the program. As the stakes become bigger, so do the stunts being mounted.

The key flaw of the show from the onset was its poor ratings in the afternoon slot, in contrast to its rival top-rated program ‘Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap’ on GMA.

TV5’s primetime switch helped a lot, with the program now getting equal or better viewership than that of ‘Frontline Pilipinas’.

Story-wise, the flow remains good by original Kapatid program standards even after the death of Mercy (Sarah Lahbati) as ‘LKSL’ introduced new set of characters to keep the show running.

But, ‘LKSL’ is nearing a saturation point with the audience — quite understandable as the program is close to hitting its 200th episode mark already.

Still, it has delivered a laudable performance for a TV5 original in 2024.

33. Lilet Matias Attorney-At-Law (GMA)

A law drama challenging the norms of both the profession and the society in general.

That is how the Kapuso afternoon soap presented itself when it made its premiere back in February 2024.

Starring Jo Berry in the titular character, it followed her life as a kept child who had to unknowingly work for his biological father’s original family.

Because of the several hardships she experienced in that household, she later met her biological mother, Atty. Meredith Simmons (Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan), who inspired her to become a lawyer.

Even then, she encountered a lot of obstacles during law school and before becoming one of top lawyers of a firm.

As of writing, the program is airing from Monday to Saturday at 2:30 pm on GMA.

Honest take: ‘Lilet Matias’ does good in intertwining its usual soap opera plot lines  with the legal matters that the fictional attorney handles.

But if there is anything needed to be addressed, those are somewhat questionable moments in the series, such as the viral scene inside a comfort room cubicle.

Those scenes would definitely work for other afternoon shows, as the network usually does include “campy” scenes to serve the target market, but a much more mature and sophisticated way of doing these fights could have pushed the ‘Lilet’ into a better direction than its peers.

However, despite its shortcomings, the Kapuso series helps in educating and explaining matters of law to the ‘Aling Bebang‘ market known to be tuning in to the show each afternoon.

32. Love. Die. Repeat. (GMA)

From one Kapuso queen’s comeback to another.

This series marked the return of ‘Ultimate Star,’ Jennylyn Mercado, to GMA primetime after her previous project, the anthology series ‘I Can See You: Truly. Madly. Deadly,’ back in 2021.

For the first time, she was also paired with Xian Lim, who was supposed to do this series first before the 2023 series ‘Hearts On Ice’. However, plans were changed following Mercado’s pregnancy and eventual delivery to her child with husband Dennis Trillo in 2022.

According to the premise provided by GMA, “Angela (Jennylyn Mercado) is a devoted and loving wife to Bernard (Xian Lim). She values her marriage and family more than anything else. Her perfect life takes an unexpected turn when her husband dies in a tragic car accident. Her grief turns into confusion when she is forced to relive the worst day of her life every single day.”

The yet another intriguing drama, which features a time-loop, was one of the programs that kickstarted the rebranded GMA Prime block in January 2024.

It ran for 53 episodes until March 27.

Honest take: The first few episodes of ‘Love. Die. Repeat.’ was indeed something different, with the show immediately jumping into action and introduced how the time-loop worked.

However, the “repeat” concept could only be done multiple times before the viewers get fatigued in the seemingly never-ending cycle.

That was addressed by the show by letting Angela succeed changing the course of the timeline several times, only for it to end in Bernard‘s demise.

Another flaw that could have helped its caused was a later 9:35 pm slot, instead of its assigned 8:50 pm.

Considering its rather high concept, it could have been received much better at the later time, while the action-kabitserye ‘Asawa Ng Asawa Ko’ faced its more apt rival (story-wise), ‘Linlang’.

Despite its short run, ‘Love. Die. Repeat.’ is a show that can entice viewers to think tens or hundreds of ways on how the story will continue.

31. Zoomers Season 1 (ABS-CBN Studios)

The youth-oriented drama was one of the Kapamilya network’s opening salvos for 2024

According to the official description provided by the producers, it “revolves around the lives of senior high school students Jiggs (Harvey Bautista), Hope (Criza), Kokoy (Luke Alford), Tania (Kryst Ball), and Atom (Ralph de Leon), who have forged a special bond of friendship during the pandemic. As they find their footing in this post-pandemic reality, witness how their friendship will be tested; as they will be challenged by their own pains, struggles, and dreams.”

Additionally, prior to the start of the show, a ‘casting call’ was held, and later made its way to broadcast television, where the cast members of the series were meticulously handpicked by the likes of ABS-CBN’s TV Production head Laurenti Dyogi and director Chad Vidanes.

The series was later recognized by the ContentAsia Awards 2024 as the Best Asian Short-Form Drama series.

Honest take: ‘Zoomers’ is a good showcase of the up-and-coming stars of the younger generation to prove their mettle in the industry.

Its story and character for the first season were notable departures from the usual teenybopper programs on local TV.

‘Zoomers’ offers a slightly more mature take on adolescence and young adulthood stories — similar to or even exceeding its contemporary show, the mystery drama and telenovela-ish ‘Senior High’.

To add to the unusual factor, the show was aired on the fourth primetime slot with a short two-week TV run, which also breaks the either weekly or long-form formats seen in many local shows.

Given its concise run, ‘Zoomers’ should be relatively easy to jump into and have a watch for yourself.

30. Face To Face Harapan (TV5)

The ‘OG talakserye’ got a makeover this year.

Last November 11, TV5 debuted the refreshed tabloid talk show ‘Face To Face Harapan,’ which saw the introduction of veteran broadcaster Korina Sanchez as its newest host.

The format remained largerly untouched, though, with Sanchez-Roxas, along with co-host Donita Nose, still aiming to settle disputes between opposing parties.

The ‘trio tagapayo’ was also rebranded as the ‘harapang tagapayo,’ although the panel is still composed by Dr. Camille Garcia, Bro. Jun Banaag, and Atty. Lorna Kapunan — all carried over from the previous iteration as ‘Face 2 Face’ with Karla Estrada and Alex Calleja.

Honest take: While many challenge the need for programs in the same vein as ‘Face To Face,’ no one can deny the low-brow entertainment value that allures audiences into watching the show.

While the ‘Harapan’ format kept visually most of what its predecessors had, having Korina Sanchez-Roxas at helm of the show elevates it into the sensationalized public service category from an entertainment show that meddles with or settles (depending on how viewers look at it) issues coming largely from the society’s lower income class.

29. Safe House (One News)

A new segment of the Cignal TV news channel’s ‘Long Conversations’ block.

In this unconventional talk show, anchors and personalities from One News and News5 discuss the latest happenings and anything under the sun inside the ‘Safe House.’

True to its nature, the program employs a rotating set of presenters, with the likes of Ed Lingao and Ronald Llamas being the most visible having been seen in four out of the five current episodes.

Honest take: ‘Safe House’ is both bold and laidback at the same time.

These traits were also what made the vibe for former One PH primetime flagship nightly chat show, ‘Wag Po!’, that ended its run in 2023.

Contrasting as they might seem on the outside, given that the new show airs on the main news channel and is not available on radio like its spiritual predcessor, elements of the previous primetime talk show can be seen in the current ‘Long Conversations’ segment.

But the main difference being that the flow of the episode have more direction in ‘Safe House’ — thanks to the pre-recorded format of the One News show versus the live broadcast of the old One PH program.

28. Forever Young (GMA)

How does society view a man trapped physically in a child’s body?

In this GMA Afternoon Prime series starring award-winning child actor Euwenn Mikaell, a person named ‘Rambo Agapito’ is forced to live a different life due to his condition.

Rambo has been diagnosed with panhypopituitarism, which slows down his body’s physical aging and growth and maintains his childlike features in terms of height, voice, among others. Although, the brain’s functions can develop as normal as they can be.

In the story, Rambo has been subjected to many challenges early on his life on top of his medical condition.

From being adopted by a couple as a baby after his parents gone missing, and later on, as he reached the age of 25, he finds himself locking horns with influential politicians in his fictional town of Corazon.

The show is still currently airing every weekday afternoon at 4:00 pm.

Honest take: From outside looking in, ‘Forever Young’ seems to be a mix of multiple ideas that were blended to make a unique show.

For a young star like Euwenn, the series can be described as “very mature” for his age, especially with the core theme being grounded in the politics of the fictional town and him having to act and speak like a 25-year-old guy.

But surely, this one is indeed a standout in a sea of shows that GMA has produced this year.

27. Kuan On One (ABS-CBN Studios)

The title came from the host’s expression that got popular.

Last July, ABS-CBN debuted the new digital talk show presented by Melai Cantiveros-Francisco on its YouTube channel and iWantTFC platform.

Breathing a different life into the already familiar genre is the fact that, for the first time at this scale, the network produced a Bisaya talk program.

Thanks to the high viewership it got online, the Kapamilya Channel and A2Z later carried the show as part of the stations’ respective Sunday afternoon blocks.

Honest take: In an age when representation in media matters more than ever, having ‘Kuan On One’ in the mainstream gives personalities a platform to be heard and seen by their fellowmen in their mother tongue.

Additionally, the light nature of the show can be felt and even understood without reading the subtitles provided.

Overall, ‘Kuan On One’ is an enjoyable program to watch no matter the device being used.

26. Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 (ABS-CBN Studios)

The most-popular house in the country made its comeback after two years.

Last July, Kuya opened his doors again for the new season of ‘Pinoy Big Brother,’ which carried the subtitle ‘Gen 11’ for its eleventh regular season.

After slightly over 100 days, Sofia ‘Fyang’ Smith was later named as the batch’s ‘Big Winner’ to a record viewership both on TV and online.

Due to its popularity, a spin-off program ‘Big4Ever’ was later commissioned and made its launch on the ABS-CBN’s primetime block last December 9.

Honest take: The newest season proved that ‘PBB’ remains to be a hit among the viewing public.

Its strong showing is not only based on statistical numbers, but in the physical attendance and support of fans to their favorite housemates — reminiscent of the many pre-pandemic batches that were produced by the program.

However, it was also this season that had (pardon for the lack of better term) the most boring challenges, which is quite understandable given the lack of a proper activity area inside the house.

With this success, it should not be a surprise that ABS-CBN might still be keen in renewing the franchise despite of the company’s push for more original formats for its non-narrative programming.

25. Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim! (GMA)

Four years after his previous infotainment show.

Last November 30, GMA premiered the weekly educational public affairs show ‘Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim,’ which is hosted by Kim Atienza.

In this program, the ‘trivia guy’ of the Kapuso network checks on the viral video clips online and explains the science or other factual details behind them.

This program also effectively replaced Atienza’s defunct weekday afternoon show ‘Dapat Alam Mo!’ and Drew Arellano’s long-running ‘AHA’.

‘DMA’ also marked its host’s return to the genre, more than four years after the cancelation of ‘Matanglawin’ following the COVID-19 pandemic and ABS-CBN shutdown.

Honest take: The show is informative, and it differs from Atienza’s old program as the most-noticeable change is with how it is presented.

Rather than becoming ‘Matanglawin’ 2.0, ‘Dami Mong Alam’ feels more like sister GMA show ‘Amazing Earth’ and ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’ combined, but with more varied content and trivias in between.

24. Agenda (Bilyonaryo News Channel)

The fledgling news channel has a flagship primetime newscast of its own.

Last September 9, the Bilyonaryo News Channel officially launched after months of trial broadcasts.

During its pilot day, BNC bared its full slate of programs from morning ’til night, with the news outlet having their own nightly newscast.

Titled ‘Agenda,’ the Bilyonaryo newscast brings back Korina Sanchez-Roxas and Pinky Webb, who teamed-up for the first time for a show, to the daily grind.

It airs each weeknight at 6:00 pm and is simulcast on Abante Teletabloid, DWAR Abante Radyo 1494 AM, and Mellow 94.7 on FM radio.

Honest take: Early on, BNC showed that they are serious about joining the game by signing the Philippine news icon that is Korina Sanchez-Roxas and CNN Philippines alum Pinky Webb.

Many aspects of the show, notably the presentation, could be described as similar to ABS-CBN’s newscasts — especially both Sanchez and Webb were previously workmates at the Kapamilya network.

However, there are changes to be desired for ‘Agenda’.

Along with the rest of the channel, it needs a better theme tune and an overhaul in the graphics of the one currently in use.

Overall, it is a good program and with improvements along the way, it can surely be at par with its primetime news peers.

23. Lutong Bahay (GTV)

A talk show and cooking show merged into one.

That is how Mikee Quintos’ weekday afternoon program that launched last October on GMA’s secondary channel, GTV, looks like.

Apart from making scrumptious dishes, the show also highlights the “recipes for success” of its celebrity guests, who are also not immune to the intriguing questions about their professional and personal lives.

It airs every weekday at 5:45 pm, before the simulcast of “24 Oras.”

Honest take: The very premise of ‘Lutong Bahay’ is similar to the one by defunct weekly show ‘Sarap ‘Di Ba?’ that bowed out last September.

The main variation is that the GTV show goes out of the studio and brings itself around the metro or inside the very homes of the stars, in contrast to the set-up of the former GMA Saturday morning program.

‘Lutong Bahay’ is a good entertainment show while on your way home or while preparing for dinner, but is often overshadowed by the behemoth that is the game show ‘Family Feud’ airing on the main channel.

22. Maka (GMA)

A youth-oriented musical series that brings together some of the most-promising teen and young adult stars of the Kapuso network.

According to the official GMA website, “MAKA follows the lives of high school students enrolled in the Arts & Performance (A&P) section of public school, Douglas Mac Arthur High School for the Arts or MAKA.”

“The story begins with an accomplished yet infamous artist, Sir V (Romnick), returning to his despised hometown to become an Arts and Performance teacher,” it continued.

In the succeeding episodes, the show tackled various personal issues of the characters with the people around them, like their family and friends, and most-especially, themselves.

It stars Romnick Sarmenta, Zephanie, Dylan Menor, Marco Masa, Ashley Sarmiento, John Clifford, and Olive May.

It recently concluded its first season, with its next already due to begin in January 2025.

Honest take: Through ‘Maka,’ GMA has brought back a long-dead genre that was the youth-oriented shows every weekend.

While there were numerous attempts to bring it back through various programs in the past, ‘Maka’ succeeded in breathing life back to that genre by having a much more dramatic storyline that can resonate more even with older audience.

Whether it is by design or not, the intense scoring and fight scenes tend to be overused, so much so that it can feel like watching other Saturday anthologies like ‘Tadhana’ and ‘Wish Ko Lang’.

In spite of that, it still has good storyline that largely tells about reaching for one’s dreams, no matter the age or background.

21. The Voice Kids (GMA)

The biggest reality-singing competition for kids, has found a new home.

More than seven months after teasing the transfer of ‘The Voice Kids’ franchise to GMA, it finally made its way to television last September.

Hosted by Dingdong Dantes, who also did the same for the ‘The Voice Generations,’ he reunited with his fellow ‘TVG’ castmates — coaches Billy Crawford, Julie Anne San Jose, and SB19’s Stell Ajero.

The new face that joined them in this season was Stell’s bandmate, Pablo Nase.

It aired on a weekly basis every Sunday evening, and after three months of competition, Nevin Adam Garceniego of Tropa ni Pablo won the competition.

Honest take: The talents surely did not disappoint in the first season of the reality show on the Kapuso network. Each of the participants showcased their different skillset not only to the judges, but also for those watching at home.

The stage design was also highly-commendable — a notable strength of GMA when it comes to shows like this.

If there is anything needed to be improved, it should be the show’s time slot, as everything had to be crammed in a single episode, when it usually had two nights during its time on ABS-CBN.

Another point that needs to be addressed is the network’s decision to place it concurrent to the sixth season of ‘The Clash,’ which is an appalling one despite the high TV viewership.

Having two distinct shows of the same genre over a single weekend can end up being a tiresome affair, so this experiment of sorts must not to be repeated again.

Still, the chemistry between the coaches — while not as strong as the original set composed of Lea Salonga, Bamboo, Apl de Ap, and Sarah Geronimo — offers a unique experience, especially with the antics of the SB19 duo, Crawford’s decades-long hosting, and San Jose’s quirks of her own meld together.

20. Ang Himala Ni Niño (TV5)

Years before the events of the original series took place.

In September this year, TV5 premiered the prequel for the top-rated 2021 Kapatid series ‘Niña Niño,’ which starred Maja Salvador and Noel Comia, Jr.

The “first chapter,” named ‘Ang Himala Ni Niño,’ stars child actor Zion Cruz in the titular lead role, with Lilet reprising her role as Gloria.

Joining them are the many people from the colorful world of Bukang Liwayway, where Niño grew up distant from his sister Niño, who had been living with their maternal grandmother around this time.

Other cast members are Freddie Webb, Carmi Martin, Cedrick Juan, and K Brosas, among many others.

Honest take: The faith-adjacent children-led drama is a light in a sea of heavily mature-themed serials in the scene these days.

It has been awhile since we have seen TV series in the same vein as ‘May Bukas Pa,’ ‘100 Days To Heaven,’ and ‘Honesto.’

‘Ang Himala Ni Niño’ is also a good way of instilling good values to children, as the storyline makes sure that such learnings are conveyed to the viewers.

While it is understood that TV5 has decided to place the drama before ‘Eat Bulaga’ to provide counterprogramming, the drama series can definitely be a good program in the post-noontime ‘Hapon Champion’ line-up of the station.

Perhaps, it might even help balance out the heavy themes commonly seen in the said time block.

19. Jose and Maria’s Bonggang Villa 2 (GMA)

The supernatural-themed sitcom is back for a second wind.

Fresh from their mega-blockbuster hit ‘Rewind,’ Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera made their way back to the Kapuso weekend grid to provide laughter to their fans and audience.

Earlier this year, DongYan starred in the second season of their sitcom ‘Jose and Maria’s Bonggang Villa,’ more than a year after the first series in 2022.

After Maria’s (Marian Rivera) “third eye” closed at the end of the first season, it was her husband Jose (Dingdong Dantes) that got her supernatural ability to see and talk to the dead.

Still part of the cast are Benjie Paras, Sharmaine Buencamino, Pekto Nacua, and Hershey Neri. Pokwang was added as the new character Tiffany Hambog, a woman who runs the rival lodging space of ‘Bonggang Villa.’

Honest take: Due to the cliffhanger ending of the first part, it was already imperative that there is an interest for GMA and producer APT Entertainment to do a second season. After all, it was a TV rating success.

Season 2 kept many elements of the original part intact, but with new flavor added — thanks to Pokwang’s addition to the series and the good chemistry between the old and new cast members.

Overall, it is a good sitcom to watch for when you have time to spare for some cozy televiewing.

18. Beyond The Exchange (ANC)

This marks the return to television of a veteran broadcast journalist.

ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, introduced new programs in its slate of original programs during the last quarter of 2024.

Among which is the interview program ‘Beyond The Exchange,’ where new Kapamilya Rico Hizon sits down with various personalities for a conversation.

The show’s title itself is a clear nod to Hizon’s former show on the now-defunct CNN Philippines, which was the weekly business show ‘The Exchange.’

Since the local CNN station folded in January, the anchor has joined the corporate world for a role as the Senior Vice President for Corporate Relations of the SM Group.

This makes the ANC show his first television affair since the start of the year.

Honest take: Hizon’s flair in conducting interviews with different personalities of varying backgrounds is the show’s very core power.

His signature genial, yet insightful way of doing such talks are being excellently showcased in the program.

This allows him and the program to truly go ‘Beyond The Exchange’ and not only talk about business, but also incorporate other facets of the people behind them.

17. Frontline Express (TV5)

As events can happen and develop throughout the day.

In April, TV5 formally welcomed to its family another former CNN Philippines anchor, Ruth Cabal.

For her first assignment with News5, she was designated as the sole anchor of the network’s new afternoon-cum-rolling newscast.

Titled ‘Frontline Express,’ it dishes out the biggest stories of the day and tracks those that are still developing at that hour.

Currently, it has two separate editions at 2:30 pm and 4:50 pm.

Honest take: ‘Fronline Express’ is a good attempt for News5 to provide information to viewers at different times of the day, especially that the network no longer has a dedicated news channel on free-to-air TV.

Its reliability has also been well tested and is highly-commendable in carrying out its mission. This, as the program aired several editions and advisories throughout the daytime block during urgent situations like the onslaught of typhoons and national political matters.

To sum things up, ‘Frontline Express’ has become a valuable program in News5’s slate and is the best TV5 news show in 2024.

16. Chasing In The Wild (Viva One)

Opposites attract, many people have said time and time again.

The story of this series very much in line with that saying, as it follows the main characters who lead different lives, with Sevi (portrayed by Gab Lagman) is a simple basketball player and Elyse (played by Hyacinth Callado) described as spoiled cheerleader.

The series is part of the ‘University Series’ made by Gwyneth Saludes on Wattpad and is being adapted by Viva since 2023, starting with ‘The Rain In España’ and ‘Safe Skies, Archer.’

Honest take: ‘Chasing In The Wild,’ like its sister stories, also targets a younger crowd and will give them ‘kilig’ while watching the show.

The story was also good, though a lot of improvement is to be desired in other areas such as acting.

Still, it was nice seeing a show like this hit our screens this year.

15. Widows’ War (GMA)

The third part of the network’s “suspenserye” trilogy.

Last July, GMA Network premiered the newest installment of its murder-mystery franchise, which began with the 2022 series ‘Widows’ Web’ and followed by the ‘Royal Blood’ the following year.

In this third series, Bea Alonzo and Carla Abellana were casted in the lead roles. Joining them in ‘Widows’ War’ are Jean Garcia, Tonton Gutierrez, Rafael Rosell, Benjamin Alves, and Rita Daniela.

The story starts with the friendship between the main characters, which was damaged by a feud caused by their parents.

Years later, their paths crossed again, with George Balay (Carla Abellana) already married to Basil Palacios (Benjamin Alves), while her ex-friend Samantha Castillo (Bea Alonzo) had tied the knot with Paco Palacios (Rafael Rosell).

One night, after discovering the probable cause of her father’s death, Sam gets involved in a huge fight with Paco. This would cause him to fall off a cliff that would result to his death.

Within days of his demise, Basil would also meet his fate after dying during his birthday celebration.

This would further add strain to the already unstable relationship of Sam and George, as well as bring chaos and more bloodshed to the Palacios clan.

Honest take: With already 130 episodes in, ‘Widows’ War’ is now the longest of the trilogy.

While this could mean success in the viewership game, this has also resulted to a noticeable dip in quality as the story progressed.

When it began, ‘Widows’ War’ had been a serious contender to be on top of the list. However, as extensions have been given and shaped the drama to the show it has become, the series has become dragging, with the pay-off that is the discovery of who the real killer of Basil Palacios truly is, yet to surface.

Good news is, it will ending sometime in January 2025, in time for the major refresh of the GMA Prime block to celebrate the Kapuso network’s 75th anniversary.

This means that the damning revelations might come one after another upon the start of the great new year.

14. On Point (Bilyonaryo News Channel)

Another former CNN Philippines anchor made the jump to a different channel.

This year, the Bilyonaryo News Channel (BNC) was launched, filling the void left by the closure of CNN Philippines last January.

As it has been told in part 2 of this special ‘Best Shows’ countdown, one of the personalities that joined the upstart station is Pinky Webb — who, along with Korina Sanchez-Roxas, co-anchors the channel’s flagship newscast ‘Agenda.’

Aside from doing the news, Webb also has another assignment and that is the nightly interview program titled ‘On Point.’

In this show, she interviews the newsmakers, experts, and those who are privy to matters concerning our nation like politicians.

It airs every weeknight at 7:30 pm.

Honest take: ‘On Point’ is indeed the spiritual successor of Pinky Webb’s former morning show ‘The Source,’ which had been responsible in giving us the many headlines that rocked and shaped our country during the years it was on the air.

Having the BNC show placed on primetime also allows daily programs tackling societal affairs to still be seen on the said time block, as the format has seen reduced presence over the years.

13. Newswatch Now (Aliw 23 / Newswatch Plus)

A fast-paced newscast from one of the country’s trusted organizations.

Newswatch Plus, the new organization formed by predominantly ex-CNN Philippines employees, was officially launched back in July.

In line with that, new programs were debuted for the fledgling outfit.

One of them is ‘Newswatch Now,’ the team’s flagship digital newscast anchored by Menchu Macapagal that delivers the latest stories of the day.

It airs every weekday evening at 6:00 pm and runs for at least 15 minutes in each episode.

Honest take: The launch of ‘Newswatch Now’ and the entire Newswatch Plus organization in general is a welcome development in the Philippine news scene.

The short runtime for its flagship newscast is also a smart move, especially considering its digital-first nature and having to contend with the shorter attention span of audiences online.

12. Shining Inheritance (GMA)

The adaptation of the 2009 Korean drama series.

Last September, after months of uncertainty about the show’s time slot, GMA Network finally began airing the series ‘Shining Inheritance’ on its Afternoon Prime block.

Starring Coney Reyes, Kate Valdez, Kyline Alcantara, Paul Salas, and Michael Sager, the drama is based on the Koreanovela ‘Brilliant Legacy’ that was led by Han Hyo Joo, Lee Seung Gi, Moon Chae Won, and Bae Soo Bin.

In the Filipino drama, it starts with the life of Inna (Kate Valdez), who comes from a wealthy family. However, after her father’s death, she and her brother Nonong face hardship because of their stepmother and stepsister.

She later crosses path with Aurea (Coney Sison), the owner of a food corporation and a chain of restaurants, after the matriarch fell ill.

After the incident, Inna was rewarded by the rich woman, only to experience more problems because of Aurea’s grandchildren Joanna (Kyline Alcantara) and Euan (Michael Sager).

Honest take: While it deviated in more ways than one to the original Korean series, the local ‘Shining Inheritance’ is able to shine with its own storyline that appeals to audiences in the afternoon block.

Aside from that, the opening billboard (OBB) is something to rave for, as it was mastefully done and truly is representative of the glamourous world where the characters live.

These points prove why ‘Shining Inheritance’ is the best work of GMA in the daytime block in 2024.

11. How To Spot A Red Flag (Viu)

“A spunky barista is torn between two gorgeous looking men – a confident bad boy and a charming good boy who are both involved in catfishing her. Despite noticing the red flags in the two men, is it still possible for her to find real love?”

That is the premise of ‘How To Spot A Red Flag,’ the new collaboration project between ABS-CBN Studios, Dreamscape Entertainment, and streaming platform Viu.

Starring the “new gen phenomenal love team” DonBelle of Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, they are joined in ‘HTSARF’ by Angel Aquino, Christian Vasquez, Mylene Dizon, Benjie Paras, and Jameson Blake.

‘HTSARF’ is the pair’s follow-up project after their successful first primetime teleserye ‘Can’t Buy Me Love,’ which was hailed as the most-watched program of another streaming platform, Netflix, for the first half of 2024.

Honest take: ‘Red Flag’ is one of those chill and laidback dramas that you could watch to loosen up after a tiring day.

Its story, while could be described as “the usual rom-com” by some, is a refreshing sight for Donny and Belle, who were last seen in the romantic-mystery series ‘Can’t Buy Me Love.’

In addition to that, it also has a short runtime, which makes it easy to be binge-watched (assuming that you have not yet started the program yet or it had completed its run by the time you’re reading this).

In case you have not yet seen this series yet, the good news is that it will begin airing on free TV in January 2025, with further details expected to be revealed by ABS-CBN in the coming weeks.

10. Linlang: The Teleserye Version (ABS-CBN Studios)

It started the Kapamilya network’s year with a bang.

Last January, the full-length version of the hit Prime Video series ‘Linlang’ made its way to the primetime blocks of ABS-CBN platforms, TV5, and A2Z.

Starring Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, and JM de Guzman, the infidelity-themed drama followed the lives of their respective characters, Juliana, Victor, and Alex, as they navigate their complex relationship.

The 103-episode-long ‘Teleserye Version’ gripped viewers from start to finish, which is evident in the strong TV ratings and online concurrent views of the program.

These records are all on top of its 16-episode condensed format’s popularity on the Amazon-owned streaming platform, where it was first released back in 2023.

Honest take: ‘Linlang’ showed that while infidelity as a core theme may have been visited and used time and time again, the twists and turns will truly be the magic that will glue viewers to the story.

Kim Chiu as an adulterous wife in this series showcased her versatility, as she truly embodied Juliana’s scheming and outright infuriating tendencies.

While for Paulo and JM, this drama not only challenged them emotionally, but physically, as the storyline also required them to do some stunts as professional boxers.

Maricel Soriano is also the cherry on top for this Kapamilya drama, as the ‘Diamond Star’ yet again showed her ability to become good and mean… at the same time.

9. High Street (ABS-CBN Studios)

The sequel to the top-rated youth-oriented mystery drama.

Last May, ABS-CBN Studios premiered ‘High Street,’ the continuation of its popular primetime series ‘Senior High’ that aired its final episode last January.

In the second part, viewers continue to follow the life of Andrea Brillantes’ character Sky and the rest of her friends from Northford High as they enter the real-world, taking place four years after the events of the first installment.

The mysteries and horrendous acts committed by Governor Acosta (portrayed by Mon Confiado) continued to hound them in the sequel, which was later aggravated by the entry of Victoria Soler (Dimples Romana) and her children, Wesley (Harvey Bautista) and Nikki (AC Bonifacio).

Honest take: Truth be told, ‘High Street’ did not live up to the hype generated by ‘Senior High’.

Despite that, the story of the sequel was a good exposition of the lives of these characters after the academe, as we see most of them enter various workplaces and roles in the society.

It also showed a different dynamic between Dimples Romana and Andrea Brillantes as enemies — a contrast to their best-known work of being the mother-daughter tandem Daniela and Marga Mondragon in the 2018 series ‘Kadenang Ginto’.

8. Pamilya Sagrado (ABS-CBN Studios)

A socio-political series, meld with the internal issues of a powerful family.

That was route ‘Pamilya Sagrado’ took after it began airing last June on ABS-CBN’s linear amd digital platforms, TV5 and A2Z.

Starring Piolo Pascual, Kyle Echarri, and Grae Fernandez, we see how the fictional ‘Sagrado’ family has entrenched itself in the “brotherhood” of a fraternity, which helped propel themselves into the most powerful posts on the land: President and Vice President.

It starts with the story about Justin (Grae Fernandez), who got involved in the death of a fraternity member after conducting the fatal hazing rites. This incident alone threatened the political ambitions of his father, Rafael (Piolo Pascual)

Despite the scandal, Rafael would become VP, while his uncle Elias (John Arcilla) was elected President.

While he started off as a corrupted person, Rafael later began facing increasing moral dilemma after knowing some of his family’s deeper, darker secrets, and the fact that he has an illegitimate son in Moises (Kyle Echarri) — who is also the mortal enemy of his other son.

Honest take: ‘Pamilya Sagrado’ is a well-crafted series, a seriously impressive feat considering the huge ensemble of cast that it employed.

It was also pretty much a showcase of some of the Philippines’ best actors and actresses, as this is the only drama to have put together Piolo Pascual, Tirso Cruz III, Joel Torre, John Arcilla, Aiko Melendez, and Mylene Dizon in a single program.

The drama had a very heavy theme for the 8:45 pm slot, so the decision to bump it off to 9:30 pm was a wise choice, given that ‘Sagrado’ was able to heat up the competition with its rival show on the other side of the spectrum.

7. Lavender Fields (ABS-CBN Studios / Netflix)

A drama about a complicated web of love and deceit has hooked viewers in the latter half of the year.

Last September, the “four J’s” in Jodi Sta. Maria, Jericho Rosales, Jolina Magdangal, and Janine Gutierrez made their return to ABS-CBN’s primetime block through the still-ongoing series ‘Lavender Fields’.

It kicks off with a simple flower farmer Jasmin Flores (played by Jodi Sta. Maria) who meets a mysterious guy who suddenly appeared one day in their sleepy town.

Unbeknownst to her, that man introduced himself with an alias Arthur Pelaez, despite him being the prolific underground gun dealer Tyrone de Vera (Jericho Rosales).

She falls in love with him, and later, bears a child. However, that is when things took for the worse, as her life gets rattled by de Vera’s wife, Iris Buenavidez (Janine Gutierrez), that caused her to lose her home, mother, child, and even her own identity after becoming a fugitive.

Years later, through the help of Aster Fields (Maricel Soriano), she gets reborn as Lavender Fields, where she plots her plan to look for her daughter and clear her name in the eyes of the law and the public.

Honest take: Despite having a familiar premise as a revenge series, ‘Lavender Fields’ is able to make itself stand out from the crowd thanks to its incredibly fast-pacing for a local teleserye.

Having a set 100-episode run from the get-go helped it a lot, as it was able to veer itself away from doing repetitive plots that usually becomes the case for dramas that receive extensions.

But that comes as a double-edged sword, as there were some minor points that had to be discarded due to its rigid broadcast period.

One of those on top of mind is the sudden disappearance of the child that Iris had adopted, which was not properly explained.

Despite that, ‘Lavender Fields’ is still a good program that serves equally thrilling, boggling, and exciting scenes to its audience.

6. Rainbow Rumble (ABS-CBN Studios)

Finally, a new quiz show on weekend primetime.

Last July, ABS-CBN Studios and 3nithink Media launched their new original game show format hosted by Luis Manzano and comedian Negi.

Titled ‘Rainbow Rumble,’ its game is a mix of knowledge and luck, with five contestants competing in the first round by picking one from a board of 50 questions, which range from the easiest, yet tricky ones to those that require digging on the back of our minds.

The players will have to get to the top of pyramid for a chance to play in the jackpot round, where the prize money of Php 1 million is at stake.

During which, there will be six “die rolling machines” (or ‘DRM’) and the winning participant must be able to get the unique combination of colors to get the jackpot prize.

To date, there are already 2 grand winners (referred to as ‘Rainbow Rumble Masters’), and they are ABS-CBN News reporter Raphael Bosano and actor Emilio Daez.

Honest take: The show is very enjoyable to watch, thanks to its highly-interactive nature.

After all, who watches quiz shows like this and not try, at the very least, to answer questions before the contestants on screen gets them.

In addition to that, being an original format helps ‘Rainbow Rumble’ in many ways, such as having a flexible gameplay in some episodes.

Overall, the game show is fun program to watch every weekend, and we are certainly going to look forward for more episodes and offshoots that might arise in the future.

5. TV Patrol Express (ABS-CBN News)

“Balitang no more, no less.”

In January, ABS-CBN News debuted its new digital newscast titled ‘TV Patrol Express,’ becoming the latest brand expansion for ABS-CBN’s flagship newscast ‘TV Patrol,’ which also currently encompasses the weekend edition ‘TV Patrol Weekend’ and the ‘Patrol Ng Pilipino’ social media-centric news program.

Anchored by ABS-CBN’s Chief of Reporters Jeff Canoy and Denice Dinsay, the show offers a fast-paced delivery of the day’s biggest and important stories through its 15-minute long format.

Six months after its launch, ‘TVP Express’ crossed over to mainstream television and now airs at 5:30 pm, an hour prior to the main primetime newscast.

During severe or urgent situations, ABS-CBN News also aired special marathon editions of the show across its linear broadcast and online channels.

This happened during the onslaught of cyclones ‘Carina,’ ‘Marce,’ ‘Nika,’ ‘Ofel,’ and ‘Pepito,’ as well as the return of embattled former town mayor Alice Guo to the Philippines after her arrest in Indonesia.

At the moment, the newscast is seen over ANC, Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and ALLTV each weekday afternoon.

Honest take: Not much is to be said about ‘TV Patrol Express,’ as it does well in what it has set out to do and that is to deliver factual and accurate journalism in a swift manner — very apt for the generation that has become comfortable consuming bite-sized news content online.

It also deserves to be commended for its role in reporting vital information during important events in the country, even if that means going beyond its usual broadcast times.

4. Running Man Philippines Season 2 (GMA)

The high-rating reality show is back with a special twist.

In May, GMA launched the second season of ‘Running Man Philippines,’ which first aired on the Kapuso network in 2022.

For this series, the “runners” composed of Mikael Daez, Glaiza de Castro, Buboy Villar, Kokoy de Santos, Lexi Gonzales, and Angel Guardian flew anew to South Korea during winter time.

As season 1 mainstay Ruru Madrid was in the middle of filming action drama series ‘Black Rider,’ Miguel Tanfelix took his spot and became the newest runner of the Philippine franchise.

Honest take: Like its inaugural season, ‘Running Man Philippines Season 2’ was able to entertain viewers with new games and appearances by multiple Kapuso artists.

Although, it was able to differentiate itself, as the first series took place in the middle of summer, while this one showed both the beauty and the harshness of the winter season in South Korea.

Due to the success of this season, we are definitely looking forward to seeing a third season very soon — this time, we hope, would finally showcase the beauty of our local destinations.

3. Saving Grace (ABS-CBN Studios / Prime Video)

The adaptation of the huge Japanese drama hit.

Last November 28, Prime Video began streaming episodes of the Philippine version of Nippon TV’s ‘Mother,’ which has been given the title ‘Saving Grace.’

Topbilled by Julia Montes, Sharon Cuneta, and Zia Grace, the story follows Anna Sarmiento (Montes) as she grows fond of the student named Grace Banaag (Zia), who experiences domestic abuse from her mother and stepfather.

One day, as she is just set to leave for Hong Kong, Anna rescues Grace from her home and there, the journey of the two would begin.

Honest take: Biases aside, ‘Saving Grace’ proves to be one of the better made adaptations of the franchise and the country in this decade.

There is no contest to the acting prowess of Julia Montes, as she delivers yet again in this series. Sharon Cuneta, who is just usually seen in films, also showed viewers why she is the ‘Megastar’ of Philippine showbiz.

The delicate mix between dramatic and comic relief scenes involving characters like the lead child star and Jennica Garcia (who acts as the biological mother Sarah) are also worth watching in this adaptation.

Finally, the fast-paced approach also works wonders for ‘Saving Grace,’ as viewers need not wait for weeks for the pay-off of plot points being introduced in the prior episodes.

2. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? (ABS-CBN Studios / Viu)

From one adaptation to another.

In March, streaming platform Viu dropped the Philippine adaptation of the romantic-comedy series ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’ starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino.

This was their follow-up project after their successful tie-up in ‘Linlang,’ which at that point in time had already been airing on linear TV.

‘WWWSK’ is based on the hit Korean webtoon, which was later adapted into the hit live-action drama led by Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young in 2018.

The story begins with Kimberly Liwanag (Kim Chiu) work life as the executive secretary of bachelor-businessman Brandon Manansala Castillo (Paulo Avelino).

Things will take a turn in their professional relationship, as Secretary Kim attempts to file her resignation from her position.

Brandon will then pull all the stops to make sure that she stays by her side, including courting her, which would later lead to the blossoming of romantic relationship between him and Kimberly.

Honest take: The Philippine adaptation did not disappoint.

Its story was able to remain largely faithful to the source material, while also injecting Filipino values, customs, and humor.

Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino were also able to give a different chemistry, very far from their intense characters in ‘Linlang’.

For those seeking to get their dose of feel-good series, ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?’ could be what you are looking for.

Now, here is the ‘Best Show of 2024‘ as chosen by Trendrod.

1. Pulang Araw (GMA / Netflix)

Touted as the biggest Kapuso project of the year.

Alden Richards, Dennis Trillo, Sanya Lopez, Barbie Forteza, and David Licauco joined forces for the war period drama ‘Pulang Araw,’ which took the airwaves last July.

Its story begins with Filipina dela Cruz, the mother of half-siblings Eduardo (adult version portrayed by Aden Richards) and Adelina (Barbie Forteza).

After her death, Adelina’s custody went to her father Julio Borromeo, while Eduardo had to grow up with their aunt Amalia (Rochelle Pangilinan).

Despite that, the two remained in touch with one another, and even fostered friendship with Adelina’s paternal half-sister Teresita (Sanya Lopez) and the son of a Japanese businessman, Hiroshi (David Licauco).

Years later, their lives and aspirations have to be put on hold after the Second World War broke out.

The atrocities and realities of war will not only test their relationships with one another, but also their faith, love, and strength.

Honest take: ‘Pulang Araw’ is truly one of the biggest shows to come out on the small screen this year.

From the ensemble of actors, set design, and other aspects, the meticulously planned drama is able to immerse its viewers into the world of the characters and of the Filipinos during that time.

However, there were challenges along the way, with the most obvious being the viewership on both television and streaming platform Netflix, where it was not able to make a sweep 110-episode streak in the Top TV Shows section.

In spite of that, the program was still able to keep its focus on maintaining the quality from start to finish, as there were no hiccups that caused social media frenzy to be thrown against it.

Additionally, ‘Pulang Araw’ also comes at a time when there are real-world conflicts around us, and seeing how these impact millions of lives, we, as citizens of the world, should always be pushing for peace for all mankind.

To end this part, we borrow Jimi Hendrix’s quote that was seen in the finale episode of ‘Pulang Araw’.

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.“

---

These were the Top 40 programs in Philippine television in 2024, as listed by Trendrod in this special ‘Best Shows’ countdown feature.

May these shows continue to entertain, inspire, inform, and excite us in the many years to come.

Do you have any thoughts or reactions about this list? Comment them below or share them via social media — don’t forget to tag our official accounts linked below.

---