Unveiling ten more programs that made it to our list.
Trendrod’s yearly Best Shows series returns to celebrate the best Filipino stories and content in 2025 with forty (40) of the nation’s top productions in both linear television and streaming media ranked for this special countdown.
To qualify, these must be original shows produced by Filipino production companies, TV networks, or streaming services and their respective series or season premiere dates must have taken place from January 1 to December 21, 2025.
Programs that have been continuously broadcasting since 2024 or earlier, and did take any months-long season breaks were not considered for this list.
Meanwhile, extended versions or repackaged versions of programs (e.g. a separate TV version of a show previously seen on streaming platforms) are qualified.
For the third part, we disclose the programs that landed the 11th to 20th spots in our Best Shows Of 2025 list.
20. Cruz Vs. Cruz (GMA)
Manuel (Neil Ryan Sese), a family man, is forced to go abroad after one of his children with Felma (Vina Morales) becomes ill. He will then meet the cunning Hazel (Gladys Reyes), who will make him take responsibility for a child that isn’t his—breaking his family apart.
That is the premise of the hit GMA Afternoon Prime series, which graced TV screens starting last July.
Cruz Vs. Cruz is one of the network’s offerings for its 75th anniversary this year and serves as the comeback of Morales to the station after more than 25 years.
Also part of this series are Kristoffer Martin, Lexi Gonzales, Elijah Alejo, and Caprice Cayetano.
Online, the show also consistently pulls in views across social media platforms.
Honest take: Heightened emotions and physical fights have long been staples of afternoon dramas and this drama has those elements with it.
But what makes the difference is the performances of its stars, especially the trio of Vina Morales, Gladys Reyes, and Neil Ryan Sese.
The younger cast members also do not disappoint, with them managing to ace not only the heavy scenes, but also those lighthearted moments that bring comic relief amid escalating developments.
Overall, the show is modest and is something that can keep viewers entertained in the afternoons.
19. Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale (Wow Presents Plus)
In August 2025, the reality competition franchise Drag Race Philippines returned with its first spin-off series that streamed exclusively on the Wow Presents Plus platform.
Entitled Slaysian Royale, the program hosted by Paolo Ballesteros brought together participants from prior editions of DRPH and other Asian contenders from other franchises of the format.
After two months, Drag Race Philippines season 1 sixth placer Brigiding was named the first winner of Slaysian Royale.
Honest take: Having a spin-off season after successive regular editions is a brilliant move to take a break from the usual format.
The program was also able to give second chances to the drag queens from earlier versions and abroad to showcase their wit, talent, and antics through this series.
18. Sins Of The Father (ABS-CBN Studios)
Would you pay for a crime that is not even remotely your doing?
In this action-packed series starring Gerald Anderson, the story started with his character, Samuel, being implicated in the investment scam done by his father, Mike.
After the death of the patriarch, he was forced to take the blame for the Yayaman Tayo scam, which took money from many individuals who just wanted to become rich. All that, while he became jobless and a pariah because of the scandal.
Samuel then got an offer from Oriental Ridge, the company of Roldan (Joko Diaz) and Jacob (JC De Vera), which he warily accepted. Later on, he discovered secrets beyond his imagination and eventually served as an asset of the police through the help of Agnes (Jessy Mendiola).
They would uncover one scam hub after the other and destroy the very empire built by General Diego (Tirso Cruz III).
Also part of the cast of this series were Shaina Magdayao, RK Bagatsing, Lotlot de Leon, Soliman Cruz, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, and Jeremiah Lisbo, among many others.
Honest take: With almost 10,000 people (according to the Philippine National Police) falling victims to online scams alone this year, a series tackling these various modus operandi pushes the envelope by making it part of the daily conversation.
Throughout its run, the show was able to showcase Anderson’s capability as an actor and leading man. Beyond that, he was also given the chance to direct pivotal episodes, which proved to be a good move as he delivered on that front as well.
With most of the cast members being seasoned, acting of the main ensemble was not a problem in this program. Guest stars also provided additional flavor to subplots and the story of each character.
17. Slay (GMA / Viu)
A fitness instructor named Zach (Derrick Monasterio) becomes a victim of a tragic crime. His fiery demise would then be the subject of the investigation that would link a group of four women who were once associated with him.
Sugar (Mikee Quintos), Liv (Julie Anne San Jose), Amelie (Gabbi Garcia), and Yana (Ysabel Ortega), who each had motives to do it to him.
Sugar’s brother was once a gymgoer who suddenly passed away after Zach illegally gave him steroids.
Liv, meanwhile, was his ex-girlfriend whom he abused and cheated on. Her half-sister, Amelie, whilst being the fiancé of his best friend and business partner, was also taken advantage of by the late fitness instructor.
Lastly, Yana had a confrontation with him over money.
The story will then lead to more secrets getting revealed as they inch closer to the mastermind of the crime.
The series first aired on the streaming service Viu before making its premiere on GMA last June.
Honest take: The show stood out by having a fast-paced storyline and a clear focus on each lead character during the first few weeks of the series. By doing so, it let viewers understand the underlying motives that they have to do such a gruesome act.
After those weeks, the playing field became level and by that time, all of them ended up having higher chances of being the real killer.
Production-wise, the expectation was it becoming a glossier version of prior mystery dramas of the network. But as it turned out, it was grittier and felt more grounded in the real world, which turned out to be something engaging too.
16. Roja (ABS-CBN Studios)
A relaxing getaway turns into a nightmare for guests of the fictional, exclusive resort La Playa Roja.
That horrifying experience has its roots all the way back to former best friends turned rivals as their solid brotherhood between head chef Liam (Donny Pangilinan) and Olsen (Kyle Charri), who drifted apart because of betrayal and jealousy.
The once inseparable bond between the two turns sour when Liam discovers that his father, Magnus (Raymond Bagatsing) is having an affair with a younger woman named Ayen (Yassi Pressman).
That forbidden relationship was something Olsen knew about all along but chose to keep it a secret.
Unknowingly, a hostage-taking crisis would soon unfold on the island after the group of Emil / Uno (Joel Torre) launched an attack to seek revenge for her daughter, Ayen.
No one will be spared from the hostile takeover as resort staff and VIP guests are all held captive, forcing Liam and Olsen to rise to occasion in their bid to save lives as much as possible.
Also part of the stellar cast are Lorna Tolentino, Janice de Belen, Maymay Entrata, Sandy Andolong, Robert Seña, Levi Ignacio, Cris Villanueva, Nikki Valdez, Zia Grace, and more.
Honest take: Roja succeeded in building the world where the protagonists are early into the series and how it is impossible for them to get away from the hostage-takers.
The major plot twist early on in the series was also a surprising one (and something that we can’t disclose for those who have not watched this series yet).
Acting performances from veterans like Joel Torre, Lorna Tolentino, and Janice de Belen are also great, as are the other cast members that act as guests of the resort.
Donny and Kyle, both known for their portrayals outside the action genre, are also indeed taking on a huge gamble by doing the main parts as Liam and Olsen, respectively.
Hopefully, as the story continues to progress, Roja would be able to churn out interesting tales to keep their viewers glued.
15. Sanggang Dikit FR (GMA)
Marking the return of the buddy cop genre on primetime.
Last June, Kapuso couple Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo reunited for their first TV project together after almost four years.
For their comeback series, the two team up as members of the police force. Jennylyn portrays the role of Roberta ‘Bobby’ Enriquez, a bubbly yet highly competitive police woman, while Dennis is Antonio ‘Tonyo’ Conde, a policeman who opts to improvise his ways to solve crimes.
The show starts with them trying to solve crimes involving the people close to them. But as the story progressed, the two were deployed to various cases happening within the fictional town of Calabari.
Also in this project are the likes of Nova Villa, Roi Vinzons, Marina Benipayo, Juancho Triviño, Katrina Halili, Joross Gamboa, and Liezel Lopez, together with guest artists for each case.
Honest take: SDFR is an interesting case of its own as the show itself is able to balance the comic parts with the heft of the sub-plots that it presents.
It is reminiscent of many action-comedies of the yesteryears that despite not taking itself very seriously, are still able to churn out an entertaining storyline.
Jennylyn and Dennis, in scenes where they are together, are so effective as buddies that they could somehow make it seem that they are not an actual couple in real life.
Truly, it deserves the lengthy run that it has had so far, which firmly places it as the second longest-running Kapuso primetime series in 2025—next to Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre.
14. Golden Scenery Of Tomorrow (Viva One)
“Ever since they were kids, Avianna Diaz from UST Architecture and Larkin Sanchez from UP Film were inseparable, not until Larkin’s fame grew over time, and they suddenly found themselves taking different roads at the same time.”
That is the logline for the fifth installment of the University Series, which is a collection of online novels created by Gwy Saludes.
For its Viva One adaptation, Bea Binene reprises her role of Avianna/Via, while Wilbert Ross stars as Arkin.
Other members of the Univerkada, who have top-billed prior installments, also return to make their appearances in this sequel.
Honest take: Perhaps we are not alone when we say that this season is easily the best of the franchise based on acting alone, with both Binene and Ross delivering well on their assigned parts.
The story also offers more details not shown in earlier parts, such as how their group came to be and of course, the core that is the relationship between Via and Arkin.
13. Love At First Spike (iWant)
This iWant original series highlighted acceptance aimed to break gender stereotypes in sports as it portrayed the struggles of student-athletes.
Love At First Spike follows the story of Uno (Emilio Daez), a basketball varsity captain who is forced to join the volleyball team after being suspended.
That team is led by his ex-best friend, Jared (Sean Tristan), who has secretly liked him. Uno would later meet Jared’s cousin, Farah (Reign Parani), whom he will be attracted to.
Directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal, the series also features River Joseph, Dylan Yturalde, Rain Celmar, Binsoy Namoca, Sky Quizon, Andi Abaya, Universe Ramos, Miggy Ruallo, Nick de Ocampo, and Bong Gonzales.
Adrian Alandy, Meryll Soriano, Jude Hinumdum, Lance Reblando, Gio Alvarez, and Alwyn Uytingco are also part of this mini-series.
Honest take: Love At First Spike is definitely the best series to stream on iWant this year—making it one of the perfect banner shows for the platform’s relaunch last July.
The series’ strong points include its well-made story, the performances of its actors, and the pushing forward progressive themes that have resonated well with its audiences.
As of this writing, the show is being streamed for free by iWant until January 2026. So for those looking to catch the show, better do it as soon as possible.
12. Stars On The Floor (GMA)
An original competition format by the Kapuso network, this show, hosted by Alden Richards, brings together five celebrities and five digital stars to the dance floor.
Participating in this season are Glaiza De Castro, Rodjun Cruz, Faith da Silva, Thea Astley, and VXON Patrick, along with Zeus Collins, Dasuri Choi, Kakai Almeda, JM Yrreverre, and Joshua Decena. Each week, they competed as duos for the chance of rising to the top of the leaderboard and winning the prize for their chosen beneficiary.
The judging panel, called The Dance Authority, is composed of Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, Pokwang, and Coach Jay Joseph Roncesvalles.
Honest take: The program became a platform for these ten artists to showcase their skills in dancing and entertain the viewers for a cause.
Many of the challenges were also intriguing, especially those that had to incorporate dance styles that could be or not in the comfort zone of the participants.
It was also a good break from the usual singing competitions that have graced TV screens for quite a while now.
Similar to our earlier feedback on other Kapuso reality formats, Stars On The Floor could have been given a twice-weekly slot every weekend to give more airtime to the preparations of these celebrities—especially the drama that could be seen there too.
11. Saving Grace: The Untold Story (ABS-CBN Studios)
The adaptation of the hit Japanese drama has been given a full run on television.
Following its successful release on the streaming platform Prime Video in November 2024, ABS-CBN’s Saving Grace, the adaptation of Nippon TV’s 2010 drama Mother, was finally brought to linear TV last March.
Topbilled by Julia Montes, Sharon Cuneta, and Zia Grace, the story follows Anna (Julia) as she grows fond of the student named Grace (Zia), who experiences domestic abuse from her mother, Sarah (Jennica Garcia) and stepfather, Chito (Christian Bables).
One day, as she is just set to leave for Hong Kong, Anna rescues Grace from her home and there, the journey of hiding and discovery of the two would begin.
Sarah and Chito would then ask for Miranda’s (Sharon) help to both find Grace and capitalize on the sensational story.
Honest take: Foremost, we understand that some might be baffled as to why Saving Grace was on the list anew, given that it is part of the list for the year prior.
As we have explained, the TV version is considered to be a separate program of its own, given that there have been additional stories and other tweaks that have given a different explanation or enriched the story that was seen in the 14-episode series.
For The Untold Story, Saving Grace was able to showcase and emphasize on the best parts through the additional scenes.
While the fast-paced approach, which worked wonders for Saving Grace on Prime Video, was lost because of the extended version, viewers were still brought to the emotional journey that tugged the heart more this time around.
Similar to our comments in the past, Julia Montes, Sharon Cuneta, Zia Grace, and Jennica Garcia, all delivered great performances in this series.
Those were the programs that ranked 11th to 20th in this year’s special Best Shows countdown.
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Other installments will be released in the coming days.