Our annual year-end special series is back to recognize the programs that entertained and informed viewers in the past 12 months.
Trendrod’s yearly Best Shows series returns to celebrate the best Filipino stories and content in 2025.
Forty (40) of the nation’s top productions in both linear television and streaming media have been ranked for this special series.
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 first part, we are dishing out the programs that made it to the 31st to 40th spot in our Best Shows Of 2025 list.
40. Bilyonaryo Quiz B (Bilyonaryo News Channel)
Intelligence is back on Philippine television.
That is how the Bilyonaryo News Channel promoted the spiritual successor of the iconic ‘90s game show Battle of the Brains, which aired on RPN-9.
In the BNC program, which was given the title Bilyonaryo Quiz B, the legendary quiz master himself, David Celdran, made his comeback as host of the intercollegiate competition.
Elements of the original format remained the same, with three contestants coming from different colleges and universities competing for the chance of becoming the winner by answering questions of varying degrees of difficulty within a set amount of time.
At the end of each regular episode, the winner of the earlier rounds will head to the jackpot round to answer 10 questions within 60 seconds only.
The first season culminated with the win of Aian Kirt Landicho, a BS Agricultural Biotechnology student from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, who was hailed as the first ever Quiz B Milyonaryo.
Honest take: At a time when the truth and facts are being blurred and twisted to fit narratives of the powers that be, a quiz show like Bilyonaryo Quiz B becomes a vehicle to remind people that there is something that cannot be easily distorted and that is reality—where all of the questions draw upon.
Moreover, the program also serves as a celebration of intelligence and a challenge to the grit and composure of contestants. All these were once familiar sights on local television that have taken the backseat for a long time due to shifting preferences of viewers, whether that is for better or for worse.
A potential second season of the show could also be a good opportunity to inject additional flavor and twists to the game play, which will spice it up. One of them is for the game itself to be brought directly to the campuses to encapsulate the school spirit that could either hype up or distract the players.
39. The Clash 2025 (Season 7) (GMA)
The seventh season of the original Kapuso format.
This year marked the comeback of GMA’s long-running reality competition, The Clash, which has been running since 2018.
Not only did the show return to the air, but the beloved contestants from prior iterations, called Clashbackers, did too in a twist to this edition of the original format.
That group, composed of runners-up and other participants that were eliminated early into their respective seasons, went back to compete with the new batch.
In the end, season 7 became a close fight between Jong Madaliday (from the inaugural season) and Arabelle dela Cruz (from Season 5), with the title eventually going to the former.
Honest take: The concept of bringing back previous participants is nothing new to singing competitions in the country.
However, the introduction of twists after twists was a good move to not only keep their loyal viewers invested, but also attempt to expand the format beyond its initial scope to keep it fresh.
Additionally, it was also a chance to see how former contestants, with some already in the mainstream or doing other endeavors, improved or changed over the years.
But if there is anything to be fixed is the scheduling of the show itself on GMA, which has reduced the show to a one-night show on Sundays only and shared the reality show slot with Stars On The Floor.
Rather than doing that, GMA could instead opt to simply air them simultaneously across both days or just let one finish their run first before placing the other on the same time slots.
38. Seducing Drake Palma (Viva One / TV5)
An adaptation of the popular online novel.
This digital series, which crossed over to television, is based on the Wattpad story created by Beeyotch.
The story follows the central characters Drake Palma (portrayed by Rabin Angeles) and Alys Perez (played by Angela Muji).
Their relationship started with a request from Alys’ friend, Sheen (Ethan David) who wanted her to make the smart but aloof guy her boyfriend as a request and to make Kei (Rafa Victorino) fall for him instead of Drake.
Despite the initial pushback, the leading lady took on the impossible mission and made it a reality. Later on, the facade was broken and the stoic guy fell for her.
During its run on Viva One, TV5 also picked up the rights to air it on free-to-air television and placed it every weeknight after Frontline Pilipinas from July to September 2025.
SDP is also set to return in 2026 with a second season entitled Dating Alys Perez.
Honest take: Top-billing the romantic-comedy series became a natural progression of the careers of its lead stars Rabin and Angela, who both starred in Ang Mutya Ng Section E as Yuri Hanamichi and Rakki San Diego, respectively.
It became a showcase of their ability not only in terms of acting, but also to carry a show of their own. To be fair, they did deliver and the results show with the amount of support that they have been receiving from their fans both in the country and abroad.
In fact, fresh from the success of the drama, the duo will be heading to the big screens next with A Werewolf Boy, which is an adaptation of the Korean movie and is expected to challenge them anew as actors.
Back to SDP, it is nice to see how Viva One has been doing its own adaptations faithfully from the source material, with necessary revisions only being made to reflect today’s standards and other valid reasons.
Overall, it has been an enjoyable run for the program, with their fans surely looking forward to seeing the second book brought to life as well.
37. Prinsesa Ng City Jail (GMA)
The actual begins with a pregnant Sharlene (Beauty Gonzalez) and Divina (Denise Laurel), the ex-lover of the former’s husband Raymond (Dominic Ochoa), who will have their paths cross again inside the prison.
Wanting to get even, Divina, who was also pregnant at that time, switched their babies. That ended up making Libby, the villain’s daughter, being the one raised by Sharlene and Raymond.
Meanwhile, Princess was left behind and was raised by a prison guard named Dado (Keempee de Leon).
Years later, in a twist of fate, Princess (now portrayed by Sofia Pablo) would be able to meet her mother that she longed for without knowing it.
Honest take: This program was a good choice as the opening salvo of the network’s afternoon drama line-up for 2025.
It was able to blend well the tropes and cliché people have come to associate with the programs that air on the time slot.
PSCJ also served as Sofia’s first solo billing as the lead star and she delivered quite well, especially with her character written in such a way that would dare to fight when she knows she is on the right.
Denise Laurel as a villain also showcased her impressive acting range, especially with how she was able to seamlessly transition from making the other characters believe that she is a kind person to a cunning individual that is capable of taking one’s life.
What is considered to be rather perplexing regarding the story itself is that almost all of the major characters (which will be redacted to prevent spoilers) were jailed at some point. Although they had valid reasons, their stories could have branched out a little differently though.
36. Vibe (Main Program) (TV5)
The first live countdown show for original Filipino music (OPM), Vibe feels and acts as a fusion between the Korean shows like Music Bank and M Countdown, as the country’s very own musical-variety shows.
The Main Vibe, as it is called, airs on Sunday primetime and is the flagship edition of the week-long program, which has several formats hosted by a rotating set of Vibe Jocks like Vibe Café and Vibe Nights each weekday and Vibe TV on Saturday afternoon.
The main show features performances from various OPM acts as voted by Vhies or the general public each week (recently expanded to two weeks).
Aside from that, Vibe also serves as a platform for up-and-coming and independent artists through its Uprising segment. The jocks also showcase their own talents through production numbers incorporated into the program itself.
Honest take: Vibe in itself is an interesting concept that takes local music onto another level. In the past few years, the tide had slowly turned in favor of OPM and with the show introducing the competitive charting format, it also allowed fans to help their idols get into the show and promote their songs to a wider audience—further enhancing the music scene in the country.
Barring any other factors, the main program of Vibe is a sustainable format—one that could be tweaked any time and could boost its reputation as a premier countdown show.
35. Maka Lovestream (GMA)
Same cast, different stories.
After three seasons, the top-rating Kapuso youth-oriented series on Saturdays, Maka, was given a refresh.
Moving away from the soap opera-ish treatment of the last two seasons, the program shifted to an anthology format and was retitled Maka Lovestream.
Although, members of the Maka squad remained the same with Zephanie, Shan Vesagas, Marco Masa, Ashley Sarmiento, John Clifford, Chanty Videla, Sean Lucas, Josh Ford, Elijah Alejo, and more.
Stories that aired throughout the spin-off series’ three-month run mostly revolved around the theme of young love and friendship, with titles like 28 Days, Ride To Forever, Secret Crush, and Pretty Little Baby.
The spin-off ended its run last December 13 after three months on the air.
Honest take: With the revamp of the show into Maka Lovestream back in September, the program was able to establish its image as a youth-oriented program, rather than a drama series that happened to have young stars in it—which became the problem of the original series.
The program also helped in honing and expanding the acting capabilities of the Gen Z talents and gave them the spotlight, as they would otherwise be given secondary roles in other productions of the station.
Lastly, it also served as a good balance to the otherwise heavy Saturday drama line-up of the Kapuso network, which focuses mostly on intense dramas.
34. Avenues Of The Diamond (Viva One)
In this installment of the University Series, which is the collection of stories by Gwy Saludes that were originally published on Wattpad, viewers and readers of the online novel are able to meet Samantha (portrayed by Aubrey Caraan), a student from the blue university (a.k.a. Ateneo).
One day, she would receive the biggest shock of her life when she gets arranged to marry Clyden (played by Lance Carr), a snobbish medical student from the maroon university (UP) who devotes himself to studying.
As the story developed, so did the relationship of the two. Secrets and twists along the way also brought additional layers to the story.
AOTD builds upon the success of its three prior installments—The Rain Is España, Safe Skies, Archer, and Chasing In The Wild—which have all been given their respective adaptations by Viva One. In fact, characters from the previous series also made their appearances here.
Honest take: Avenues of the Diamond, in spite of the initial reaction over its casting, was able to deliver a good output.
The chemistry between the lead stars were there, with the overall production also being an improvement from the series that came before it.
Claudine Barretto, who played the part of Selena, Samantha’s mother, also showed why she remains to be one of the best actresses of her generation in this series.
33. Stars Under Pressure (One PH)
If going to the grocery or cooking in the kitchen are ways of destressing for some people, this program takes all that comfort out.
In this reality program from Cignal TV’s One PH channel, Chef Rolando Laudico, also known as Lau, challenges celebrities and influencers to back-to-back-to-back dares.
The episode begins with them having to shop inside the supermarket to hunt for ingredients on a budget and within a limited time.
After that, they would need to cook using these ingredients, including a main ingredient that has been decided by the production team beforehand.
The contestants would need to create these dishes with a twist—under constant pressure of time and the result of a wheel that decides the limitations that they will have while cooking.
Aside from Chef Lau, the finished products would then be taste-tested by a group of individuals, which will decide the winner of the episode.
Honest take: The entire concept of the program is good. It offers something familiar to audiences, yet presents a lot of twists that make it stand out from the otherwise sterile cooking shows and less confrontational than the competition formats that have graced the screens from the years past.
While the execution needs (or perhaps, needed) a little refinement, Stars Under Pressure was surely able to deliver an entertaining piece of content on TV on the weekends that it was on the air.
32. My Father’s Wife (GMA)
In a strange twist of fate, an estranged best friend becomes the step mother of the lead character. More than that, she is also the mistress of her husband, who happens to be her ex-lover too.
The complicated familial ties was at the core of this GMA Afternoon Prime series that was top-billed by Gabby Concepcion, Kylie Padilla, Jak Roberto, and Kazel Kinouchi.
It begins with the story of Gina (Kylie Padilla) and Betsy (Kazel Kinouchi) who were once best friends but cut their ties later on because of Gerald (Jak Roberto). For the sake of one day becoming a permanent resident and being able to work abroad, Betsy asks Gina to marry Gerald, her boyfriend at that time.
After being persuaded, she obliged on the condition of divorcing him later on. But Gina and Gerald’s relationship later blossomed to a real one, which broke Betsy and caused her to seek her revenge on Gina—something that she was able to achieve by becoming the wife of Robert, the main female protagonist’s father.
Skipping forward, they would all live together under one roof. Betsy still had feelings for Gerald and while his ties with his wife, Gina, was being strained, the two had an extramarital affair.
Honest take: Despite the theme of “kabitan” or extramarital affairs being a constant feature on local television in the past decade, My Father’s Wife was still able to bring a fresh approach to the genre.
It did not stick to the conventions of dragging the arc for too long and instead decided to “detonate the bomb” midway through the series and just after a few weeks on television—which is just a relatively short period for afternoon soaps.
That buildup was definitely worth it as viewers were able to witness the “valid crashout” of the scorned wife (Gina) and husband (in Robert) after they found out the truth and the aftermath.
It only had a relatively short, yet moderately successful run and to that, the team can pat themselves on the back knowing that the story went and ended just where it should have been.
31. TV Patrol Regional (ABS-CBN News)
More than five years since its Regional Network Group was dissolved, ABS-CBN News made the decision to revive the TV Patrol Regional name last November.
The newscast, anchored by Annie Perez, is a fast-paced fifteen-minute national newscast delivered in Bisaya that tackles news from the regions and the major headlines on the national level.
Originally streaming exclusively on digital platforms, the show was eventually brought to free and pay television platforms through A2Z and Kapamilya Channel on its third episode.
In contrast to the flagship TV Patrol and its offshoots Express and Weekend, the Regional edition does not air live. In recent installments, that has come to its advantage, as Tagalog subtitles have been added to let more viewers understand the news reports.
Honest take: TV Patrol Regional is a manifestation of the network’s mission of serving the Filipino people.
As the second Bisaya program (following the talk show Kuan-On-One) that ABS-CBN is airing on its primary channels on Sunday afternoons, the launch of TVP Regional should come as a welcome development for the diaspora nationwide (or even worldwide) as they are not only entertained, but also informed in the language that they understand and know best.
30. Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre (GMA)
Eight years after the finale of the 2016 requel, the Encantadia saga continued with its latest installment that focuses on the four new generation Sang’gres.
Their rise comes as the wrath of the wicked ice queen named Mitena, along with her army from the cruel and cursed snow world called Minea’ve, threatens the very existence of the land that the royal-blooded Encantados have long vowed to protect.
In contrast with the original story, the Sang’gres have different origins in this run. Flamarra (Faith da Silva) comes from the Hathor-Diwata lineage in her mother’s side (Pirena) and the Punjabwe (from Azulan), Adamus (Kelvin Miranda) is an Adamyan/Gunikar (from his father Memfes) and Diwata (from her mother Alena), on top of being the first male gem-keeper.
Meanwhile, Deia (Angel Guardian) is the first non-Diwata and non-Encantado to be regarded as a Sang’gre, a title that was bestowed to her by the deity Emre himself.
Lastly, “The Chosen One” is Terra (Bianca Umali), the half-mortal, half-Diwata who was foretold in the prophecy as the one that will defeat Mitena.
The series is now on its second chapter, with the story now focusing on another villain, the cursed deity Gargan (Tom Rodriguez).
Honest take: The telefantasya had a lot of promise since its production was officially announced a few years ago.
Building on the legacy of the beloved, storied franchise Encantadia, many looked forward to seeing how the story would develop from the 2016-17 series, as well as the interaction between characters from the previous installment and the new ones.
However, much to the dismay of many fans and viewers, the first few weeks alone were already filled with numerous plotholes, which only got worse as the show continued its run—putting the storyline in a serious disarray when the first book ended. So far, the second chapter appears to have started addressing those gaps in the story.
All those negativities aside, there are still positive highlights sprinkled around the series.
Sang’gre showed some improvements in terms of computer-generated imagery (CGI) early on in its run.
Deia’s storyline was also far more interesting than it was initially thought of, with Angel delivering well for the part given to her. Seriously, having her as the central character, despite not being the chosen one, might have also worked wonders for the show.
Speaking of which, the second book has also been able to make sense of why Terra is the chosen one, especially with Gargan being trapped in the mortal world.
The developments in the life of Armea (Ysabel Ortega), the queen of Sapiro, is also unfolding as an exciting tale on its own.
Having the likes of Hagorn rising from the dead to wreak havoc once more is also an intriguing move that adds another layer to the story.
With that, all hope is also not yet lost for this telefantasya as its extension could just give it more time to fix issues that were done in the last over 100 episodes. To that, we genuinely wish them the best of luck.
29. Mommy Dearest (GMA)
What would a person do if her entire life is just a lie that was created inside the mind of her supposed mother?
That is a question that this GMA Afternoon Prime drama tackled. Starring Camille Prats as the obsessive mother Olive, Katrina Halili as the biological mother and maid Emma, and Shayne Sava as Mookie, the series centered around on how Olive kidnapped Emma’s child and made her her own—only to falsely diagnose her with illnesses that she doesn’t have to make her stay by her side always.
Eventually, the world that she built would turn to dust with the entry of the doting Emma into her home, who showed Mookie how it is to have a normal life outside of Olive’s strict supervision.
Later on, it would be revealed that Olive is Emma’s long lost sister, making her the aunt of the teenager.
More twists happened along the way, with the introduction of the twin sister, Jade (also portrayed by Camillie Prats) and Logan (played by Rocco Nacino), who rocked the relationship between Emma and her husband, Danilo (Dion Ignacio).
Honest take: The show was a success both on TV and online, where it raked in millions of views.
While the concept of family feud and other arcs done in the show were already familiar sights to its target audience, what made Mommy Dearest stand out was the performance of its cast members.
Katrina Halili, who has long been associated with her iconic villain roles for most of her career, showcased her versatility in this show. When it started, Emma appeared to be meek and loving. But in the second chapter, she has turned into the archnemesis of Olive/Jade by becoming the very person that tests her sanity (or lack thereof).
Much like her, Camille Prats, our Pambansang Mars, was also definitely challenged enough while making this drama. From being the loving mother figure in her previous series, she becomes the very opposite of it in Mommy Dearest.
Not only that, she did play as twin sisters too, with both having contradicting personalities—the one being the evil and manipulative Olive and the gleeful and caring Jade.
While the program did trend for that “lightsaber” fight scene (which could have been avoided), the storyline was still modest and is easily one of the better-written in the block this year.
28. Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 4 (ABS-CBN Studios)
The transformation of local celebrities to various icons in the local and international scene returns for another season.
Last October, the top-rated reality show launched its fourth regular season. Now hosted by the tandem of Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario, nine stars have come together in this edition.
The original cast members are Rufa Mae Quinto, Pepe Herrera, Jason Dy, Alexa Ilacad, Akira Morishita, Dia Mate, Jarlo Base, and JM dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano (competing as a duo).
The jury remains the same from the third season: Gary Valenciano, Sharon Cuneta, and Ogie Alcasid.
Honest take: The comeback of the beloved franchise is a welcome addition to ABS-CBN’s weekend primetime lineup.YFSF brings a different flavor to the block that would otherwise be filled in with other singing competitions and the likes.
This is because the program is able to showcase a different facet of these celebrity impersonators, while also letting them enjoy the process.
Case in point is Rufa Mae’s earlier impressions, which did not make look anywhere near her supposed icons, she was still able to bring the house down with her antics.
The introduction of new twists, such as the ability to snatch an icon assigned to a fellow participant, is also an interesting addition to this season.
Although, this season seems to be dragging, as one day is spread out across four episodes over two weekends. In contrast, the prior editions were only aired over a single weekend.
While it is understandable, perhaps due to budget or scheduling constraints, these could be compressed to hype up the audiences anew.
27. The Voice Kids Season 7 (GMA)
The seventh season of the popular singing contest for children aired from September to December this year.
For this edition, Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong Dantes returned as host, while Billy Crawford and Julie Anne San Jose came back as coaches and were the only holdovers from the past season and The Voice Generations.
Taking the two other chairs were OPM hitmakers Zack Tabudlo, who is the first former contestant to join the panel, and Paolo and Miguel Guico of the band Ben&Ben, who were then the first two-in-one judges and seated on the “double chair” in the local franchise’s 12-year run.
Another twist to this season was the addition of the “coach replay,” which allows each coach to save a contestant that did not receive any turns during the audition.
In the end, Sofia Mallares from Tabudlo’s Project Z team emerged as the newest winner of the long-running format.
Honest take: It was nice to see new twists being injected to The Voice Kids anew, on top of having good contestants, to keep the show interesting.
Like in the prior season, the stage design was another great build and deserves to get a commendation of its own.
However, similar to its 2024 edition, the show was once again aired only on a single night each weekend, when it could have actually been aired across two nights—a baffling move when Saturday evenings on GMA have two slots filled with mere reruns.
Having it broadcast over two evenings would not only spread the content and give more airtime to each participant, but also give the program itself a much prominent space in the schedule and make it another pillar that will hold the fort that is the network’s weekend primetime.
26. Rainbow Rumble Season 2 (ABS-CBN Studios & 3nithink Productions)
After taking a short break in March, the original game show format hosted by Luis Manzano and comedian Negi returned with its second season last June.
Much of the game play remains the same as the pilot season, although a new tool comes handy for lucky contestants with the introduction of the “Atras Power.” Through which, two participants can use it to have a leading contestant step one tile back and prolong the game.
The breadth of questions was also expanded to include sound and video clips—ultimately adding variety.
In the jackpot round, instead of an additional cash prize or time, a contestant will answer a set of six questions and by correctly answering at least three, they get to have a free roll in the die rolling machine.
Notably, this season also marks the first time that a first-run weekend program of the network was moved from TV5 to ALLTV, which will be the case for the entirety of ABS-CBN’s programming come January 2026.
Honest take: The interactive nature of quizzes, which is the show’s core, keeps Rainbow Rumble an entertaining presence in the Kapamilya network’s weekend line-up.
The rapport between the hosts also continues to be a focal point. And even despite Negi’s absence in some episodes, pinch-hitters like Long Mejia and Divine Tetay also delivered well.
Although the game show has lost its novelty after being on the air for a total of 15 months, the format is still something that can be shifted around anytime—thanks to it being a local, original format.
25. Mga Batang Riles (GMA)
An action series starring actors Miguel Tanfelix, Kokoy de Santos, Raheel Bhyria, Antonio Vinzons, and Bruce Roeland, was launched just as the year changed last January.
The story follows a group of young individuals who were framed for burning the very community where they live in, Sitio Liwanag, in a fire that not only razed their homes, but also changed their lives.
Inside Boystown, where they were brought for reformation, they will meet the warden Yani (Ronnie Ricketts), who would be an instrumental person who will help them get justice and fight against the cruelty of the Victor family.
Airing for a total of 24 weeks, the series is based on the 1992 movie, Jesus dela Cruz at ang mga Batang Riles and is one of the network’s longest running productions for this year.
Honest take: Mga Batang Riles appeared to be an attempt by the network to have an action series targeted at a slightly younger demographic than its competitor program—especially that the entire concept of the show revolved around the group of these young guys.
It also packed a good storyline, which had prepared it well for any extension, which it somewhat got, having passed the 13-week standard mark.
Throughout the series, Miguel and Kokoy were able to ace dramatic sequences well, so did Antonio for the lighthearted and playful parts.
Raheel was able to have his own chance to shine, especially during the arc that saw his Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap co-star Jillian Ward join the program.
Bruce also had noticeable improvements, especially when one compares his acting in the first few months of the show and the latter part, when he has become the ultimate villain.
24. Idol Kids Philippines (ABS-CBN Studios)
Last June, the first-ever spin-off of the reality-singing competition Idol Philippines was launched.
The children’s talent competition format Idol Kids was brought to the Philippines and Asia for the first time.
In this season, the panel was still led by the lone original judge remaining, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez, who was joined by Gary Valenciano, Angeline Quinto, and JK Labajo.
Serving as one of the main hosts for this program was Robi Domingo, who has consistently been a presence on weekend primetime this year with Time To Dance, Pinoy Big Brother, and Pilipinas Got Talent, on top of his role in ASAP.
Joining him as presenter was ‘90s pop culture icon Jolina Magdangal, who formerly judged in the Pinoy Idol series produced by GMA in 2008.
Alexa Mendoza was hailed as the first winner of Idol Kids Philippines by the end of the program’s three-month-long run.
Honest take: The show is as raw as it can get, having been given the same treatment as the regular version.
The panel, while still catering to the fact that they are judging younger ones, did not sugarcoat—especially Regine Velasquez—which still made joining the show a nurturing experience for the participants.
Although, there is a lot to be desired in terms of set design, with improvements going to help a lot in making the show feel much more premium—akin to the caliber of personalities and talents seen in the show.
23. Money Talks (One News)
Pay TV news channel One News returned to daily morning business news with the launch of Money Talks.
Hosted by Cathy Yap-Yang, the program marked her return to the daily grind on TV after serving for more than four years as the First Vice President and Group Communications Officer at PLDT from 2020 to 2024. But before stepping down from that role, she had already been hosting the weekly One News program, Thought Leaders, since 2023.
In similar vein to her previous program, Market Edge on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), Money Talks sees her dish out the latest corporate headlines, market moves, economic developments around the world, and sit-down interviews with personalities in the business circle.
The program is also part of One News’ beefed up morning line-up, which also includes Morning Matters with Gretchen Ho and News and Views with Angelo and Angela Castro.
Honest take: With her decades-long experience as a veteran business journalist, it is no secret that Yang not only knows the trade, but also how to get the valuable details straight from the sources themselves.
The decision to place Money Talks’ time slot to coincide with the opening of the local stock market is a brilliant move. However, if there is a chance to have it, a full 60-minute runtime would give more space for conversations and headlines.
22. Pilipinas Got Talent Season 7 (ABS-CBN Studios)
After seven years, the longest-running talent show format in the country returned with its much-anticipated seventh season.
This time, the program had an almost completely different look with new hosts and judges. In fact, only former ABS-CBN general manager Freddie Garcia remained, having been on the judge’s seat since the first season.
Taking on the roles as the hosts of the show were Robi Domingo and Melai Cantiveros, who took over from Billy Crawford and Toni Gonzaga from the prior edition in 2018.
Eugene Domingo, Kathryn Bernardo, and Donny Pangilinan joined Garcia in the panel, replacing Vice Ganda, Angel Locsin, and Robin Padilla.
The format largely remained the same, with the show looking for extraordinary talents that can proudly be shown to the entire world. But of course, this being PGT, some rather interesting acts still joined and got the dreaded X mark.
Honest take: As the format remains virtually unchanged this season, the comments would largely center around the execution of the show.
In contrast to its previous seasons, this PGT felt more intimate, having taken place in and around ABS-CBN’s studios in Quezon City only.
However, the program was still able to get a lot of eye-catching performances from all over the country, as the breadth of talents did not disappoint—especially the outdoor acts—which was pretty much wide-ranging and visually appealing too.
To that, the greenlit eighth season has a lot of pressure for it, as it needs to top yet again the acts featured in this edition.
21. Ghosting (iWant)
For the first time, Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra, who were housemates of the reality show Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11, starred in their first drama series together.
Collectively known as JMFyang, the duo top-billed the iWant digital series Ghosting, one of flagship offerings of the ABS-CBN streaming service upon its relaunch last July.
According to the network, the story follows a feisty student who escapes to her grandmother’s quiet provincial home after being ghosted, only to fall for a mysterious probinsyano who turns out to be a restless soul. What begins as a classic story of moving on transforms into an unforgettable romance that reaches beyond the boundaries of life and death.
Directed by Theodore Boborol, the show’s first season also stars Ces Quesada, Ruby Ruiz, Vivoree, Kobe Brown, and Gello Marquez.
Following the success of the first season, a second book titled Ghosting Part 2 began streaming last November.
Honest take: The show is surprisingly good, as it was able to balance elements like the supernatural and dramatic plot lines of the characters with the overall vibe of it as a feel-good, romantic series.
Fyang is also a revelation, as her acting prowess and comedic timing became one of the strongest suits of this program. Moreover, her on-screen chemistry with JM was also undeniable.
Given that it is one of the initial offerings of iWant after its major rebranding exercise this year, Ghosting clearly shows the path where the platform is headed for its slate of originals. Hopefully, they will be able to emulate it in their subsequent releases.
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.
Before revealing the Top 10 Philippine TV and Streaming Programs of 2025, we first unveil the programs that deserve to have special citations.
These programs might have not made it to our Top 40 list, but they have displayed promising performances in line with their respective genres, as well as the local television and streaming scene.
The following productions have been listed in no particular order.
Happy Crush (Netflix)
Starring: Maymay Entrata, Kelvin Miranda
An 8-episode series that sees Maymay’s character Carla return to her hometown following the death of her mother. During that visit, she remembers her first crush and relives her memories in high school.
Frontline Express AM (TV5)
Anchor: Nikki de Guzman
Delivering the biggest news headlines and developing stories of the day just before lunchtime on TV5.
Philippines’ Most Shocking Stories (ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel)
Hosts: Jeff Canoy, Lyza Aquino, MJ Felipe, Jeff Caparas, Jessie Cruzat
Tackling the most controversial and scandalous crimes and tragedies in the country over the past decades.
The B Side Season 2 (Cinema One)
Host: Bianca Gonzalez and MJ Felipe
Speaking directly to the celebrity guests to discover more of them show their other side rarely shown to their fans and the public.
Morning Matters (One News)
Anchor: Gretchen Ho
Starting the day with a sip of coffee and interviews with the newsmakers and other personalities to make mornings matter to its audience.
The Daily Dish (Bilyonaryo News Channel)
Hosts: Mai Rodriguez, Ferdi Salvador, Monique Tuzon, and Chal Chang Lontoc-del Rosario
A noontime program that dishes out the biggest news headlines with conversations with the people that make them.
The Newsmakers (Newswatch Plus)
Hosts: Tristan Nodalo, Eimor Santos, Lois Calderon
Speaking directly to the source or the people at the center of the national issues and major headlines of the day.
Kuan On One Season 3 (ABS-CBN Studios)
Host: Melai Cantiveros-Francisco
The entertaining Bisaya talk show on national television is back for its third season with Kuantie Melai.
The A List (ANC)
Host: Sam Sadhwani
A look into the lives of guest personalities and experiences in and around the metro.
Para Sa Isa’t Isa (TV5)
Starring: Jerome Ponce, Krissha Viaje
A weekly romantic time-slip drama starring one of trending Viva’s love teams today on the Kapatid network.
Here now are our picks for the Top 10 Philippine TV and Streaming programs of 2025.
10. Bad Genius: The Series (Viva One / TV5)
How far can people go to beat (or cheat, rather) the system?
In this series, Atasha Muhlach, Jairus Aquino, Gab Lagman, and Hyacinth Callado team up for the serialized adaptation of the hit Thai movie Bad Genius.
The story revolves around a group of students who join forces to ace exams and take advantage of loopholes in the system for the chance of passing by doing various techniques.
Episode one started with Lin (Atasha Muhlach) competing in a Scrabble contest, where she became witness to the cheating of her rival from another school, who happened to be the defending champion.
She did not take it lightly and called him out in the thick of it. Eventually, she was able to take home the grand prize.
This win earned her a spot in an elite school as a scholar. However, little did she know that it was split between her and Tristan/Bank (Jairus Aquino), with each of them needing to pay for the remaining dues as a result.
Anyhow, Lin would become friends with Grace (Hyacinth Callado) who aims to get high grades to make it to the repertoire. On exam day, being more nervous than ever, Grace could not answer the exam sheet. But thanks to the technique that Lin knew from her rival, they would both get perfect scores.
Grace will then tell the story to her boyfriend Pat (Gab Lagman), who would offer Lin payment in exchange for giving them the right answers on their exam. That would later be reluctantly accepted by Lin to make up for the other half of her tuition.
Honest take: One of the best things about this adaptation is the cinematography, with it being treated like a movie with shots and color grading not usually seen on television.
The main cast members also offer a surprisingly good balance in terms of their acting, with a special mention for Atasha for having delivered well despite this project being her first-ever series—and as a lead actress too, no less.
However, there are some minor inputs to be given, including improvement in the automatic dialog replacement (which became very obvious especially in certain scenes), and the lines between the characters themselves as well.
Other than those, Bad Genius turned out to be one of Viva’s strongest serial productions since the launch of its Viva One platform.
9. Ang Mutya Ng Section E (Viva One / TV5)
With the show responsible for giving many of the rising young stars of the company the platform
On January 3, 2025, Viva One launched the live action version of Ang Mutya Ng Section E, the adaptation of the popular online novel by writer Eatmore2behappy.
The series is led by Ashtine Olviga, Andres Muhlach, Rabin Angeles, along with other cast members that bring different colors to Section E.
The story begins with the transfer of Jayjay (Ashtine Olviga) to a new school. Initially, she thought that she would be studying in the new building with the best facilities.
Much to her surprise, her assignment as a student of Section E would lead her to a shabby building where many problematic students have been put together.
There, she would meet Mark Kiefer (Andres Muhlach), the class president who would try to make her life difficult at first, but would eventually fall for her charm.
The program debuted to much fanfare, having reached audiences not only in the Philippines, but also abroad.
Following the success of its first season, which ran from January to April on Viva One and from May to July on TV5, its second book, Ang Mutya Ng Section E: The Dark Side, premiered last December on the streaming platform.
Honest take: The program is an enjoyable series to watch as it does not confine itself inside the four corners of the classroom and instead goes out of it to tell more stories not only about the main characters, but also their classmates and other people around them.
The on-screen chemistry between Ashtine and Andres is also undeniable with the lighthearted scenes featuring them coming off naturally.
Lastly, the series also does an outstanding job in adapting the novel, which has been pretty much the case for the book-to-series adaptations of Viva on their streaming app.
8. Akusada (GMA)
A crime that will continue to haunt her wherever she goes.
In this Kapuso afternoon series, Andrea Torres makes her comeback as Carol, a woman who would be accused of being the perpetrator behind the death of Joy (Max Collins).
As she tried to run away from it, her paths would cross with Wilfred (Benjamin Alves), who happens to be the husband of the slain woman, and his family.
To protect her family, she would hide her real identity and would live as Lorena, only for her plans to keep it for as long as she could to be derailed as the truth inched closer to her.
The program aired from June 30 to October 31, 2025 with a total of 89 episodes throughout its four-month run.
Honest take: What made Akusada different from its counterparts is the infusion of the whodunnit concept to the usual afternoon dramas as of late—and was also exactly what made the program much more interesting.
The series also did not take unnecessary turns just for the sake of prolonging the story as the subplots made sense in the process of finding justice and the truth behind the case.
Furthermore, Andrea also delivered a great performance in this series, as did Benjamin. Aside from them, Lianne Valentin also proved yet again her prowess as one of her generation’s up-and-coming villains with her portrayal of Roni.
7. What Lies Beneath (ABS-CBN Studios)
The secrets and mysteries kept hidden for a long time will be unearthed piece by piece.
Last October, ABS-CBN premiered its new mystery drama series starring Kaila Estrada, Janella Salvador, Sue Ramirez, and Charlie Dizon.
It starts with the story of the friendship between Alice (Janella Salvador / Eliza Borromeo), Mel (Sue Ramirez / Reich Alim), Erica (Kaila Estrada / Krystal Mejes), and Beth (Charlie Dizon / Allyson McBride), whose once-unbreakable friendship was fractured by a traumatic event 14 years ago. The four of them witnessed the brutal murder of their best friend Louisa (Mutya Orquia).
The case was deeply sensationalized in their community and the four of them faced pressure from the whole community of Amurao, placing the blame on Edong (Jake Cuenca / Renshi de Guzman) for the crime with no solid evidence.
Years later, as the women tried to move on, Alice, Mel, and Beth continue to pursue their shared dream of building a retirement home, while Erica distances herself to start anew.
By then, Edong resurfaces and vows to make them pay for the injustice they inflicted upon him. His brother, Lucas (JM de Guzman) also returns to Amurao where his paths cross with the ladies again.
Also part of this series are Yves Flores, Race Matthias, and Jameson Blake.
Honest take: What Lies Beneath, despite the deluge of mystery-thrillers in recent years, stands out by offering a mix of multi-dimensional characters who each have backgrounds that they do not reveal to each other—keeping it only amongst themselves.
This makes audiences guess not only the killer, but also what secrets these characters hold and how they would affect the overarching case of Louisa’s death.
In the acting department, the cast members deliver strong performances as well, with Jake Cuenca showing yet again his strong suit as the main villain. Kaila, Janella, Sue, Charlie, as well as JM, Yves, and Jameson all have their own shining moments in this series too.
6. Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition (ABS-CBN Studios / GMA)
The groundbreaking season of the country’s longest-running reality show format happened in celebration of its 20th anniversary.
In March 2025, the doors of the Pinoy Big Brother house opened anew for celebrities. The main difference, however, is that it did not only draw its participants from ABS-CBN’s own artist pool, but also the stable of stars from erstwhile rival-turned-collaborator GMA.
The season, dubbed as Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition, saw 10 Kapamilya and 10 Kapuso stars add to the over 1,400 housemates who have lived under one roof in the past two decades.
For the first time in the show’s history, the duo format first implemented in Spain was finally brought to the Philippines.
Through which, a Kapamilya star was paired with a Kapuso counterpart for a maximum of two weeks before they were reorganized through duo formation tasks.
In the end, the tandem of Brent Manalo and Mika Salamanca emerged victorious as they became the first Big Winner Duo of the local franchise.
Honest take: This season of the show, together with its predecessor Gen 11, were able to reinvigorate the format long thought to have already become stale.
PBB Collab took it up a notch as its novelty of being the first under the partnership between ABS-CBN and GMA immediately drew interest among fans and curiosity from casual viewers.
It was very much well-received that a line as simple as “OA” by Klarisse de Guzman became a meme, on top of many other viral moments from that season.
Most of the housemates, if not all, also gained a much solid following after the show, a testament to the enduring popularity of Pinoy Big Brother.
Hence, a new project featuring most of them is also on the way as they are set to reunite in The Secrets Of Hotel 88, which is a production under ABS-CBN’s Star Creatives and would soon air on GMA.
As for PBB, the success of this season also paved the way for Celebrity Collab 2.0, which features Gen Z talents from Star Magic and Sparkle, that began airing last October.
5. Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN Studios / iWant)
The return of the longest-running drama anthology in Asia.
More than two years after it signed off after a three-decade run, Maalaala Mo Kaya and its narrator, Charo Santos-Concio, made a major comeback to TV and digital screens in April 2025.
Among the most talked-about installments in its 13-week comeback season were “Apoy” on the life of Sofronio Vasquez, “Camera” on BINI member Sheena Catacutan, and the two-part account on the murder of the Maguad Siblings.
Alongside the traditional TV format, an exclusive interview with the subjects themselves with host Charo Santos also streamed exclusively on iWant.
Meanwhile, the MMK sa DZMM show also made its return in 2025, along with the revival of the radio station itself last May.
Honest take: Similar to its past incarnation, MMK once again demonstrated its position as the gold standard in local television drama by airing new stories from real persons featuring top-caliber actors.
While a new season was already confirmed at the recent 2025 Christmas Special, it would be nice to see it have more installments given the buzz that the comeback season generated.
4. The Alibi (ABS-CBN Studios / Prime Video)
Marking the return of the tandem to the streaming platform.
In November 2025, ABS-CBN and Prime Video released The Alibi starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, who both came fresh from the summer blockbuster movie My Love Will Make You Disappear.
According to the network, the mystery drama series dares to pose the question: “How much are you willing to risk in order to conceal your darkest secrets?”
The story centers on Kim and Paulo’s respective characters, Stella and Vincent as they gamble on love and lies.
“Stella is a seductive escort and the sole provider of her broken family. Her already miserable life will become even more complicated when she accidentally crosses paths with Vincent, who is the heir to one of the most influential digital news empires in the country,” the official synopsis began.
It continued, “Their indecent encounter is nothing short of twisted when it is revealed that Vincent is currently the prime suspect of a high-profile murder investigation of his rival, Walter (Sam Milby).”
In a desperate attempt to save his tarnished reputation, Vincent will strike a million peso deal with Stella to pose as his alibi, with the two strangers entering an unconventional entanglement that is shrouded with mystery.
The search for the truth will then spiral into a dangerous spectacle when hidden agendas arise and each suspect’s morals are questioned.
Aside from the three already mentioned, also featured as cast members are seasoned actors John Arcilla, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Alma Moreno, Ian De Leon, Romnick Sarmenta, Irma Adlawan, Rafael Rosell, and Sofia Andres.
Also joining the program are Robbie Jaworski, Angelina Cruz, Alyanna Angeles, PJ Endrinal, Lotlot Bustamante, Enzo Osorio, Ayesha Bajeta, Thou Reyes, Alora Sasam, Marvin Yap, Johaira Omar, Yesh Burce, and Kim Tubiano.
Honest take: Just on the premise alone, The Alibi already set itself apart from the previous projects of Kim and Paulo.
If the story depicts a gamble between love and lies, the series was also definitely one for Kim, who once again shed her sweetheart image to portray the feisty and no holds barred Stella—a role that she has never done before.
For Paulo, it also displayed his intensity, especially in pivotal scenes that we could not disclose to prevent spoilers.
The Alibi, like other series that came before it, worked so well as a mini-series. We hope to see not only a fuller picture once a teleserye version comes our way too, but also a maintained quality that viewers deserve to see.
3. Beauty Empire (GMA / Viu)
A rivalry to uncover a thickly-veiled secret.
Top-billed by two of GMA’s most-recognizable female talents, Barbie Forteza and Kyline Alcantara, this series focuses on their rivalry to come out on top of the game.
Forteza’s character, Noreen Alfonso, is also attempting to solve the mystery behind the death of her sister. Meanwhile, Alcantara will portray the beauty influencer Shari De Jesus who aims to take the throne of Velma Imperial (Ruffa Gutierrez).
Also part of this series are Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, singer-actor Sam Concepcion, and K-pop star Choi Bo-min. Sid Lucero, Gabby Padilla, Chai Fonacier, and Isay Alvarez are also part of the ensemble.
This drama is the latest collaboration between Viu and GMA, as they previously teamed up in projects like Unbreak My Heart (with ABS-CBN), the drama series Love Before Sunrise, and the primetime mystery series SLAY. CreaZion Studios was also involved in this project.
Honest take: Like many other observers, the initial expectation was for this program to become a campy series due to its earlier teasers.
However, despite not turning out as one, the show proved that its storyline alone is enough to keep viewers glued to it as it was packed with a lot of twists and turns that kept it interesting until the end.
Barbie Forteza showed her range in this series, as she was able to convincingly portray a naive teenage version of Noreen one scene and becoming the mature and tactical version of her character in the next.
Kyline also returned to her kontrabida roots on this one, but also displayed Shari’s soft side effectively.
Given their acting prowesses, we hope that this would not be the last time that Barbie and Kyline will be seen in one show together.
2. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (ABS-CBN Studios / Netflix)
Another Philippine adaptation that landed a spot in our Top 10 for a second consecutive year.
Last July, the Filipino adaptation of It’s Okay To Not Be Okay landed on TV screens and the streaming portals of Netflix and iWant.
Based on the 2020 Korean drama series of the same name, the local remake tapped the award-winning cast led by Anne Curtis, Joshua Garcia, and Carlo Aquino to portray the lead roles.
Curtis played the Filipino version of Ko Moon Young, which was originally portrayed by Seo Yea Ji. Her character was given the localized name Emilia ‘Mia’ Hernandez, who is a book writer who has an unhealed childhood trauma stemming from an incident between her parents.
Meanwhile, Garcia played the local counterpart of Moon Gang Tae, which was the role of Kim Soo Hyun in the South Korean TV series. He was known as Patrick ‘Patpat’ Gonzales who was forced to take care of his mentally-challenged older brother after their mother tragically died.
Aquino did the local version of Moon Sang Tae, the role Oh Jung Se had in the K-drama. His character, named Matthew ‘Matmat’ Gonzales in the Philippine remake, is Patpat’s brother who witnessed the murder of their mother from years back.
Also part of this adaptation were Enchong Dee, Xyriel Manabat, Kaori Oinuma, Francis Magundayao, Agot Isidro, Maricel Laxa, Michael De Mesa, Meryll Soriano, Rio Locsin, Edgar Mortiz, and more.
Honest take: Despite it earning mixed reviews, as it has been the case for many adapted formats, we stand on the ground that the show was able to live up to the expectations, especially on the production side.
The animations and art pieces, which were centerpieces of the original, did not disappoint. Moreover, these elements added a distinct flavor to the local version as they showed the ability of artists in the country.
The sceneries were also breathtaking as these locations were unseen on television at this scale before the show, thus giving viewers a refreshing sight.
Story-wise, the addition of the arc where viewers do not know who the real Ingrid (Mia’s mother) is between Agot’s Nurse Eden and Maricel’s Nurse Olivia was also a nice and interesting touch for the Philippine version.
Carlo also portrayed Matmat so well, especially the nuances and actions of his character, that you could barely see any of him (if there is any to be found) in this series.
While Anne and Joshua received a lot of feedback from fans of the original for their age gap in real life, their performances in this series proved why they deserved the parts assigned to them.
It is now time for us to reveal the Best Show of 2025.
1. Incognito (ABS-CBN Studios / Netflix)
Delivering a different type of action on Philippine TV.
In January 2025, ABS-CBN kicked off the year strongly with the premiere of the action-drama series Incognito, top-billed by Richard Gutierrez, Daniel Padilla, Ian Veneracion, Baron Geisler, Kaila Estrada, Maris Racal, and Anthony Jennings.
The story began with a security incident that involved the kidnapping of the ambassador’s daughter, Takako Rai (Belle Mariano), leading to the formation of an elite group of former soldiers called Kontraks, who were gathered by Gregorio Paterno (Ian).
They were JB Bonifacio (Richard), Andres Malvar (Daniel), Miguel Tecson (Baron), Max Alvero (Kaila), Gab Rivera (Maris), and Tomas Guerrero (Anthony), who all went undercover to fulfill their mission.
What would start from the case of Timor (Art Acuña), the mission would eventually bring them around the country and the world as they get caught in the web of the larger El Cano syndicate—which would not only put themselves at risk, but also their loved ones.
The program debuted strongly across linear TV, live stream, and Netflix, where it consistently landed a position in the Top 10 throughout its entire run.
On Kapamilya Online Live, it reached a peak live viewership of almost 1 million in February, while the television ratings, according to Nielsen, saw it reach double digits on most nights.
After its run, Incognito garnered recognitions left and right, with its most prestigious accolade being its title as National Winner for Best Drama Series at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2025.
Honest take: The series brought the genre to another level on Philippine television.
From the level of difficulty of the scenes and stunts that were mounted to the places that served as its backdrop, the series was not only good because of its narrative, but also its visual impact across multiple devices.
No question about the main cast members’ acting, as they all delivered well given that all of them have years of experience and awards under their belt when the program was assembled.
But what made the show even better were the cameo or the guest participation of several artists, who each brought different flavors to the table.
With the series having an open ending, we could only hope that the universe where the program is set could be expanded and explored further, especially that the mysterious El Cano ring has yet to be solved.
Lastly, may the Philippines have more teleseryes of this caliber in whichever genre, as it is something that the general audience wants and deserves.
Those were the Top 40 Shows in Philippine Television and Streaming Platforms for the Year 2025. May these shows continue to entertain, inspire, inform, and excite us in the many years to come.
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