‘Pangako Sa’yo’ Is Famous in Asia, Says This Filipino Professor

Pangako Sa’yo in Asia went through yet another resurgence in social media. Pinoy netizens fondly remembered the highly-acclaimed teleserye when members of the Senate discussed how Filipino productions could compete with foreign films and shows. Turns out, the success that Pangako Sa’yo amassed throughout Asia could make a case for Filipino productions being recognised by an international audience, in more ways than one. Let’s see just how popular this classic teleserye really is!

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The popularity of Pangako Sa’yo in Asia

On his official Facebook page, Prof. Nestor Castro, PhD posted that Filipinos can create productions that can compete with the likes of South Korea. Proving this, he recalled his trip to Kota Belud, Sabah, wherein a rendition of the show’s eponymous theme song played during a wedding he attended. Castro noted that Pangako Sa’yo grew a wide fanbase in Malaysia since it aired in the country.

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He also shared about the influence of the popular teleserye in Indonesia. Apparently, the show introduced itself during their fieldwork in Timika in Papua. While they were in the city, they encountered children speaking Tagalog because of the show. Castro explained that the original show from 2000 was broadcasted in the country in Tagalog with Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Melayu subtitles.

Pangako Sa’yo eventually spawned a Cambodian remake in 2013. This adaptation, titled The Promise, refitted the story into a Cambodian context and lasted for 198 episodes. Currently, Mexico acquired rights to adapt the famous teleserye for national broadcast.

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Amor Powers and her impact on other countries

Castro’s Facebook post garnered around 3,000 likes and 1,400 shares in less than 24 hours. Many netizens commented with their similar stories, recounting their experiences with Malaysians singing the first few verses of Pangako Sa’yo. A few people also cited that the teleserye was a huge success in Kenya, where several locals became fans of the show’s lead star, Jericho Rosales. One user even said that a friend from Cameroon mentioned Amor Powers to her! 

Shortly after, even more Facebook users shared their stories wherein teleseryes encouraged them to identify with Pinoy culture in foreign lands. One user detailed how airport personnel from Panama knew he was Filipino because the staff member followed a teleserye from GMA-7. 

Judging from the comments in the post, most users seem to agree when putting faith in Filipino productions taking an international spotlight. Not only did Pangako Sa’yo create a market for media productions, but it also gave Filipinos a sense of identity whenever they ventured into foreign lands. 

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Would you happen to have a similar experience? Did foreigners also sing to you? We would love to hear about your experiences by sharing them on our Facebook page. Pangako Sa’yo’s theme song is lovely to listen to, after all!

Featured image credit: imdb.com