Dahil May Isang Ikaw (International title: Destined Hearts / transl. Because There is Only You) is a Philippine television drama series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Directed Jerry Lopez Sineneng and Rechie A. del Carmen, it stars Kristine Hermosa, Jericho Rosales, Lorna Tolentino, Gabby Concepcion, John Estrada, Chin Chin Gutierrez, Karylle and Sid Lucero. It aired on the network's Primetime Bida line up and worldwide on TFC from August 24, 2009 to January 15, 2010, replacing Only You and was replaced by Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo.
According to ABS-CBN International Sales and Distribution, the series will soon air in Malaysia and other Asian countries with the English title of Destined Hearts. In 2010, Dahil May Isang Ikaw was nominated at the International Emmy Awards in the telenovela category, while Sid Lucero became the country's first male actor ever to be nominated in the same awards show in the acting categories for his role. The show was nominated as best foreign drama series in the Emmy Awards.
Contents
Premiere and concept
The show premiered on August 24, 2009, at 09:15 PM (PST) timeslot. It was then adjusted to 08:30 PM (PST) timeslot last December 14, 2009, replacing the timeslot of Lovers In Paris. Dahil May Isang Ikaw tells the tale of two families whose fates intertwine with one another, creating a rather complicated love story between two brothers and two sisters.
Story and development
Tessa Ramirez (Lorna Tolentino) is a great and well-respected lawyer who has won every case she took, particularly child abuse cases. However, the agony in searching for her lost daughter is her greatest fight. Before attaining success in life, she was once a faithful and loving partner of Jaime Alferos (Gabby Concepcion) during college in 1980. Jaime had promised Tessa that they will get married once he comes back from a six-month stay in the States for academics. One day, Jaime's mother (Alicia Alonso) told Tessa that Jaime is committed to an affair with another lady. Tessa called Jaime, but the phone call was received by Patricia Aragon (Chin-Chin Gutierrez), who confirmed the relationship. Tessa was pregnant at that time. Daniel Ramirez (John Estrada) is a friend who secretly loves her. He will do anything that will please Tessa and, in fact, he stands as husband and father of the child.
In an unexpected situation, Tessa's daughter Melissa was kidnapped by a syndicate whose motives is to raise babies to be laborers. Daniel was taking baby Melissa to see her pediatrician, when he was suddenly held at gunpoint by a man demanding he hand over the baby or be killed. Tessa greatly blamed Daniel when she discovered he lost her daughter.
In an effort to make things up to Tessa, Daniel promises to put her through law school, which is her most cherished dream. To support her, he turns to a life of crime. One day while robbing a bank, his heist partner is killed after shooting a bank customer during a scuffle. The customer turns out to be a brother of a government official and, because his killer is already dead, Daniel is detained for his murder.
Ella (Mika dela Cruz, later to be Kristine Hermosa) is a girl who has simple dream, to be loved by her mother. She tried to make her dream come true by dropping a bended one peso coin to the river; it was caught by a sailing vessel instead. She saw a boy, Miguel (Paul Salas, later to be Jericho Rosales) who secretly boarded that ship. She asks him to drop the coin to the water but young Miguel didn't hear it clearly. Both of them were caught, Miguel by a fisherman forcibly asking him to get down immediately and Ella by her mother while punishing her because of stealing the peso.
Here comes young Pip (Nash Aguas, later to be Sid Lucero) who stole a lady's handbag due to starvation. Pip has been influenced by his biological father before. Young Miguel advised his half brother (not by blood) not to do it anymore.
Cast and characters
Main cast
Kristine Hermosa as Angela "Ella" Alferos-Ramirez
Jericho Rosales as Miguel Ramirez
Lorna Tolentino as Tessa Ramirez
Gabby Concepcion as Jaime Alferos
John Estrada as Daniel Ramirez
Chin-Chin Gutierrez as Patricia Aragon-Alferos
Karylle as Denise Mae Alferos
Sid Lucero as Alfred "Red" Ramirez
Supporting cast
Lauren Young as Rachel
Arron Villaflor as Marco Aragon
Chinggoy Alonzo as Don Fernando Aragon
Alicia Alonzo as Donya Victoria Alferos
Christian Vasquez as Ed Aragon
Angel Jacob as Jill Aragon
Maricar de Mesa as Atty. Juliana Serrano
Kitkat as Stephanie "Stef" Miranda
Peewee O'Hara as Yaya Pining
Minnie Aguilar as Vanessa Javier
Kathleen Hermosa as Charlie Sibal
EJ Jallorina as Ploniong
Ina Feleo as Nina
Irene Pheobe Arevalo as Farrah
Railey Valeroso as Paul Javier
Josh Ivan Morales as Mario
Cynthia Reyes as Nadia
Val Iglesias as Wilbert
Efren Reyes Jr. as Guido
Tanya Gomez as Stella Cleofas Remulla
Archie Adamos as Cong. Eduardo Javier
Jong Cuenco as Nikos
Guest cast
Mika dela Cruz as Young Ella
Paul Salas as Young Miguel
Angel Sy as Young Denise
Nash Aguas as Young Red/Pip
Xyriel Manabat as Nini
Chacha Cañete as Bulilit
Lauren Novero as Jess Garcia
Eda Nolan as Mara Cortez
Erika Padilla as Janelle Paez
Zeppi Borromeo as Efren Villegas
Joey Paras as Manolo Meloto
Joem Bascon as Ryan Fernandez
Cherry Lou as Patty Ancheta
Leandro Baldemor as Mayong Ancheta
Joyce So as Mika Tantingco
Jazz Angela Cabaccang as Irene
Amy Nobleza as Melissa "Kikay" dela Cruz
Amante Pulido as Ricardo "Kadyo" dela Cruz
Edwin Pamanian as Rafael Acuyong
Buddy Palad as Ernesto Trinidad
Production staff
Head writer: Arah Jell Badayos
Writers: Rose Colindres, Mark Duane Angos, Jerome Co, Amanda Beltran
Creative director: Ricky Lee
Creative consultant: Badong Royales