Momay

Overview

The show has been developed by Mga Anghel na Walang Langit, Princess Sarah, May Bukas Pa, and Agua Bendita due to genre of family, religious, and child-oriented drama series where Dreamscape Entertainment released these types of series since 2005. Momay aired from May 24 to September 17, 2010 where it co-existed with Agua Bendita from May 24 to September 3, 2010 and the former's successor Noah from July 12 to September 17, 2010. It was succeeded by Noah. Momay is the third and final of the one-year trilogy of ABS-CBN religious series that were released from February 2, 2009 to September 17, 2010 after May Bukas Pa and Agua Bendita.

Plot

Miley, also known to her family as Momay, was the daughter of the owners of an amusement park named "La Vida Funland". Her father had died from a brain tumor, forcing her mother Shirley to become independent for the children. As Shirley manages the carnival, she encountered some problems, such as an accident in which one of her employees died. The husband of this employee then stormed their house and set it on fire, which accidentally made Momay comatose. The husband remained pleading not guilty for the fire. After Hillary, Momay's aunt who had a fixation with taking over the La Vida Funland business, turns off Momay's life support machine resulting in her death, Shirley's depression managed to get the better of her, as she disappears from thin air leaving Justin in the care of Hillary.

As Momay passed into purgatory, she pleaded to return to Earth, to wrap up all the loose ends in her life. Still in a form and a mind of a child, she returns to Earth, not knowing fifteen years have passed since her death. She then meets a cowardly little boy named Andrew. They became best friends as Andrew tries to help Momay find her family and restore peace and order in it.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Xyriel Manabat as Miley "Mommy Miley/Momay" Buenavidez (February 22, 1988 - May 24, 1995) - a young girl who is very caring to JJ (Jappy Mercado), her younger adoptive brother. Unfortunately, Momay became comatose due to an accident when she tried to save Justin from their burning house. Seeing no hope in Miley awakening, and in an intent to spite Shirley, Hillary decided to cut off her life support machine (respirator) for being brain dead, resulting in her death. However, after reaching the afterlife, Momay decided to come back to her family without realizing that it has been 15 years since her death, although she is still in a form of a child. Momay, as a ghost, looked after her family and sometimes took over another person's body to communicate with them. The only way Momay can take over a body is if she merges at the exact moment the person dies and the spirit leaves the body, and later on, Momay has possessed two bodies that she has merged with (Libra Monte and Dra. Judy). Having fulfilled her mission, she goes back to heaven in the final episode.

Maliksi Morales as Andrew "Andro" Corpuz - a cowardly little boy who, after accidentally bumping his head, gained the ability to see ghosts. He has been friends with Momay after entering the burnt house. He helped Momay find her mom. After Momay finds the key of La Vida Funland in a picture of her family, Andro takes it with him to La Vida Funland and Hillary sees and they were grabbing it near the stairs and Hillary lets go, even Andro falls down and is sent to the hospital for an operation, he emerges as a ghost and returns to his real body in time to avoid a permanent death. Momay played with him for the last time, and like with her family members, he cries at the end when Momay goes back to heaven.

Ejay Falcon as Justin "JJ" Buenavidez - Momay's younger adoptive brother. Later in the story, he is revealed to be the biological son of Mickey & Gary's half-brother. After returning from the afterlife, JJ is all grown-up while Momay is still in a form of a child. JJ lived with his aunt Hillary who most of the time abuses him. Since he is set to inherit La Vida Funland, his aunt Hillary uses and controls him. Justin, Mickey & Momay (Xyriel Manabat) go to Bicol and find out. He is Alyssa's boyfriend. Though he is the younger brother, he still tells Momay what she should be doing as if he is the older sibling.

Lorna Tolentino as Shirley Buenavidez - Momay's beloved mother. She and her husband owns a carnival which was popularly known as "La Vida Funland". After Miley (Momay) died, Shirley ran away and was never seen again, she left JJ (her adoptive son) in the care of Hillary. Mickey (Lito Pimentel) learns that a person named Shirley Buenavidez is critical after a bus accident that took place in Bicol. Her death in the accident proved to be false. Hillary took measures to keep Justin from knowing her survival or whereabouts. She suffered from temporary insanity which Hillary took advantage of, which she soon used as a front to attempt an escape. Hillary was nearly successful in eliminating her, but Momay's intervention saved her.

Supporting cast

Lito Pimentel as Mickey Alonzo - Gary's father and Hillary's husband. Opposite from his wife, he is kind and understanding. He is the engineer of the rides on La Vida Funland. He cares a lot for JJ, always standing up for him when Hillary does something wrong, which caused their only son, Gary, to feel jealous. Actually, He's a biological father of JJ.

Pinky Amador as Molly Corpuz - Andro's mother. She is a gambler and owns an illegal gambling place at their house. She only thinks about money causing their son Andrew to feel left out. She left Andro, Britney and their father, fearing that she might get caught by the police. She later realized the error of her ways and returned to their home to accompany her injured son, Andro.

Allan Paule as Fred Corpuz - Andro's father. He works at a jeepney station. He is always drunk and also only thinks about money. He starts to warm up to his children ever since his son complained about their life to him. Same happened with their mother, who has left him for a while.

Eda Nolan as Britney Corpuz - Andro's older sister. She is a spoiled brat when it comes to her mom, she always asks for valuable although unimportant items. She had a huge crush for Gary after bumping into him at La Vida Funland. Despite being mean to her younger brother Andro, she actually loves and cares for him very much. This is shown when she cries, thinking that her brother is going to die.

Bettina Carlos as Raven Ocampo - the publicity and promotion head for La Vida Funland. She grows envious of Alyssa after being a favourite of Hillary. She is Alyssa's older sister. Her real name in the show is Mary Lorenzo. She plans to ruin JJ's family with a help from her sister called Alyssa/Kate Lorenzo. She loves her sister very much and admits that she and her father blew up La Vida Funland in the final episode. Although she gets jailed because of blowing up La Vida Funland, she's still happy that she gets to see her sister.

William Lorenzo as Joel Ocampo - the husband of one of La Vida Funland's employee. He seeks revenge to the Buenavidez family over the death of his wife. Because of his grudge to the family, he was the arson who killed Momay for revenge. He got jailed in with his daughter, Mary for trying to kill Hillary and Shirley and making La Vida Funland explode.

Extended cast

Matet de Leon as Rose - the spirit who picked up Miley from Earth to walk her into heaven. She also served as Miley's mentor and guide at life of being a spirit.

Ogie Diaz as Mando - a ghost exorcist Hillary hired to remove the said ghosts she believes that roams around La Vida Funland.

Basty Alcances as Raul - a bully who has been bullying Andro.

Sharlene San Pedro as Lindsay - the daughter of Alyssa's family maid.

Ketchup Eusebio as Mack - Justin's friend and co-worker in La Vida Funland. He works as a moving statue.

Isay Alvarez as Dra. Judy Villegas - Hired by Hillary to keep Shirley in the dark under the guise of a somewhat false diagnosis of clinical insanity. She meets a seemingly-fatal accident that led her to become Momay's 2nd body host. Using Judy's body, Momay attempts to lead her mother away from Hillary's custody.

Special participation

Joel Torre as Donato "Donnie" Buenavidez - Momay's father who owns La Vida Funland. He is Hillary's adopted brother. Donnie had a brain tumor which caused his death. He is the one who picked up Momay to go back to heaven, not Rose the angel.

Valerie Concepcion as Libra Monte - a stripper in a club. She became Momay's very first hostess after Alyssa suggested that ghosts can actually enter the body of living people. She got shot after running away from a group of kidnappers. She apparently died due to the gunshot wound causing her spirit to leave the body and allowing Momay to take over.

Jappy Mercado as Young Justin

Quintin Alianza as Young Gary

Phebe Kay Arbotante as Young Sophia/Raven

Mon Confiado as Boss Chief Manuel

Greggy Santos as Charlie

Miles Ocampo as Mina

Mara Lopez as Stephanie

Tiya Pusit as Aling Linda

Pocholo Montes as Mang Ruben

Alicia Alonzo as Lola Conchita

Michael Conan as Leon

Rustica Carpio as Inkang Tale/Lola Natalie

Jayson Barraquio as classmate

Martina Wassertheurer as Monica Sy

Elisia Parmisano as Danica Sy

Ara Mina as Rao Sy

Overview

Comics

Momay was a Philippine comics novel created by Elena M. Patron. It was adapted on television through the series, Komiks.

Komiks adaptation

Serialized on Komiks, which was first aired in 2006 during its 2nd season.

Maja Salvador as Molly May "Momay" Santos

Patrick Garcia as Andro

Gloria Romero as Ana

Justin Cuyugan

Jenny Hernandez

Reception

Launch

Momay was launched as one of the ABS-CBN's offerings for the 2010 launched during the ABS-CBN Trade Launch and announced during the Kapamilya Trade Launch held in Boracay. The launch is done as a part of ABS-CBN's celebration for the 60th Anniversary of Philippine Soap Opera.