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Exclusive: Unscripted series Manila Matriarchs has cast singer-actress Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon, as well as fashion professional Myrza Sison and entrepreneurs Joanna Preysler-Francisco and Trisha Bantigue-Tsao.

Filming in San Francisco and Metro Manila, the eight-part series will follow the lives of four women from the Philippines as they navigate motherhood, sisterhood, careers, love, social standing, and the pursuit of true happiness.

The series is executive produced and created by Filipino-American producers Cece Asuncion of Girl, Bye Productions. Miguel Santos, Eddie Tran, Joy Tarce, as well as Jp Mallo and Justyn Reyes of J Creative Entertainment also serve as executive producers.

Manila Matriarchs has received support from the Film Development Council of the Philippines (Fdcp) as well as Secretary Benhur Abalos and the Philippines Department of the Interior and

Local Government (Dilg). No network or streamer is yet attached.

“I’m thrilled...

The CEO of Abs-cbn has lifted the lid on how the media conglom’s first variety show collaboration with former network rival GMA typifies a new era of business for the Filipino company.

Abs-cbs teamed with GMA to air the popular midday variety show It’s Showtime, which will air from April 6 on GMA’s main channel.

The series is a long-running franchise that first premiered in 2009 on Abs-cbn, 11 years before the company lost its broadcasting license due to a Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission order in 2020.

Since then, the Filipino media giant has pivoted to focus on content production, partnering with other companies to distribute shows domestically. It’s Showtime is Abs-cbn’s second collaboration with GMA, after previously working together on drama series Unbreak My Heart last year. In exclusive comments made to Deadline, Abs-cbn CEO Carlo Katigbak explained the strategic pivot.

“Since the non-renewal of our franchise and...

60 out of 420 auditionees got callbacks on the first day of the much-talked-about Miss Saigon auditions, spearheaded by British stage director Laurence Connor Miss Saigon, Les Miserables and Cameron Mackintoshs representative in the Philippines, Dong Alegre Miss Saigon, held at the Philippine Opera Companys headquarters in Makati City early today. Experienced thespians Karylle Tatlonghari, Tippy dos Santos, Jake Macapagal, Julia Abueva, Lorenz Martinez, Oj Mariano, Noel Rayos, Cathy Azanza, Kyla Rivera, Cara Barredo, Topper Fabregas, and Jay Pangilinan were among the 60 who made the short list.