Every day, thousands of Filipinos go abroad to seek greener pastures and provide a better life for their loved ones back home. Their sacrifice and endurance to face the unknown for the sake of their families, as well as helping the country’s economy through their remittance, have earned them the title, “Bagong Bayani”.
On May 20, Saturday, GMA Public Affairs proudly presents “Tadhana”, a weekly drama anthology featuring the colorful, romantic, heroic, and inspiring stories of OFWs. Hosting the program is Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera.
“Every Saturday, iba’t ibang story ang mapapanood nila – mga kuwento ng ating mga kababayan na nagtrabaho at nakipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa,” reveals Marian of her latest program with the Kapuso Network.
She adds that “Tadhana” will be very different from her previous projects: “First time ko ito as story teller at happy ako kasi may matututunan ako sa bawat istorya.”
Every week, “Tadhana” will feature a story of an OFW, showing his struggles and sacrifices to fit in a world that is unknown to him and his readiness to face separation and to battle sadness across tumultuous seas, snow-covered cities, and barren deserts in the hope of giving his loved ones a better future.
Aside from showing these difficulties, Tadhana will also present the other face of an OFW – a person who, through his resilience, has been able to rise above the situation and succeed. Each episode aims to inspire viewers to never give up and continue reaching for their dreams.
Marian knows how difficult it is to be away from her loved ones. “Bilang anak, nakalulungkot ‘yung lumalaki ka na nasa abroad yung nanay mo, buti andiyan ang lola ko para alagaan at gabayan ako,” she shares.
This is also why her new TV project is teaching Marian to value her family even more. “[Importante] ang maging close sa family kasi mahirap pala ‘pag malayo ka na sa kanila,” she adds.
For its pilot episode, “Tadhana” presents the story of Elvie, a former OFW who worked in Saudi Arabia. Playing Elvie is Kapuso star Kris Bernal while veteran actress Miss Cherie Gil portrays Hannah, Elvie’s employer.
Elvie was reluctant to work abroad. It didn’t help that her experience while working in Saudi Arabia was nightmarish. Elvie was under an abusive employer who took advantage of her, even putting her life in danger.
Watch how Elvie was able to escape an abusive employment and turn her life around in the pilot episode of “Tadhana” today after “Ika-6 Na Utos” on GMA-7.