The recent stir on Philippine teleserye and Koreanovelas provides a pinhole view on Filipino fantasies, desires and a seemingly shift of preferences.

Local drama was first to be called “teleserye” which is a compounded word from “tele” from television and “serye” or series. Philippine teleserye continues to expand in narratives. However, for more than a decade, we see the rise of Koreanovelas or KDrama in local productions: Only You (2006), My Girl (2008), Stairway to Heaven (2009), Full House (2009), My Love from the Star (2014)- to name a few.

Are they really that different? Let’s list a few favorite Philippine teleserye and Korenovela plots:

• Switched at birth

Baby switching or separating is one of the most exhausted plots in local drama. Usually two babies are switched or separated at birth and grows in completely different environments (usually rich vs poor) only to find out they have been switched or reunited.

Teleserye: ABS-CBN’s top-rating teleserye, “Mara Clara”, first aired in 1992 and remade in 2010 is one of the most popular serye with this plot.

Koreanovela: South Korea’s “Endless Love: Autumn in My Heart” has the same plot but the series focused more on the love story of one of the lead characters that have been switched at birth.

• Adopted/Long-Lost Heirs/Heiresses from Rich Families

The plot usually begins with Cinderella-like character which makes viewers empathize for the poor yet kind-hearted lead. To our surprise, h/she is actually adopted! And a rich couple claims him/her as their long-lost son/daughter. Then they show this enormous mansion with multiple maids and butlers and the heir/ess starts living a life of comfort-until a jealous rival sibling or family member attempts to ruin his/her life.

Teleserye: Pangako Sa ‘Yo (2000 and 2015)- The main character is Yna (Kristine Hermosa 2000 and Kathryn Bernardo 2015). She works as a maid at the rich home of the Buenavista family. She does not know her real mother, who became a rich woman named Amor Powers (Eula Valdez/Jodi Sta. Maria) seeks revenge on the Buenavista family. Things begin to get more complicated when Yna falls in love with the family’s only son Angelo Buenavista (Jericho Rosales/Daniel Padilla) and endures bullying and discrimination from his mother Claudia (Jean Garcia/Angelica Panganiban), who also happens to be Amor’s archnemesis.

Koreanovela:  Beautiful Gong Shim (2016, also known as Dear Fair Lady Gong Shim) is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Ahn Dan Tae, a human rights lawyer who doesn’t know he is actually a chaebol heir, who gets involved with a down on her luck woman named Gong Shim.  The story then follows the relationships of them, Dan Tae’s cousin, and Gong Shim’s sister.

• Langit Ka-Lupa Ako (Rich Guy- Poor Girl or vice-versa)

Perhaps almost every year, the archetype known as Rich Boy/ Poor Girl or vice-versa dramas becomes popular in Pinoy teleserye and Korenovelas.

Teleserye: Maging Sino Ka Man (2006) revolves around the complex lives of four main characters (Eli, Jackie, Celine, and JB) and tackles romance perceptions and responses in different social economic classes. Eli (John Lloyd Cruz) is a poor, hardworking man meanwhile Jackie (Bea Alonzo), who initially lost her memory, comes from an elite family. On the other hand, JB (Sam Milby) is the heir to the Roxas Shipping empire and falls for Celine.

Koreanovela:  Boys Over Flowers (2009) is an old-school teen drama, focused on a group of popular/privileged boys at the prestigious Shinhwa High School. The group, known as F4, bully others to get their way. That was until Gu Jun Pyo, leader of F4 and a chaebol heir meets Geum Jan Di, a dry cleaners daughter being bullied at their school. From there the drama progresses to show their love life and the struggles that they overcome together.

• Transformation

At some point, projected fantasies of turning oneself into the most beautiful version is cathartic.

Teleserye: Mundo Mo’y Akin (2013) tells the story of childhood best friends Rodora (Angelika dela Cruz) and Perlita (Sunshine Dizon) who have suffered ridicule for their physical looks. Rodora is hell-bent on changing her appearance; she believes that there is no future for unattractive people like her. However, Perlita is satisfied and has accepted herself despite her flaws. Both of them get pregnant at the same time and Rodora conspires to cover up one of her worst fears turning into a reality.

Koreanovela: True Beauty (2020) is a fun coming-of-age story.  High schooler Im Ju-yeong (Moon Ga-young) has an inferiority complex after being bullied for years by students and family members for her looks. After being fed up, she transforms her looks by learning the art of makeup. This is one secret that she can absolutely not let out in her new school.