Love Thy Woman

Love Thy Woman is a 2020 Philippine drama television series starring an ensemble cast. The series premiered on ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Gold afternoon block and worldwide via The Filipino Channel on February 10, 2020, replacing Kadenang Ginto.

Love Thy Woman
Title card
Genre
Written by
  • Arlene Tamayo
  • Jayson Mondragon
Directed by
Starring
Opening theme"Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako" by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
Country of originPhilippines
Original language(s)
  • Filipino
  • Standard Chinese
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes60 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Jovelyn Aberion
  • Jemila Jimenez
Production location(s)
Editor(s)
  • Alan Pimentel
  • Godwin Lucena
  • Zara Terrado-Vidallo
  • Ronald Aguila
  • Marcel Piñol
Running time30 minutes
Production company(s)Dreamscape Entertainment
Release
Original network
Picture format480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original releaseFebruary 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) –
present
External links
Website

Premise

Dana Wong-Chao and Jia Wong are Chinoy half-sisters and daughters of Tai-pan billionaire Adam Wong with two different women - Lucy Gongsu Wong, Adam's wife, and Kai Estrella, Adam's mistress.

Both Wong daughters are beautiful, charming and intelligent, groomed to lead and head Dragon Empire Builders, a multi-million real estate family business established by their father Adam Wong.

Adam acknowledges his relationship with Kai and his daughter Jia, who form part of the Wong immediate family, attending all family and social events. His wife, Lucy, is not happy about this but swallows her resentment and accepts their constant presence in their lives.

Lucy belongs to a wealthy family from Singapore, her Filipino mother was one of her father's wives. Her mother leaves and Lucy is raised by her father who hates and mistrusts Filipinos. So when Lucy falls in love with a Filipino, her father disowns and curses her.

Lucy never sees her family again. After Adam's indiscretion with Kai, Lucy sees it as the beginning of her father's curse. Forced to accept her husband's mistress, the two families coexist under Adam's care. Being a Tai-pan, society accepts Kai as Adam's consort with a place in the social structure.

Although there is an obvious disdain between Lucy and Kai, their two daughters grow up close, with distinct personalities, but close nevertheless.

Jia Wong is an interior designer from the University of the Philippines. Dana finishes Architecture from the University of California in Berkeley where she falls in love with David Chao.

Dana gets pregnant and plans to get married. As part of a pre-wedding ritual, the families have the couple's fortune read. The seer warns them of the curse and urges them to stop the wedding. Despite Lucy's apprehensions, Adam does not believe in the curse and the wedding follows. The "Wedding of the Year" that begins like a fairy tale, ends in a tragic car accident, leaving Dana in a deep coma.

Medical experts from different countries step in with modern treatments but nobody can induce Dana out of her comatose state. The Wongs and the Chaos watch over Dana for over a year. Lucy believes that the curse is at work.

It was during this emotional time that Jia and David's shared grief of possibly losing Dana, blossoms into an illicit affair which results in chaos within the family. Harsh condemnation by Adam and Lucy and Jia's regret over betraying her sister, drive Kai and Jia to leave the Wong's to start a new life on their own in Singapore. Jia discovers she is pregnant with David's son and finds success as a furniture designer, opening a furniture store with her boss, Richie Tan. But despite her success, the curse follows her as she suffers from breast cancer and loses her son.

Meanwhile, in Manila, Dana comes out of her coma. As she regains back her strength, she is curious about what happened during the 18 months she was asleep. No one can give her a straight answer on why Jia and Kai left. Not believing that her father banished Jia for venturing out on her own, Dana becomes suspicious of David having an affair and that Jia's disappearance is related to David's emotional distance.

While David tries to make up for his indiscretion by sticking to their marriage, Dana's obsession to get the truth drives her to maltreat David. He considers filing for an annulment. Adam and Lucy are happy about this because they have not forgiven David for his betrayal of Dana.

Amidst the turmoil in their marriage, it is revealed that Jia's son did not die, and was instead, kidnapped by Kai's brother Harry and given to Lucy. The exchange was for money for Jia's cancer treatment, and unbeknownst to everyone except Lucy, the infant is left outside the Wong's gate and adopted by David and Dana.

In Singapore, Jia recovers from her illness and together with Richie, opens RJ&E Design, a furniture manufacturing and design establishment that becomes the most sought out furniture designer and manufacturing firm in Asia.

In Manila, Dana is in line to become the next CEO of Dragon Empire Builders once Adam announces his retirement. Motivated to expand and increase their sales as VP of Operations, Dana is set on a brand alliance with RJ&E. After several attempts for a meeting to submit a proposal, Lucy and Dana fly to Singapore and discover that Jia is the owner. Jia turns down their proposal. After advising Adam of their unsuccessful proposal, Adam makes some inquiries and discovers Jia is the owner. He flies to Singapore and they have a happy reunion. Flushed with emotions after being separated for a decade, he convinces Jia to return to Manila with the promise to protect her from Lucy and Dana. Jia admits her indiscretion to Dana, hoping to be free of the curse.

From keeping the Chinese tradition and Filipino values alive to keeping up with the changing times, Love Thy Woman, a family saga spanning two generations, explores love's dark side and the duplicitous polarity of Betrayal. A family's journey to heal the mistakes and wounds of the past.

Cast and characters
Eula Valdez portrays Lucy Wong
Zsa Zsa Padilla portrays Helen Chao
Ruffa Gutierrez portrays Amanda del Mundo
Xian Lim portrays David Chao
Kim Chiu portrays Jia Wong

Main cast
  • Eula Valdez as Lucinda "Lucy" Gongsu-Wong[1] - Adam's possessive, greedy, scheming, and ambitious legal wife. Dana's mother. She is the main antagonist of the series.
  • Zsa Zsa Padilla as Helen Chao[2][3] - David's loving and protective single mom. She works as a nursing aide in Singapore.
  • Sunshine Cruz as Rebecca "Kai" Estrella[2] - A former lounge singer in KTV house turned breadwinner. Adam's mistress and second wife. Jia's mother and Harry's older sister.
  • Ruffa Gutierrez as Amanda del Mundo[2] - The secondary anti-hero of the series, Lucy's ex-employee of Dragon Empire Builders and Adam's mistress. She claims the father of her son, Gab, is Adam Wong.
  • Christopher de Leon as Adam Wong[2] - A Chinese prominent and the owner of Dragon Empire Builders. Jia and Dana's father, and later said to also be Gab’s father.
  • Yam Concepcion as Dana G. Wong-Chao[2][4] - The secondary antagonist of the series, Adam's legitimate daughter with her Chinese-Filipina mother, Lucy and heiress of the Wong family. Works as the Vice-President of Operations in Dragon Empire Builders. Gab and Jia's older half-sister, and David's former wife.
  • Xian Lim as David Chao[2][5] - A freelance architect designer who graduated in architecture in Singapore. Helen's son. Dana's husband. He falls in love with Jia, resulting in their affair and son Jianyu (renamed Michael after being legally adopted by Dana and David).
  • Kim Chiu as Jia E. Wong[2][5] - The main protagonist. A lead interior designer in Dragon Empire Builders who graduated from the University of the Philippines, and eventually head of her own company RJ&E after leaving her father's company. Adam's illegitimate daughter with her Filipino mother, Kai. Dana's younger half-sister and Gab's older half-sister.

Supporting cast
  • David Chua as Harold "Harry" Estrella[2] - Kai's younger brother and Jia’s uncle with a gambling addiction, who gives up Jia's son to Lucy in order to pay his niece’s hospital bill and his debts.
  • Jennifer Sevilla as Carol Teng[2]
  • Mari Kaimo as Manny Tanchangco
  • Janna Victoria as Donna Lee[2]
  • Tim Yap as Timothy "Tim" Go[2][6]
  • Tart Carlos as Cindy Ong
  • Karl Gabriel as Gabriel "Gab" del Mundo[2] - Amanda's son with Adam Wong after a one-night stand at a Dragon Empire Builders Christmas party. Dana and Jia's younger half-brother.
  • Turs Daza as Patrick Matienzo[2]
  • Aurora Yumul as Kong Lin
  • Olive Isidro as Shelia "Shelly" Ramos
  • Shido Roxas as Jacob "Jimmy" Tanchangco[2]
  • Chienna Filomeno as Tiffany Go[2]
  • Marina Benipayo as Alicia Chua
  • Lloyd Samartino as Eric Chua
  • Bryan Santos as Jefferson Chua
  • Richard Juan as Richard "Richie" Tan[7]
  • MJ Cayabyab as Summer Dy
  • Tori Garcia as Abigail Tanchangco[2]
  • Mikee Agustin as Rosslyn "Ross" Flores
  • JC Gamez as Eddie Reyes
  • China Yoo as Everly Soo[2]
  • Kimberly Tan as Ellie Reyes
  • Abi Kassem as Olive Chan
  • JJ Quilantang as Michael W. Chao / Jianyu E. Wong - Jia and David's biological son, Gab and Dana's biological half-nephew. Introduced as David and Dana's adopted son, Gab and Jia's adopted half-nephew.
  • Dominic Ochoa as Simon Cruz
  • Avani Gregg as Marie Xiang
  • Diana Mackey as Sophie Matienzo
  • Ding Dimaunahan as Macario Yalung

Guest Cast

Production

Casting

Erich Gonzales was originally cast to play the role of Dana Wong, but she backed out because of creative differences.[2][8][9] Yam Concepcion took over the role.[4]

Broadcast

The series airs on ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Gold afternoon block and worldwide on The Filipino Channel.

Despite the community quarantines already lingering, Love Thy Woman continued airing 5 of its fresh, new episodes from March 16–20, 2020.[10]

However, in response to the community quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, the show temporarily stopped filming new episodes and was temporarily replaced by reruns of Walang Hanggan, The Legal Wife, and Got to Believe beginning March 23, 2020.[11][12]

Prior to the show being put on hiatus, series star Christopher de Leon tested positive for COVID-19.[13] This caused select members of the cast to place themselves in self-quarantine.[14]

Thereafter, the show's future would be placed in doubt after the temporary closure of ABS-CBN following the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission on account of its franchise expiration.[15] However, on June 4, 2020, it was announced that the show would make its return on June 15, 2020 on cable-and-satellite channel Kapamilya Channel.[16]

Ratings
Kantar Media National TV Ratings
(2:30PM / 3:40PM PST)
Pilot EpisodeFinale EpisodePeakAverage
14.2%
February 10, 2020[17]		 TBD
TBD
TBD

See also

References
  1. "STORYCON PHOTOS: Presenting the powerhouse cast of Dreamcape's newest teleserye "Love Thy Woman" | ABS-CBN Entertainment". ent.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  2. "Presenting the powerhouse cast of Dreamcape's newest teleserye Love Thy Woman". ABS-CBN Entertainment. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  3. "Ruffa Gutierrez, balik-teleserye sa Love Thy Woman". ABS-CBN News. April 11, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  4. "Yam Concepcion, balik-teleserye sa Love Thy Woman". ABS-CBN News. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  5. "'I'm happy to be back': Xian Lim reunites with Kim Chiu in new series". ABS-CBN News. April 8, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  6. "Tim Yap set to make teleserye debut in new Kim-Xian series". ABS-CBN News. April 9, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  7. "Meet Richie Tan in real life in these charming photos". ABS-CBN News. March 19, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. "How Erich feels about working with Kim, Xian again". ABS-CBN News. April 8, 2019.
  9. Siazon, Rachelle (July 25, 2019). "Erich Gonzales backs out of her role in Love Thy Woman". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  10. "READ: ABS-CBN statement on special primetime programming amid Metro Manila quarantine". ABS-CBN News. March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  11. "No missing Coco on TV: 'Walang Hanggan' returning as afternoon serye". ABS-CBN News. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  12. "'The Legal Wife' at 'Got To Believe', muling magbabalik". ABS-CBN News. March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  13. Mendoza, Red (March 17, 2020). "Actor Christopher De Leon tests positive for Covid-19". The Manila Times. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  14. "Christopher de Leon's co-stars in self-quarantine after his COVID-19 diagnosis". CNN Philippines. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  15. Rivas, Ralf (May 5, 2020). "ABS-CBN goes off-air after NTC order". Rappler. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  16. "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano and other favorite Kapamilya shows return on cable and satellite TV". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  17. "Ratings: 'Make It With You' makes it as No. 1 show in time slot despite new rival". ABS-CBN News. February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
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