Born for You is a 2016 Philippine musical drama television series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Directed by Onat A. Diaz, Jon S. Villarin, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Jerome C. Pobocan and Darnel Joy R. Villaflor, it stars Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona. It aired on the network's Primetime Bida line up and worldwide on TFC from June 20 to September 16, 2016, replacing The Story of Us and was replaced by Magpahanggang Wakas in Till I Met You's timeslot.
An ancient Japanese myth tells the story about the Red String of Fate, it's when two people with connecting red strings are destined to meet and fall in love. A young hopeless romantic and a Celebrity Heartthrob who share the same love for music find themselves tangled up in their shared past and their connecting red string of fate.
The show ended on September 16, 2016, with a live concert finale held at the Kia Theatre, with a total of 65 episodes and it was replaced by Magpahanggang Wakas, but the schedule time is after FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, while Till I Met You took over Born for You's timeslot.
The series is streaming online on YouTube.
Contents
Plot
Sam Kazuko (Janella Salvador) is an aspiring Filipino singer who grew up in Japan. A hopeless romantic, she believes in the concept of Red string of fate, a Japanese Belief which says that an invisible red string connects a person to their destined soulmate. On the other hand, Kevin Sebastian (Elmo Magalona), a popular teen heartthrob in the Philippines and son of an OPM icon Mike Sebastian (Ariel Rivera), who popularized the song "Born For You", doubts the authenticity of love and destiny, because of the complicated relationship of his parents. Their common love for music is what brings Sam and Kevin together, but it also becomes an obstacle to their budding romance. Sam's father, Buddy (Bernard Palanca), composed the song "Born For You" for his wife, Cathy (Vina Morales), but Marge (Ayen Munji-Laurel), the daughter of the country's richest record label owner, stole the song and gave it to Mike in hopes of saving his music career. Buddy confronted Marge, and this resulted in an accident which caused Buddy's death. Following the death of Buddy, Cathy becomes an OFW in Japan in order to support Sam and her mother, Caring (Gina Pareño). She then meets a Japanese bonsai maker who offers to marry her so that she can bring Sam to Japan. As fate would have it, Kevin goes to Japan to promote his new single for his new album. There, Sam meets Kevin as they bump into each other in the Shibuya crossing. Kevin fell in love at first sight with Sam and pursues to know her even more. Kevin and Sam grows closer as Sam helps out as Kevin's translator. When it was time for Kevin to go back to the Philippines, he tells Sam he hopes to see her again. After Kevin goes back to the Philippines, Sam decides she wants to go back to the Philippines to be a singer. In the Philippines, Sam gets a job as a "Singing Delivery Girl" where she delivers flowers and sings as well.
Cast and characters
Main cast
Janella Salvador as Samantha "Sam" P. Reyes / Sam Kazuko
Elmo Magalona as Kevin M. Sebastian
Vina Morales as Catherine "Cathy" Pelayo-Reyes
Ariel Rivera as Michael "Mike" Sebastian
Ayen Munji-Laurel as Margaret "Marge" Marquez-Sebastian
Gina Pareño as Caridad "Lola Caring" Pelayo
Freddie Webb as Ralph Marquez
Supporting cast
Kyline Alcantara as Chloe M. Sebastian
Ogie Diaz as Desmond
Francis Magundayao as Allan
Makisig Morales as Jepoy
Ysabel Ortega as Niña
Neil Coleta as Patrick
JV Kapunan as Mix
Jimboy Martin as Joms
Alfred Alain as Funky
Katya Santos as Tess
DJ Durano as Leonard
Jett Pangan as Marcus
Paolo O'Hara as Boogie
Joj Agpangan as Mica
Smokey Manaloto as Jimmy
Michelle Madrigal as Rodessa
Guest cast
Ashley Sarmiento as young Sam Reyes Kazuko
Richmont Padayao as young Kevin Sebastian
Bernard Palanca as Salvador "Buddy" Reyes
Niña Dolino as Racquel
Nyoy Volante as Mon
Erik Santos as himself
Karylle as herself
Jhong Hilario as himself
Teddy Corpuz as himself
Raikko Mateo as Boogie Jr.
Diego Loyzaga as himself
Loisa Andalio as herself
Negi as himself
DJ Chacha Balba as herself
Kit Thompson as Martin Gonzales
Richard Yap as himself
Boy Abunda as himself
Production
The project was announced on November 26, 2015. Janella Salvador was cast in the female lead role, while Elmo Magalona signed a two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. Acting workshops were held the following days for Magalona and Salvador to "break the ice" and form their "chemistry." Casting began the following month, and Onat Diaz (who previously directed And I Love You So) was hired to direct. The drama is Ayen Munji-Laurel's first teleserye project in ABS-CBN, as well as Vina Morales and Ariel Rivera's reunion project three years after Maria Mercedes. Filming for the drama started in March 2016, shooting some scenes in Japan for the pilot week.
Ariel Rivera's character in the afternoon drama Doble Kara was killed off to give way for this project.
Reruns
The show began airing re-runs on Jeepney TV from October 10, 2021 to March 20, 2022; December 28, 2024 to March 9, 2025 and from June 29 to September 25, 2026.