Walang Hanggan (International title: My Eternal) is a 2012 Philippine television drama romantic series broadcast by ABS-CBN. The series is based on the 1991 Philippine film Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, itself a loose adaptation of English novelist-poet Emily Brontë's 1847 novel Wuthering Heights. Directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Trina N. Dayrit and Jojo A. Saguin, it stars Coco Martin, Julia Montes, Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez. It aired on the network's Primetime Bida line up and worldwide on TFC from January 16 to October 26, 2012, replacing Nasaan Ka, Elisa? and was replaced by A Beautiful Affair. The series is streaming online on YouTube.
It became the first primetime series of ABS-CBN to win in its timeslot and lead all Philippine television programs in the national ratings throughout its entire run, airing its finale episode on October 26, 2012 and attaining its highest rating of 45.4% nationwide.
The series was the highest-rated program on the network's primetime block for the period of October 26, 2012 until Juan dela Cruz, also starred by Coco Martin, on February 21, 2013.
Contents
Plot summary
Cruz sisters Henya and Margaret live together with Joseph Montenegro in the fictional province of Olivarez. Henya sacrificed everything to give Margaret a better life. Around two decades later, Joseph and Margaret's son Marco Montenegro, the future heir of the Montenegro's wine business, develops feelings for Emily Cardenas, the daughter of an old worker in their hacienda. Marco gives Emily the Infinity Ring, representing "eternity," as a symbol of their love for each other. However, Margaret's schemes to ruin Emily's relationship with Marco prompts him to marry rich banker Jane Bonifacio, much to the detriment of Emily, who throws the ring away and vows revenge against the Montenegros. One night, Margaret and Henya had a heated misunderstanding about Joseph's love for Henya. Henya decides to leave the mansion so Margaret can live in peace.
Years after Joseph's death, laborer William Alcantara settles in Olivarez with his children Katerina, Onat, and Tomas. When Onat died from a deadly flu and the Montenegros migrate to the United States, William adopts a street boy named Daniel into the hacienda Alcantara, where Henya assumes her role as Daniel's adoptive grandmother. Daniel and Katerina become best friends and they gradually develop a very close relationship over the next several years. Tomas remains very resentful towards Daniel and has an addiction to gambling. Margaret, Marco, and Jane return home with their children Nathan and Johanna, who both become interested in Katerina and Daniel respectively. Unknown to everyone else, Emily returns to the country along with her assistant Miguel Ramos, as they begin investigating the Montenegros. After William dies of a severe heart attack, Tomas takes over the hacienda Alcantara with help from Margaret, and he succeeds in destroying Daniel's life. Nathan attends Katerina's college graduation despite not being a student. Meanwhile, Daniel and Henya confront Tomas, who accuses the former of financial theft. In his foolish and crooked anger, Tomas punishes Daniel by dragging him on horseback. Katerina is eventually forced to live with the Montenegros, where Nathan marries Katerina in the process. Daniel is fatally stabbed by Tomas and plunges down into the waterfalls, but is found alive by Emily and Miguel. Upon recovering, Daniel is heartbroken seeing Katerina and Nathan together and he agrees to live with Emily in Milan, Italy in order to become stronger. Emily tells Daniel about her life in Milan and she has flashbacks of working multiple jobs until she married a rich old man named Marcelo Guidotti.
Two years later, Emily and Daniel returns to the Philippines after learning that Nathan and Katerina are going to be married. However, Daniel fails to arrive in time to stop the wedding. The Guidottis eventually open their wine business to plan their own counter-strike against the Montenegros. Johanna learns the truth from Emily that she is adopted. Daniel and Katerina eventually realize that they still have feelings for each other, but Nathan is secretly watching over them. Henya tries to convince Marco and Emily that Daniel is their biological son. DNA testing confirmed positive results; however, due to his growing obsession of Emily, Miguel manipulates the results and secretly allies himself with Margaret. After the truth is eventually revealed, Daniel agrees to live in the Montenegro mansion to spend more time with Marco as his father, and Emily is reluctant to accept it. Margaret orders Miguel to separate Marco and Emily, but takes a nasty turn when Jane is seemingly killed in a plane bombing by Miguel's accomplice David Conde. With Margaret's reluctant help, Miguel manages to steal billions of money from the Guidotti Imports and the Bonifacio Bank to put the families into bankruptcy. Later on, Daniel and Miguel eventually confront each other, but Miguel flees with the money he stole and hides from the authorities. Daniel decides to leave the Montenegro mansion to take care of Emily and Henya.
Cast and characters
Main cast
Coco Martin as Daniel C. Guidotti†
Julia Montes as Katerina Alcantara-Guidotti†
Dawn Zulueta as Emilia "Emily" Cardenas-Guidotti/Montenegro
Richard Gomez as Marco Montenegro
Supporting cast
Susan Roces as Virginia "Henya" Cruz
Helen Gamboa as Margaret Cruz-Montenegro
Paulo Avelino as Nathaniel "Nathan" Montenegro
Melissa Ricks as Johanna Montenegro / Patricia Bonifacio
Joem Bascon as Tomas Alcantara
Rita Avila / Eula Valdez as Jane Bonifacio-Montenegro / Jean "Black Lily" Bonifacio
Nonie Buencamino as Miguel Ramos
Extended cast
Shamaine Buencamino as Luisa Alcantara
Ogie Diaz as Kenneth
Arlene Muhlach as Perla
John Medina as James Ocampo
Josh Ivan Morales as David Conde
Eda Nolan as Lorraine Delgado
Guest cast
Richard Yap as Henry de Dios
Nanding Josef as Ernesto
Menggie Cobarrubias as John Bonifacio
Olive Isidro as Edith Bonifacio
Froilan Sales as Hugo Rivera
Lui Manansala as Laarni Peralta
Arvin Gison as Jonathan "Onat" Alcantara
Fred Payawan as Luis Villareal
Dino Imperial as Jack
Ivan Dorschner as Katerina's debut party guest (18 Rose)
Patrick Sugui as Katerina's debut party guest (18 Rose)
DM Sevilla as Katerina's debut party guest (18 Rose)
Maichel Fideles as Katerina's debut party guest
Marion Gopez as Katerina's debut party guest
Piero Vergara as Katerina's debut party guest
Shey Bustamante as Katerina's debut party guest
Tricia Santos as Katerina's debut party guest and schoolmate
Manuel Chua as Tomas' friend
RJ Calipus as Tomas' friend
Marion dela Cruz as Tomas' friend
Jef-Henson Dee as Padrino
Special participation
Eddie Gutierrez as Joseph Montenegro
Joel Torre as William Alcantara
Spanky Manikan as Herman Cardenas
Yogo Singh as young Daniel
Dexie Daulat as young Katerina
Andrei Garcia as young Tomas
John Vincent Servilla as young Nathan
Yasmine Andrea Aguinaldo as Joanne Montenegro
EJ Jallorina as young Kenneth
Sheryl Cruz as young Henya
Ciara Sotto as young Margaret
Melissa Mendez as Hilda Cruz (Henya and Margaret's mother)
Mark Gil as Mr. Cruz (Henya and Margaret's father)
Official soundtrack
The drama's main theme song "Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan", composed by songwriter George Canseco, is performed by Filipino singer Gary Valenciano. The song was originally covered by Richard Reynoso as a theme song for the 1991 film Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit, starring Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta. The song was also covered by Zsa-Zsa Padilla and Ayegee Paredes for the 2001 teleserye Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, starring Claudine Barretto, Carlos Agassi, Luis Alandy, Mylene Dizon, and Ms. Gloria Romero
A second album titled Walang Hanggan: The Official Soundtrack Volume 2 was released with new songs including "Pangako" by Martin Nievera, "Sana Maulit Muli" by Ice Seguerra, and "Kahit Isang Saglit" by Juris. Another cover of the drama's theme song is sung by Nina.
Insert songs also include "Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?" by Gary Valenciano (from the 2008 album Rebirth) and "Kastilyong Buhangin" by Regine Velasquez (from the 1991 album Tagala Talaga). For the final ten episodes, unreleased songs include the orchestral versions of "Dadalhin" by Bryan Termulo and "Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan" by Gary Valenciano, both arranged by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ateneo Chamber Singers.
Production
Marketing
The first full-length trailer was released on December 17, 2011, via the drama-anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya.
From January 9 to 13, 2012, the cast members of the series appeared via the morning talk show Kris TV where they promoted the series. First to make an appearance were Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta, followed by the artists of the Walang Hanggan: The Official Soundtrack album. On January 11, Julia Montes, Melissa Ricks, Joem Bascon and Paulo Avelino promoted their latest drama. This was followed by a guest appearance of Helen Gamboa and Susan Roces on January 12. By January 13, Coco Martin, the series' lead actor who coincidentally is the talk show's most requested guest, gave a special appearance.
Gomez once again promoted the series by guesting in the noontime variety show Happy Yipee Yehey! on January 14, the same day of the series' advanced special screening held at SM Megamall, the screening was attended by many acclaimed artists and critics namely Gomez' wife Lucy Torres with Kris Aquino, Vice Ganda and Liz Uy. Also present in the said screening was My Binondo Girl's Richard Yap, Zulueta's husband Cong. Anton Lagdameo, and Garrie Concepcion.
A thanksgiving concert entitled "Walang Hanggang Pasasalamat" was staged on October 21, 2012, at the Araneta Coliseum. The said concert was also broadcast live on the same date on ABS-CBN's Sunday Best. The concert coincided with the show's final week on the air.
Merchandising
ABS-CBN took advantage of the drama's popularity to partner with local jeweler Karat World to produce an "infinity ring," a special ring shaped like intertwined infinity loops. The rings are available in 14-karat solid yellow gold, 14-karat solid white gold, and silver 925. Each ring also has an "infinity marking" and a 585-stamping "to signify its gold purity." They also released infinity necklaces and earrings.
Reruns
Reruns of Walang Hanggan are broadcast through Jeepney TV. On March 18, 2020, Dreamscape Entertainment announced that Walang Hanggan will have a rerun beginning March 23, 2020, on ABS-CBN's Kapamilya Gold afternoon block, weekdays at 2:30pm. It was a part of ABS-CBN's temporary programming changes due to the enhanced community quarantine done to lower the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, which made the network suspend the taping of its series.
However, this rerun abruptly ended after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN due to expired broadcast franchise.
Reception
Ratings
The series' premiere night drew with a 32.1% rating in its timeslot. The drama become the most talked-about topic online. According to a release from Kantar Media-TNS data, Walang Hanggan is the only Filipino drama of 2012 to have surpassed the 40% margin, registering a 41% ratings share on May 23, followed by 41.4% on June 15, and 44.7% on June 29. The series finale episode on October 26, 2012 drew a 45.4% nationwide audience share, becoming the country's second highest-rated final episode of all time since Philippine television switched to a nationwide TV ratings system in 2009.