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Every night at half past 9, no one and nothing can distract Kara David. The multi-awarded broadcast journalist has faithfully dedicated her weeknights to watching Owe My Love since it aired on February 15, 2021, and she proudly admits she hasn't missed an episode of the Kapuso rom-com series since.

“I don't miss an episode at alam 'yan ng mga katrabaho ko na pagdating ng 9:30 p.m., hindi n'yo ako pwedeng gambalain. Any zoom interview, whatever, 'wag n'yo akong kakausapin 'pag 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. kasi nanonood ako ng Owe My Love tapos hindi ako magagambala. So kung may kailangan akong lutuin, whatever, for the next day, lulutuin ko na 'yan before 9:30 p.m. or after 10 p.m. Kasi 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. is Owe My Love.”

The first few times Kara became an avid TV viewer was almost a decade ago, back when GMA Network was airing the epic-serye Amaya (2011 - 2012) and the gay-themed drama series My Husband's Lover (2013). Now, Kara is once again hooked, and she has the most insightful reasons why she fell in love with Owe My Love.

Start

According to Kara, she began watching the series simply out of curiosity.

“Nagustuhan ko lang 'yung concept ng isang barangay na kasi 'yung setting ng Owe My Love ay parang after the pandemic na eh. 'Yung setting nung story is after the pandemic tapos may isang barangay na baon sila sa utang. So parang nagustuhan ko lang 'yung concept na parang hindi siya 'yung the usual mga drama or mga comedy na medyo predictable. Parang iba 'yung setting niya.

“Sabi ko, 'Magwo-work kaya ito?' So I was very skeptical sa totoo lang noong una kasi parang sabi ko, 'Is this going to work?' na parang, 'The story is about a barangay na baon sa utang?' Parang may pagka-docu 'yung peg niya. Parang sabi ko, 'Magwo-work kaya ito for a comedy show?'”

While she was doubtful at first, she also saw Owe My Love like a game and she enjoyed discovering the easter eggs that she would spot here and there as the story progressed.

“Mas concerned ako noong una sa little things. Ako as a writer, natutuwa ako na ang creative nung pag-iisip nila ng pangalan, apelyido ng mga characters, and even the places… Na-hook ako sa kanya 'yung first few episodes niya because I was trying to figure out the meaning behind their names, 'yung mga ganun. Kasi ang dali namang mag-isip ng mga kung ano-anong fake names, 'di ba? Pero parang pinag-isipang mabuti 'yung mga pangalan ng tao, 'yung characters nila. Tapos eventually, nung natuwa na ako doon, na-hook na ako kasi parang it's like a game for me, pinanood ko na siya tapos I fell in love with Doc Migs, literally. Joke lang. (laughs) Ang gwapo kasi ni Benjamin Alves!”

Middle

From being a little skeptical about Owe My Love, Kara became one of its devoted fans. She credits the show's coherent story-telling and the cast members' effective portrayal of their characters.

“Parang pakiramdam ko, talagang ang nagdala talaga sa series, una, maganda 'yung concept, tapos consistent 'yung concept. Consistent siya from start to finish. Hindi siya humihiwalay doon sa original concept. So I think the concept was very consistent. It's new, it's consistent. But more than that, the actors really gave life to the characters."

Kara commends Lovi Poe, Benjamin Alves, and Winwyn Marquez for breathing life into people far from their characters in real life. Lovi is a fashionista, unlike Pacencia "Sensen" Guipit. Benjamin is not a medical professional like Doc Migs Alcancia. And Winwyn is the exact opposite of the scheming Trixie Gibs.

She also applauds the other characters, including the natural performances of Buboy Villar and Kiray Celis, the methodical acting of Leo Martinez, the comical banters of Jelai Andres and Jon Gutierrez, and the little funny vignettes starring Mahal.

“I think 'yun 'yung magic ng Owe My Love eh. Parang pakiramdam mo totoong characters sila, hindi sila masyadong mataas na impossible. Pakiramdam mo may kilala kang Mema Eps, may kilala kang Mang Oryo, may kilala kang Aling Coring, may kilala kang Lolo Badong. Meron kang crush na Doc Migs, may ganyan. Parang pakiramdam mo may na-meet ka nang ganung klase ng tao. Feeling mo may Sensen ka nang na-meet once in your life, or baka once in your life, naging Sensen ka rin or naging Trixie ka rin."

Kara believes real-life versions of the Owe My Love characters exist not only because the actors are convincing but because the show attempted to discuss big and small issues that you can find in everyday life. This includes Mang Oryo's gambling addiction, Jenny Rose's self-esteem anchored on the number of her social media followers and their likes, and the dire financial situations of many households buried in debt.

“The series is not just a love story between Sensen and Doc Migs. Sinubukan nilang mag-inject ng real issues na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kabayayan dito sa Pilipinas.

“Totoo, totoong-totoo siya, hindi siya gawa-gawa. I know that this sitcom, this series is fictional pero it's based on real people. It's based on real issues. And natuwa ako. Natuwa ako na nag-try silang mag-inject ng ganung klaseng mga issues kasi hindi totoo 'yung sinasabi na porke 'comedy lang 'yan' ay wala ka nang matututuhan. Hindi. Sabi ko nga eh, kahit anong bagay, kahit pa 'yan pagkain, kailangan laging may sustansya. Whether it's mababaw, it's malalim, whether it's short, it's long, kailangan laging merong kahit anong matututuhan. Kailangan laging may maibabaon 'yung viewers.”

End

It's been 16 weeks since Owe My Love captured audiences here and abroad, and Kara remains hopeful that the series will continue to work its magic on its final week.

“Siyempre ako gusto ko magkatuluyan si Doc Migs at saka si Sensen but ayaw ko ng fairytale ending. Gusto ko sana may ending na matutulungan nila 'yung barangay nila kasi parang ang pangit naman kung 'yung mga Guipit lang ang magtatagumpay. 'Yung premise ng Owe My Love ay isang barangay na baon sa utang. Meron kayang paraan na gagawin si Doc Migs at saka si Sensen para hindi na mameligro 'yung Barangay Petsa de Peligro?

“Something more noble, 'yun. Kasi ito tinuro 'to sa akin ng nanay at tatay ko na, 'Love is not looking at each other. It's looking towards the same direction in achieving the same goals in life.' And pakiramdam ko naman si Doc Migs 'tsaka si Sensen, pareho sila ng goals in life na mapagmalasakit sa kapwa. So sana more than just loving each other, sana 'yung love nila ma-share din nila doon sa buong barangay nila para hindi lang sila ang masaya at hindi na mameligro 'yung Barangay Petsa de Peligro.

“Cliché, ang gusto mo talaga ay magkatuluyan sila tapos maparusahan si Divina at saka si Trixie, 'yung ganun. I mean that's the usual ending that you want, 'yun 'yung 'happy ending' na tinatawag pero ewan ko, baka ma-surprise ako… Nagulat ako doon sa ibang twists eh, so surprise me.”

Catch the final week of Owe My Love this Monday 'til Friday, 9:35 p.m. on GMA Telebabad!

Keep shipping Sensen and Doc Migs, and find out why they make a lovable pair in the gallery below:

Also get to know the rest of the characters of Owe My Love here: