7 reasons to watch 'First Yaya'

First Yaya is slated to air starting on Monday, March 15. The highly anticipated first TV series of GMA Network for 2021 is headlined by Sanya Lopez and Gabby Concepcion, and follows the fairytale-like story of an ordinary yet driven woman, Yaya Melody, and a man of power, President Glenn.

The show has been making the rounds on the internet as soon as the Kapuso actress was named as the network's top choice for the title role and after introducing her first-time pairing with the charming veteran actor. The mere idea that Sanya is finally breathing life into her first primetime lead role with no less than Gabby as her partner has been making netizens feel the #kilig and excitement about the show.

While much may have already been written about Sanya's first title role and her first team-up with Gabby, we rounded up a few more reasons why you should be tuning in every night and never miss out on First Yaya.

1. It highlights authenticity and vulnerability.

We may not know it but the beautiful things in life - may it be moments or relationships - are also moments of authenticity and vulnerability, and this is among the many values and lessons that First Yaya highlights.

For Sanya, she gets to show this by breathing life into a character that mirrors her genuine self.

She shares, “'Yung pagpasok ko sa rom-com, feeling ko ito talaga 'yung nakaka-excite na i-share sa kanila, na guys, marunong na ako mag-comedy nang dahil sa kasama ko at lalong-lalo na kay Direk LA. Siyempre, sobrang galing. Gusto ko kung paano hinihimay 'yung character ko dito ni Direk LA para lang maipasok sa akin si First Yaya, si Yaya Melody, 'yung katauhan ni Yaya Melody.

“Kasi si Yaya Melody dito ay very jolly. Sabi nga ni Direk LA, 'Maging totoo ka lang, ipakita mo lang 'yun sa kanila. Eto na, siya na si Yaya Melody.' Isa 'yun sa pinakana-excite ako. Pag laging umiiyak ako dito, hindi na iyak ng drama, iyak na 'to ng iyak dahil 'yun talaga 'yung nararamdaman ng isang tao.”

Meanwhile, Gabby emphasizes how their show teaches how true love may also mean taking risks and keeping your guard down.

He says, “Dito makikita 'yung vulnerability ng isang tao… na pag ma-in love ka sa isang tao, wala naman talaga ibig-sabihin 'yung posisyon. Doon mo makikita na pwedeng mahalin 'yung isang tao dahil siya 'yun. Hindi dahil sa may pera siya or meron siyang posisyon. It's all about relationships. Pag nag-click kayo, talagang wala nang magagawa 'yung iba kahit may intriga.”

2. It gives us a glimpse of the president's life.

While country leaders are considered public figures, a lot of things about them are actually kept in confidentiality. Through First Yaya, we are given a front-row seat to these private, real-life behind-the-scene moments of the life of the president and the first family.

To bring this portrayal close to reality, the production team of the Kapuso rom-com series immersed themselves in documentaries about life in the Malacanang as well as the undertakings of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). The staff as well as the cast members did a thorough research about the program's characters, and moreover, they consulted trusted resource persons who have firsthand knowledge on how it is to live in a presidential home.

3. It is a rom-com series, but it is also action-packed.

First Yaya will surely send us gushing at one moment and then laughing at an instant, but this rom-com series does not fall short of adrenaline-pumping scenes.

Pancho Magno and Thia Thomalla who portray members of the PSG illustrate the preparations they had to go through.

Pancho says, “Nag-firing kami para ma-practice 'yung stance, kung paano 'yung proper na paghawak ng hand gun, and of course nag-training din kami kung paano 'yung positioning, kung paano 'yung ginagawa ng mga PSG. So nanood kami ng iba't ibang [videos], nag-research kami about doon.

“Meron kaming scene ni Thia na kailangan namin na parang maypagka-jiu-jitsu / MMA / boxing so at least napaghandaan namin. And with the help of our stunt coordinator, si Mike and 'yung buong crew, buong staff, so nagawa namin siya nang mas malinis.”

Thia, who admittedly is very feminine, also amped her game to make sure to deliver along with her co-stars.

She shares, “May mga research kami, and there was also one time, nag-zoom kami ng mga security officer, nag-usap kami kung ano mga do's and don't's, 'yung mga na-research namin. Tapos personally, I tried working out regularly para hindi ako ganoon kapagod pagdating sa mga scenes na may action.”

4. It presents the stars of the next generation.

First Yaya enlists the stellar performances of veteran actors like Pilar Pilapil, Boboy Garovillo, and Sandy Andolong, but it also turns the spotlight on the promising young stars.

The show is the first teleserye acting break of Cassy Legaspi and JD Domagoso.

Cassy is the daughter of Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi while JD is the son of former matinee idol and now Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. The two are both children of popular and successful celebrities, and they are sure to deliver the same enthusiasm and professionalism as their parents' and more at the set of First Yaya.

Among the stars to watch for are also the laudable performances of Patricia Coma and Clarence Delgado.

5. It touches on different perspectives and dynamics of relationships.

First Yaya, despite being a light-hearted show, takes a deep dive into different kinds of relationships from which viewers can learn lessons they can apply in their everyday life.

Cassy explains, “This show is really for everyone, for all levels. It touches a little bit on politics but not so much to the point na maging controversial siya. It also talks about siyempre what we deal with like sa school or with especially family and friends, and relationships between people and sa yaya.

“This show shows you na I don't think you should degrade mga helpers, mga yaya. I think you should treat them as family.”

Pilar echoes the younger actress's thoughts, telling how people can also pick up a few lessons from her character, a manipulative and overly protective mother to the president.

She says, “She's very much against Melody whom her son fell in love with. So it's also a very good lesson probably for those mothers who belong to the aristocratic group, the aristocratic clan. Na siyempre 'yung mga aristocrats may mga levels 'yun as far as their mentality or their way of thinking is concerned. So ang tingin nila sa katulong eh katulong lang talaga. As a matter of fact, 'yung katulong noong unang panahon eh hindi kinakausap 'yan. Kinakausap 'yan pag inuutusan. 'Yun ang mentality ng aristocratic families.

“So ngayon, it's also a good lesson for them to realize that there's such a thing as equality among people, especially among the Filipinos… In our society, we have a class system, and we should be able to treat them the same way as we treat others.”

6. It has an impressive production value.

We don't have to itemize the show's budget to prove its high production value.

First Yaya doesn't cut corners in showing you the glamorous lifestyle of a president - with scenes including a chopper as well as a recreation of the presidential home. It also taped scenes at a historic five-star hotel in Manila, and It also brought its whole cast and crew to a lock-in taping in La Union:

While the production revealed that adjustments were made to abide by the new normal and health protocols, these changes won't be noticed while viewing the show.

Direk LA Madridejos explains, “Rather than compromising a scene dahil doon sa mga restrictions, we'd rather na gumawa ng mga eksena na mas makakaganda sa kuwento, iliko 'yung kuwento para hindi kinailangang mag-sacrifice ng eksena.

“We go for puso, 'yung puso noong kuwento. Parang dahil doon sa restrictions regarding sa bilang ng tao na kasama sa taping, 'yung mga ganyan, kung gagawa kami ng big scenes, mararamdaman ng tao na 'Ah ginawa 'to noong pandemic.' So pumunta kami sa ibang direction which is yung puso, 'yung puso noong characters, 'yung puso noong kuwento mismo na kung paano paiikutin nung mga relasyon, nung mga problema 'yung kuwento ni Yaya Melody at ni President (Glen).

“Basically 'yun ang naging strategy, na kailangan maging filial 'yung kuwento, about family, about relationships, about sacrifices.”

Furthermore, the program features big names in showbiz in guest roles. These include the likes of Boots Anson-Roa, Tommy Abuel, Andre Paras, and Jean Garcia.

7. It drives the pandemic blues away.

First Yaya may have been conceptualized before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the program guarantees to rid its audiences of the stress and anxieties of the present time.

Direk LA reveals to intentionally exclude the health crisis in the narrative to bring joy and entertainment to the Filipinos.

He says, “Hindi na namin tinackle 'yung pandemic. Hindi na kami nagpunta doon kasi the idea is isang taon na 'yung lockdown, isang taon tayong na-stress, isang taon tayong nanibago doon sa normal. So time nating magpasaya, magpangiti. So kung may mapapangiti kaming audience sa gagawin namin doon sa First Yaya, sobrang enough na na reward for us. Makalimutan lang noong mga nanonood na habang nanonood sila ng First Yaya, makalimutan nila na may pandemic, mawala muna sila sa reality na 'yun, mapangiti sila ni Yaya Melody, ni President Glen, sobrang okay na sa amin.”

Catch the world premiere of First Yaya on Monday, March 15! Indulge yourself with its full trailer in the video above and get to know its characters in the gallery below:

Viewers abroad can also watch the series via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.