GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Reality series 'Manila Matriarchs' to show lives of opulent and influential Pinays
_2024_09_02_15_50_03.jpg)
When exploring the lives of the affluent from around the globe, we encounter familiar reality shows, such as "The Real Housewives," "Bling Empire," and "Selling Sunset" in the United States, "Dubai Bling" in the United Arab Emirates, "Singapore Social" in Singapore, and "Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives" in India.
Soon, we'll have a new addition to this list: "Manila Matriarchs" from the Philippines, a series that promises a unique and raw perspective on the rich Filipinas.
But is the Philippines – or the world – ready for this kind of content from our side of the world?
The Philippines is not exactly a top-of-mind country when it comes to affluence, but that doesn't necessarily mean that our nation lacks wealthy personalities influential enough to be the trailblazers in that regard.
In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, "Manila Matriarchs" producer Cece Asuncion said it's his dream to produce a show representing a different angle of the Philippine society, where Filipinas' vibrant, lush, and prestigious lives take center stage.
Set to be an eight-part unscripted reality series, "Manila Matriarchs" will follow the stories of four Filipinas as they navigate motherhood, sisterhood, careers, love, social standing, and the pursuit of happiness in different parts of the Philippines and the world.
"To this day, I meet people who think we [Filipinos] live on trees or we're uneducated, which is far from the truth," Cece said.
"I think these stories should be told because there's not a singular way to represent an entire nation," he added.
Cece said not all Filipinas are looking for foreigners to marry, like many assume after watching Rose Vega in the series "90 Day Fiancé."
"Hindi lahat naghahanap ng AFAM (Assigned Foreigner to Manila) para maiahon ang pamilya natin," he said, adding most representation of the Philippines and of Filipinos are based on poverty.
"I'm so tired of being in America, and all the stories told about Filipinos are about suffering."
Cece also said how some Filipinos didn't need to fly out of the country to turn their lives around for the better.
"Those are the types of stories that I want to tell," he said.
Meet the cast
In selecting the cast of "Manila Matriarch," Cece, who handpicked Karylle Tatlonghari-Yuzon, Myrza Sison, Joanna Preysler-Francisco, Trisha Bantigue-Tsao, said, "It's just a matter of who's the most open."
"As a reality TV producer, the stories you have are only just as good as how much they trust you," he said.
"It's really not about their bank accounts or how affluent they are," he added. "And it helps that the four of them are good friends off-camera."
Karylle, best known as a mainstay host of the Filipino noontime show "It's Showtime," is the daughter of veteran singer and actress Zsa Zsa Padilla and the late Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari. She is also known as the original Sang'gre Alena in "Encantadia."
A former top editor at Summit Media, who handled the likes of Cosmopolitan Philippines, Marie Claire, and Spot.ph, Myrza is a Palanca awardee who now is making a name for herself as a motivational speaker, podcast host, and content creator. Previously a fashion model, she's not done reinventing herself, as Myrza has just authored a book, the forthcoming "Join Lang Nang Join!"
Joanna is an entrepreneur born in the Philippines and raised in San Francisco. She works in the fashion business as a designer, supplier, and owner of several businesses. After her first marriage, she is now happily married to Raul Francisco.
Trisha is a Filipino-American tech entrepreneur who is the CEO and co-founder of Queenly, a startup based in San Francisco, now known as one of the largest marketplaces for formalwear. In 2022, she was named among Forbes's 30 under 30 list.
"Manila Matriarchs" will tell the stories of these four women beyond the heavily expected "drama" from a reality show.
"When you put four powerful women together who are very astute with how they think, things are bound to happen," Cece said.
"It's more than just the fights, though," he added. "What I really want to show is that no matter where you are in the spectrum of riches, we all want the same thing.
Why women? Why Pinays?
Growing up surrounded by many women, Cece said producing a reality show on ladies, specifically Pinays, is a theme long coming for him.
"To see Filipinas be in that space, it doesn't seem like it's happening anytime soon, so I figured I'm just going to do my own thing," he said.
Cece said it's about time the world gets to know more about the distinct personalities and humors of a Pinay through "Manila Matriarchs."
"Women are stronger; that's just how I see it," he said. "There's always an extra page that women have to go through, like giving birth, raising the child, being a good mom, sister, and a friend, and often, those things are the most interesting bits."
When asked for a little teaser of what the viewers should watch out for in "Manila Matriarchs," Cece said, "There's a lot of talk about the vagina."
As for the rest, you'll have to wait until the last quarter of the year or the early months of 2025 for the official release of the Filipino docuseries.
As of writing, the streaming platform for "Manila Matriarchs" is still under wraps, so keep your eyes peeled!
—MGP/LA, GMA Integrated News
