DAHIL SA PAG-IBIG: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Heavy, dramatic, brave and controversial- these are my first impressions of this drama.

Dahil sa Pag-ibig (lit. Because of Love) is a story about Alfred (Piolo Pascual) and Jasmin, pronounced Hasmin (Christine Reyes) whose love for its other are challenged by FAITH (because his a priest), FAMILY (because in the eyes of people they are siblings, although they are really not blood related), POLITICS (because their father is an aspiring politician), and BELIEFS (damn their beliefs!). The promo stills are clear that the story is all about how they are all willing to lose everything “BECAUSE OF LOVE” (yawn).  (Seriously, isn’t it enough that Jesus died because of God’s too much love for mankind?)  

The plot is the usual stuff—STARTS with childhood, then they’ll be separated because one has to do something, the camera span up then, when it comes back to the lead characters they are all grown up (But the parents never get old, duh?!). They’ll realize they love each other but loving is not that easy, they have to fight for it, possibly there will be kidnapping, then one important character will die, everyone cries during the burial, then a lot of crying till the screen is flooded with tears. The antagonist will be shattered at some point. And after all the evilness he had done, he will be imprisoned, be crazy or worst die (in good cases, he will JUST be forgiven)…then END, making us believe it is after all a HAPPY ENDING. Haha. When will these sequence of events change?

So I never expect too much about the story and the rationale of it. I just content myself watching how scenes will be executed.  And so far it is good. How can it be not if they are the veterans of this field?  But veterans as they are, I feel that I’m so familiar of them already that I’m not too interested at all. My praise is for the young actors who did a great job in establishing the character of the adult leads. 

The cinematography and acting here can’t just be ignored but it’s not just enough to keep me hooked like I am with Walang Hanggan, no matter how I’ve tried. But, I’m just perhaps a single soul who does cause the drama is doing well in the ratings. It soared to 31.1% (Kantar Media) last March 19, 2012 when the adult leads are introduced, while Legacy, the dramas rival program in GMA, strikes at only 16.2%. I guess it's just too early to judge.

Meanwhile, Alfred is bargaining with God that if He let Jasmin live, he will continue to become a priest.
If he will then become a priest, what will happen to their love for each other? Will they have a happily ever after?
And Oliver (Jericho Rosales), I’m curious as to how he will become this dramas antagonist. These are what keep me hanging. I hope that the resolutions be acceptable for my taste so I’ll never lose grip.

You can watch Dahil sa Pag-ibig every night in ABS-CBN’s primetime bida, 9:30PM after Walang Hanggan.

You can watch the trailer here: