all about natutulog ba ang diyos?

(source: wikipedia)

INTRODUCTION

Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos? is the fourth installment of ABS-CBN to Sineserye Presents^[1]. It is based from the movie Natutulog Pa Ang Diyos in 1988. It’s rough translation in English is: “Is God Asleep?”.

Based on, “Natutulog Pa ang Diyos”, the original novel by Ruben R. Marcelino, the movie revolves around a young woman who was switched at birth. As such, what could have been a life of prosperity became a life of poverty. Meanwhile, the child who took her rightful grew up to be spoiled and irresponsible, but is secretly caught up in his feelings for her.

PLOT

Three people caught up in a love triangle, all with important relations to one another! Roxanne Guinoo plays Gillian, the rightful heiress of a wealthy couple, but was switched with Andrew, son of a driver and a maid. Jake Cuenca plays Andrew, who grows up to be irresponsible, but it turns out that he’s secretly in love with Gillian. On the other hand, Joross Gamboa is Mark, who adds to the confusion, as he is Andrew’s best friend, who also has feelings for the same girl.

CAST AND CHARACTERS 

• Roxanne Guinoo as Gillian Ramirez – Bernardo and Patria’s “supposed” eldest daughter. She grew up in poverty, but although she yearns for a better life, she wants to bring it upon herself, and not depend on other people. Disciplined and responsible, she is liked by Mike and Rose, her parent’s masters. Unfortunately, her parents don’t think too well of her, and treat her badly. Initially, she likes mark better than andrew.
• Jake Cuenca as Andrew Angeles – the only child of Mike and Rose. This spoiled brat always wants to be the center of attention, and will never hesitate to get back at those who stand in his way. The only person he turns to for advice is his best friend Mark. He tries to prove himself to his parents, but he always end up being compared to Gillian. (he’s not intelligent. gillian is.) As such, he tries to get back at her everytime. However, despite that, he harbors secret feelings for Gillian.
• Joross Gamboa as Mark Vilchez – a 19-year old who eventually falls for Gillian. He is Andrew’s best friend, who never fails to check Andrew when he’s being too arrogant. He loves Gillian so much that he even stands up to her against Andrew, although he can’t do the same when he’s in front of his mother.
• Dina Bonnevie as Rose Angeles – Andrew’s mother. She’s a supportive wife, yet she tries to keep her husband in check whenever he’s mad at their son Andrew. She loves Andrew so much, and she always gives him another chance to change, but she can’t explain why she has a certain fondness for Gillian.
• ‘Rosanna Roces as Patria Ramirez – Bernardo’s wife, and a former GRO. She never hesitates to lift a finger against Gillian, as she projects her anger and regret to her daughter. She’s not satisfied with her life, so she engages in various sidelines. Like her husband, her weakness is Andrew, as she’ll do everything for her eldest son.
• Matt Ranillo as Mike Angeles – Andrew’s father. Mike grew up in a rich family, but he was able to expand their business more due to his hard work. He treats his wife, Rose, as an equal, but as a father to Andrew, he’s rather strict, as he thinks his son is just wasting his life away. He favors Gillian more, although he can’t really pinpoint why.
• Ronnie Lazaro as Bernardo Ramirez, Mike and Rose’s driver. He doesn’t want to live in poverty, yet he doesn’t do anything to prevent it. All his life, he wished to be like his childhood friend Mike, who’s living a good life. Although he already has three kids, Gillian, Tina and Boy, he’ll always have a soft spot for Andrew, who’s actually his real son.
• Bing Pimentel as Emma Vilchez – Mark’s mother, who falls for Mike. She always pressures her son to do what she wants, and desperately wants to maintain their social status no matter what.
• Denise Laurel as Trish Crisostomo – a prim and proper girl from the upper class. She grew up with Mark, and eventually fell in love with him, as she realized that he’s the man of her dreams.
• Martin del Rosario as Boy Ramirez (patria’s third child)
• Mara Lopez as Tina Ramirez (patria’s second child)
• Minnie Aguilar as Minerva (nightclub owner, patria’s colleague when she was still a GRO)
• Paw Diaz as Carla (minerva’s daughter)
• Jessey Mendiola as Michelle (boy’s love interest)
• Basty Alcances as Young Boy
• Cheska Billiones as Young Tina
• Julijo Pisk as Young Andrew
• Nash Aguas as Young Mark
• Kaycee Aboloc as Young Gillian

THEME SONG

The theme song, “Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos” performed by Lani Misalucha, is a cover of the Gary Valenciano song. It was released by Universal Records on the compilation “Palabas.”

TRIVIA

• Initially, ABS-CBN announced that this would star Kris Aquino, Susan Roces and Kim Chiu. Eventually, the cast was changed. There are rumors that the Aquino-Roces-Chiu project is a separate soap and not a part of sineserye.

• The original novel and movie was entitled “Natutulog Pa Ang Diyos” (God is still sleeping). With the belief that God never sleeps, the staff asked permission from the original creator to make some changes in the storyline as well as the title to “Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?” (Is God sleeping?)

• The Sineserye’s main cast is a real life love triangle. Joross Gamboa (Mark) and Roxanne Guinoo (Gillian) used to be an item then they broke up in late 2006. Now, Roxanne is currently dating Jake Cuenca (Andrew).

• Due to the previous romantic relationship between Joross Gamboa and Roxanne Guinoo, controversy was created as to how the two would get along in the sineserye. The love triangle between the two and Jake Cuenca, who is believed to be dating Roxanne Guinoo, was exploited for publicity of the series.

• Joross Gamboa and Roxanne Guinoo, together with all the kids in the show, come from the same reality star search – Star Circle Quest.

• Dina Bonnevie and Rosanna Roces are known rivals in the business.

• Due to insistent public demand, ABS-CBN decided to move the show to 9:30 PM timeslot in Primetime Bida after Walang Kapalit. It was replaced by Margarita.^[2]

• A rewind was made by ABS-CBN on July 2, 2007 at 3:15 PM.

• When actress, Rosanna Roces, guested on ABS-CBN’s noontime show, Wowowee, she stated that Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos has been extended.
• In the movie, the name gillian was pronounced as gil-lian. In the tv series, jil-lian.

Original Plot of the movie

Everyone notices how different Andrew (Ricky Davao) and Gillian (Lorna Tolentino) looked from their respective sets of parents but no one really made a fuss about it. What is even more surprising is that the two never felt close with the families they grew up with. Instead, Gillian became more attached with Andrew’s parents (Ricky Belmonte and Marita Zobel) and Andrew felt the same about Gillian’s parents, Bernardo(Dante Rivero) and Patria (Gina Pareño). Little did they suspect that it was because Andrew and Gillian were switched at birth. Andrew’s real father, Bernardo, which was a poor family driver decided that Andrew would have a better life growing up with his rich bosses. So he made sure that only he and his wife Patria knows that he switched the two babies when the mothers both gave birth at a provincial hospital. No amount of pleading from Patria would make him change his mind. Out of frustration, Patria resorted to maltreating Gillian. The latter found comforting arms in Andrew’s mother, Rose (Marita Zobel). And later on with Mark, (Gary Valenciano) a rich suitor. Jealous at Gillian’s new found attention, Andrew decided to force himself on Gillian. An act which would lead to revelation of the secret of their parentage.

Original Cast and Characters

• Lorna Tolentino as Gillian Ramirez
• Ricky Davao as Andrew Angeles
• Gary Valenciano as Mark Vilchez
• Gina Pareño as Patria Ramirez
• Ricky Belmonte as Mike Angeles
• Tina Godinez as Tina Ramirez
• Michael Locsin as Boy Ramirez
• Dante Rivero as Bernardo Ramirez
• Marita Zobel as Rose Angeles