Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan...
from Manila Bulletin Online

*article posted in the R/C Cyberfriends message board by Sher, 03.25.01

A new teleserye over ABS-CBN 2 starts today, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. Entitled 'Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,' the drama series is topbilled by Claudine Barretto. After the toprating series 'Saan Ka Man Naroroon' (which ended last Friday), Claudine once more is put to test in the new haunting project.

“Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan” is the Channel 2’s second teleserye project, the first being “Pangako sa ‘Yo.”

We are impressed by the big cast of the new teleserye. Claudine has a bevy of leading men: Carlos Agassi, Troy Montero, Bernard Palanca, Victor Neri, John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Alandy.

The teleserye also features veterans Gloria Romero, Boots Anson–Roa, Robert Arevalo, Ronaldo Valdez, Chat Silayan, Tetchie Agbayani, Spanky Manikan and Jaime Fabregas. The younger talents in the cast include Mylene Dizon, Carol Banawa, Shaina Magdayao, Angela Velez, Ena Garcia, Karla Estrada, Don Laurel, Justine Cuyugan, Jojit Lorenzo, Shamaine Centenera and Eugene Domingo.

Banking on production gloss and technical mastery that only the Philippines’ largest network can deliver, “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan” takes the creative step of telling not just one but two stories, spanning two vastly different time periods, at the same time.

“Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan” opens in Bulacan in 1912, where the town’s President Municipal, Don Teodoro (Ronaldo Valdez) has just announced the betrothal of his eldest son Alfonso (Bernard Palanca) to the lovely Angelina (Claudine Barretto), who was persuaded to agree to the engagement by her mother, Consuelo (Tetchie Agbayani) in order to free her father, Sebastian (Spanky Manikan), a bandido accused of killing an American supporter. Despite agreeing to the marriage, however, Angelina has one little secret: Her heart really belongs to another man, Alfonso’s brother, Benedict (Carlos Agassi), a sensitive musician who was also Angelina’s childhood sweetheart.

The action then flashes forward to the present day, where another betrothal is being announced as prosperous couple Norberto (Robert Arevalo) and Corazon (Boots Anson–Roa) oversee the engagement party for their daughter Angeline (Claudine Barretto) and Hector (Troy Montero), the handsome son of Menardo (Jaime Fabregas), one of Norberto’s business associates. As an engagement gift, Angelina’s parents buy her and Hector a rest- house in Bulacan—the same one where Angelina and Alfonso were affianced all those years ago!

But what threads bind the present to that distant past? Only one witness remains: Lola Mameng (Gloria Romero), the house’s current caretaker and the keeper of a mysterious locket that may be the key that unlocks the complicated story between Angeline, Alfonso and Benedict.

“This is my dream cast,” says director Wenn Deramas, who has worked with Claudine on the two series that helped launch her as one of the leading drama actresses of her generation: “Mula sa Puso” and “Saan Ka Man Naroroon.” Executive producing “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,” which is based on a 1980 serialized komiks novel by Vincent Kua, Jr. entitled “Huwag Kang Lumuha, Gabing Mapanglaw,” is Mae Santos, who also served as EP on “Saan Ka Man Naroroon.” Ricky Lee is “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan’s” creative manager, while input on Philippine History was provided by consultants from the UP College of Arts and Letters. Deo Endrinal serves as “Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan’s” creative consultant.

Two Production Designers were hired for this intricate production, with Manny Morfe concentrating on the opulence of 1912 Philippines, while Ronnie Cruz provides an elegant look for the modern–day scenes. To distinguish the visual appeal of each of the time periods, the 1912 are was lit by cinematographer Joe Tutanes, with Boy George Alcancia serving as lighting director for the present–day stories.

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