''Biritera'' (International title: ''Diva'') is a 2012

Philippine television drama Philippine television drama, also known as ''teleserye'', Filipino telenovelas or P-drama, is a form of melodramatic, serialized, televised fiction in the Philippines. ''Teleserye'' is derived from two Filipino words: "tele", short for "''telebi ...

musical series broadcast by

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

. Directed by

Maryo J. de los Reyes Mario Margarito Jorolan de los Reyes (October 17, 1952 – January 27, 2018), simply known as Maryo J. de los Reyes, was a Filipino film and television director. He began his career in the 1970s. Death He died after suffering a heart attack on ...

, it stars

Dennis Trillo Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho (born 12 May 1981), known professionally as Dennis Trillo (), is a Filipino actor, model and recording artist. He is currently a contract star of GMA Network. He was known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the firs ...

, Angelika dela Cruz,

Glaiza de Castro Glaiza Castro Galura-Rainey (born January 21, 1988), known by her stage name Glaiza de Castro, is a Filipino actress, recording artist and advocate. She is recognized as the industry's "''Drama Royalty''" for her acting prowess and versatility ...

and Roseanne Magan in the title role. It premiered February 6, 2012 on the network's Telebabad line up replacing '' Munting Heredera''. The series concluded on May 18, 2012 with a total of 73 episodes. It was replaced by ''

Luna Blanca ''Luna Blanca'' is a 2012 Philippine television drama fantasy series broadcast by GMA Network. The series served as a sequel to the 2008 Philippine television series ''Luna Mystika''. Directed by Dominic Zapata, it stars Jillian Ward, Mona Lo ...

'' in its timeslot.

Cast and characters

;Lead cast *

as Andrei Marcelino * Roseanne Magan as Roseanne Abigail Marcelino Fuentebella * Angelika Dela Cruz as Remedios "Remy" Kapitolyo Fuentebella *

as Mikaela / Mikmik ;Supporting cast *

Ryan Eigenmann Ryan Richard Alatiit Eigenmann (; born July 22, 1977) is a Filipino actor. Early life Ryan Richard Alatiit Eigenmann was born on July 22, 1977. He is one of the third generation of the Mesa-Gil clan of actors. His grandparents are musician Ed ...

as Dalton "Mr. D" Dimaano *

Yul Servo John Marvin Cruz Nieto (born February 22, 1977), popularly known by his stage name Yul Servo Nieto or simply Yul Servo, is a Filipino actor and politician who is currently the vice mayor of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, since 20 ...

as Jerome Macapagal *

Ces Quesada Ces Quesada (; born June 13, 1958) is a Filipina actress and TV host. She is currently signed with GMA Network and ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Netw ...

as Simang Kapitolyo *

Rich Asuncion Richell Pacaldo Angalot Asuncion-Mudie (born January 22, 1989) is a Filipino actress who became the First Princess of '' StarStruck: The Next Level''. Asuncion was also First Runner-up of Binibining Pilipinas 2009. Biography and career Richell ...

as Josephine "Jo" Abesamis *

Gwen Zamora Gwenaelle Tasha Mae Agnese-Semerád better known as Gwen Zamora (born 10 August 1990) is a Filipina-French actress, model and former dancer in the Philippines. She was previously under GMA Network for six years until switching management to Viva ...

as Iris *

Neil Ryan Sese Neil Ryan Sese (born April 26, 1979) is a Filipino actor. He is currently working as an exclusive talent of GMA Network. Sese is best known for portraying Asval in the 2016 version of ''Encantadia''. Background Neil Ryan Sese was only seven y ...

as Eric Fuentebella *

Barbara Miguel Renerich Marl Ocon Jovenier (born May 15, 2004), better known by her stage name Barbara Miguel, is a Filipino actress who won the Best Actress in the 2013 Harlem International Film Festival The Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) is an ann ...

as Darling * Sweet Ramos as Barbie Tamondong * Scarlet as Mrs. Mylene Tamondong ;Guest cast * Jaya as Susie * Orlando Sol as Egay * Ken Chan as Popoy * Kiel Rodriguez as Miko * Patricia Ysmael as Beverly *

Kim Rodriguez Kim Jerami Empasis Rebadulla (born August 14, 1994), known professionally as Kim Rodriguez (; formerly Kim Komatsu), is a Filipino actress and model known for her role in ''Kakambal ni Eliana'' as a girl with a twin snake and in ''Strawberry L ...

as Gwen * Hiro Magalona as Teofi * Jamaika Olivarez as Kleng Kleng * Nomer Limatog Jr. as Miguelito * Tanya Gomez as Krising * Mary Roldan as Cecile * Myra Carel as Bevs * Moi Scarlet as Mrs. Tamondong *

Claudine Barretto Claudine Margaret Castelo Barretto (; born July 20, 1979) is a Filipino actress, singer, and entrepreneur. Popularly dubbed as “''The'' ''Optimum Star''” by various media outlets, Barretto has won 3 FAMAS Award including 2 Best Actress w ...

as Carmela Abesamis *

Jillian Ward Jillian Ward (; ; born Jhyllianne Wardë; February 23, 2005) is a Filipina actress, singer, and vlogger. She is known for playing the title role of Gertrudis "Trudis" Capili-Ferrer in GMA Network's '' Sine Novela'', ''Trudis Liit'', Donna Mar ...

as Louie May Imperial * Glenda Garcia as Marissa Marcelino *

Rachelle Ann Go Rachelle Ann Villalobos Go-Spies (born August 31, 1986) is a Filipina singer and actress. She began her career by participating in and winning several singing competitions, the first of which was in the long-running Philippine variety show ''E ...

as Lara *

Miguel Tanfelix Miguel Torrejos Tanfelix (born September 21, 1998) is a Filipino actor. Tanfelix received his breakthrough performance when he played the role Niño , a mentally challenged boy in the series '' Niño'' (2014). He is also known for the aftern ...

as teen Andrei * Romano Vasquez as Lito *

Bubbles Paraiso Pilar Angela D. Paraiso, or better known as Bubbles Paraiso (born July 24, 1984 in the Makati, Philippines), is a Filipino actress and the younger sister of actor Paolo Paraiso. She is currently seen on Kapamilya Channel Kapamilya Channel ...

as herself * Gerald Pizzaras as Paco Arcega *

Jan Marini Jan Marini Alano is an actress and singer from the Philippines. She started her showbiz career in Ang TV, ABS-CBN's teen-oriented gag/variety show in the early 1990s. As one of the resident singers of the show, Jan honed her talents resulting ...

as Mariel Arcega * Ernie Garcia as Mauro Fuentebella *

Evangeline Pascual Evangeline Louise Ancheta Pascual (born November 30, 1956) is a Filipino actress, artist, radio host and beauty queen who won Miss Republic of the Philippines 1973 and represented Philippines at Miss World 1973 where she placed first runner-up. ...

as Olivia Fuentebella *

Bettina Carlos Anna Bettina Christina Pineda Carlos-Eduardo (born December 25, 1987), known professionally as Bettina Carlos, is a Filipina actress and host. She started her career in GMA Network and a contract artist of GMA Network but later moved to rival s ...

as Clarissa * Chinggay Riego as Darling's mother

Reception

Ratings

According to

AGB Nielsen Philippines AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines, commonly called AGB Nielsen, is a market research firm in the Philippines specializing in broadcast media. AGB Nielsen conducts audience measurement of television ratings for certain areas in the Phili ...

' Mega Manila household television ratings, the pilot episode of ''Biritera'' earned a 24.8% rating. While the final episode scored a 29.9% rating.

Critical response

Both

and Angelika Dela Cruz's performances were praised by critics and audience saying that having accomplished leads in the persona of Trillo and dela Cruz in clean-cut bida roles helps greatly in forging a connection to the story this early. After his recent roles in TV and film had him taking on more ''maangas'', bad boy hero characters, it is a welcome change to see Trillo in a more good guy, older brother role. For [dela Cruz, this is her first opportunity for a long time to play as a heroine instead of an antagonist. And while she may be effective in villainous roles, dela Cruz has shown she is capable of much more. While Biritera may be a harmless family drama, it would be nice to see both Dennis Trillo and Angelika dela Cruz given great material, not to mention a promising and witty young cast. Though a simple premise, the first two weeks have shown Biritera can be a fully satisfying drama with opportunities for depth.

References

2012 Philippine television series debuts 2012 Philippine television series endings Filipino-language television shows GMA Network drama series Philippine musical television series Television shows set in the Philippines {{Philippines-tv-prog-stub