''Juanita Banana'' is a Philippine

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

created by Pablo S. Gomez. It stars Binibining Pilipinas 2009-Universe,

Bianca Manalo Pamela Bianca Ramos Manalo (born November 28, 1987) is a Filipina actress and beauty pageant titleholder. She was the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2009 winner, and represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2009, but she was unplaced. In ...

in the title role. It aired on

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast broadcast network, network tha ...

from October 25, 2010, to February 18, 2011, replacing ''

Rosalka ''Rosalka'' is a 2010 Philippine drama starring Empress Schuck in the title role along with Matt Evans and Felix Roco. The series aired on ABS-CBN's ''Hapontastic'' afternoon block from May 17, 2010, to October 22, 2010, replacing ''Magkano an ...

'' and was replaced by ''

Precious Hearts Romances Presents ''Precious Hearts Romances Presents'' is a 5-day Philippine program broadcast on ABS-CBN. It mainly focuses on adaptations of the best selling paperbacks distributed by company holder ''Precious Hearts Romances''. Its first run was from May 4, ...

Mana Po ''Mana Po'' () is a Philippine romantic-drama comedy TV series aired by ABS-CBN. It is the 14th installment of the '' Precious Hearts Romances Presents'' series. It aired from February 21, 2011, to April 1, 2011, replacing '' Juanita Banana'' ...

''.

Overview

1968 film

''Juanita Banana'' had a movie adaptation in 1968, starring

Amparo Muñoz Amparo Muñoz Quesada (Vélez-Málaga, 21 June 1954 – Málaga, 27 February 2011) was a Spanish actress, model and beauty queen who won the Miss Universe 1974 competition in Manila, Philippines, being the first and only Spaniard titleholder in ...

as Juanita, Pepito Rodriguez, the late

Ricky Belmonte Jesus Velez Cruz (; December 24, 1946 – October 3, 2001), better known by his stage name Ricky Belmonte, was a Filipino actor, popular during the 1960s as one of Sampaguita Pictures' talents. Personal life Belmonte was born as Jesus Velez Cru ...

German Moreno German Molina Moreno (; October 4, 1933 – January 8, 2016), also known as Kuya Germs ( or ) and dubbed as "The Master Showman", was a Filipino television host, presenter, actor, comedian, talent manager, producer, writer, and director. Early ...

and

Bella Flores Remedios Papa Dancel (February 27, 1929 – May 19, 2013), commonly known as Bella Flores, was a Filipina actress. She was best known for her "iconic" portrayals of film villains. She is popularly referred as the original “Queen of Kontrabida ...

which was produced by Pablo S. Gomez.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343874/ Juanita Banana (1968) on IMDB A young woman tries to catch a teardrop from a banana tree's heart believing that it gives her magical powers but she gets the fascination of a dwarf prince who uses his own magic to grant her every wish.

Cast and characters

Villa Family

as Juanita Villa *

Lito Pimentel Joselito Pimentel (born May 27, 1963 in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Province), known professionally as Lito Pimentel, is a Filipino film and television actor in the Philippines. His uncle is the late game show host Pepe Pimentel. Early life an ...

as Val Villa *Trina Legaspi as Daldit Villa *Aaron Junatas as Bubwit Villa *Isay Alvarez as Belen Villa

Buenaventura Family

Rodjun Cruz Rodolfo Othello Cruz Ilustre, Jr. (born October 10, 1987), known professionally as Rodjun Cruz (), is a Filipino actor, dancer and singer. He is the brother of fellow actor and dancer Rayver Cruz. Biography Cruz started as a host, together wit ...

as Joaquin Buenaventura * Dulce as Donya Digna Buenaventura *

Lauren Young Lauren Anne Young (born November 8, 1993), simply known as Lauren Young, is a Filipino-American actress, singer, and model. She is the younger sister of actress and Miss World 2013 Megan Young. Biography Career Young was one of the 20 new tal ...

as Sunny Rose Buenaventura *

Liza Lorena Elizabeth Ann Jolene Luciano Winsett (born October 31, 1949), known professionally as Liza Lorena, is a Philippine actress. She was a First Runner-Up in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant in 1966. Career Lorena was a flight stewardess (for PAL domestic ...

as Donya Cristina *

Roy Alvarez Leandro Delantar Alvarez (March 23, 1950 – February 11, 2014), better known by his screen name Roy Alvarez, was a Filipino actor, director and screenwriter for film, television and theater in the Philippines. Biography He was born on March ...

as Don Arnulfo Buenaventura

The Dwarfs

Matt Evans Matthew Nicolas Evans (born October 22, 1986) is a Filipino actor who rose to prominence after appearing in Filipino soap operas '' Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko'', '' Tanging Yaman'' and '' Rosalka''. Evans previously compet ...

as Prinsipe Rikitik *Carlos Morales as Haring Bradpitik *Kalila Aguilos as Reyna Sirikit *Joma Labayen as Ngititik *David Chua as Walastik *Lui Villaruz as Pepetik

Supporting cast

*Bern Josep "Bekimon" Persia as Mario Dimaguiba *

Rey "PJ" Abellana Reynante Hofileña Abellana (; born September 2, 1962), professionally known as Rey "PJ" Abellana, is a Filipino actor who is best known for his portrayal as PJ in the Philippine TV series ''Anna Liza'' in the 1980s. He married Rea Reyes, his co ...

as Boy Dimaguiba *

Katya Santos Katya Santos (born 1981/1982) is a Filipino actress and model. She started her career on the Philippine television series '' Ang TV'' and ''Oki Doki Doc'' at the age of 13. Since then she has become a sex symbol in the Philippine cinema having s ...

as Margaux Mamaril *Bayani Casimiro Jr. as Benjo *

Martin del Rosario Martin Miguel Mangay del Rosario (born November 25, 1992) is a Filipino actor and model who is known for his portrayal of Norberto Matias in the 2011 drama series ''Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin'', as Severino Monzon in the TV adaptation of '' Pintad ...

as Chester *Raye Bacquirin as Thelma

Special participation

Miles Ocampo Camille Tan Hojilla (born May 1, 1997), known professionally as Miles Ocampo, is a Filipino actress, model, writer, and singer. A former mainstay in the kiddie gag show ''Goin' Bulilit'', she is a member of Crown Artist Management, a talent age ...

as Young Juanita Villa *

CJ Navato Christianne Jose B. Navato (born September 13, 1996) is a Filipino actor, dancer and singer under ABS-CBN's Star Magic. He made his first television appearance at the age of seven ever since joining ABS-CBN's talent search '' Star Circle Quest: ...

as Young Joaquin Buenaventura *Yong An Chiu as Young Mario * Bea Basa as Young Daldit Villa

References

{{ABS-CBN Adaptations (Local Films) Philippine comedy television series ABS-CBN drama series 2010 Philippine television series debuts 2011 Philippine television series endings Live action television shows based on films Television shows based on comics Filipino-language television shows Television shows set in the Philippines