''Anna Luna'' was an afternoon

Philippine The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

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 ...

which 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 November 27, 1989 to September 30, 1994. The series was the longest Philippine drama series on ABS-CBN until 2022 when ''

FPJ's Ang Probinsyano ''FPJ's Ang Probinsyano'' (lit. ''FPJ's The Provincial Man''; abbreviated as ''FPJAP'' and internationally known as ''Brothers'') is a 2015 Philippine action drama television series under ABS-CBN Entertainment replacing ''Nathaniel''. Bas ...

'' surpassed it. Anna Luna was transferred to RPN from October 3, 1994 to September 29, 1995. ''Anna Luna'' made a comeback during the glory days of

Philippine 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 "''telebis ...

and became a contemporary for some other series like ''

Mara Clara ''Mara Clara'' is a Philippine drama television series on ABS-CBN, which aired from August 17, 1992 to February 14, 1997, replacing ''Sebya, Mahal Kita'' and was replaced by ''Esperanza''. The series stars Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes. It wa ...

'', '' Agila'' and '' Valiente''.

Plot

Separated from her mother after an accident at sea, Anna Luna is forced to live in the city with her estranged grandmother, Doña Martina Dominguez. Anna Luna is unwanted in the Dominguez mansion. To the old woman, she is a constant reminder of her daughter's disobedience by marrying a poor man. To a greedy aunt and an irksome cousin, she is a threat to the inheritance.

Cast and characters

Main cast

* Margarita Fuentes as Anna Luna D. Tecson / Anna Luna D. Corpuz *

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 ...

as Arnulfo Corpuz *

Melissa Mendez Melissa Mendez (; born July 27, 1964) is a Filipina film and TV actress. Mendez was nominated for a Best Actress FAMAS Award for the film ''Kalakal'' (2008). Mendez produced an independent movie, ''Hilot'' (2009) with Empress Schuck. It was dire ...

as Emily Dominguez-Tecson / Pilar

Supporting cast

* Suzanne Gonzales as Elvira Dominguez * Charmi Benavidez as Claire Corpuz * Joanne Miller as Eunice Corpuz * Wilma Dela Rosa as Aleli Corpuz *

Lorraine Schuck Lorraine Esperidion Schuck is a Filipino beauty titleholder best known for winning Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia 1979 and representing the Philippines at the 1979 Miss Asia Quest. She is one of the founders of, and is Executive Vice-President of, Carou ...

as Lourdes Dominguez * Dennis Baltazar as Erwin Dominguez * Hugo Linsangan as Joey *

Victor Neri Victor Luis Juan Hilado Neri (born February 19, 1976) is a Filipino people, Filipino actor, singer and chef. Personal life Neri is also a chef and owns a restaurant named ''Saute''. In 2007, Neri took a break from the entertainment industry ...

as Edmond * Gloria "Mona Lisa" Yatco as Doña Martina Dominguez * Metring David as Cita * Vangie Labalan as Tarsing *

Ronnie Lazaro Ronnie Zabala Lazaro (born November 14, 1957) is a Gawad Urian Award-winning Filipino film and television actor, producer, casting and art director. Biography He has received many nominations throughout his career as an actor, nine of which wer ...

as Pinong * Errol Dionisio *

Sylvia Sanchez Jossette Campo-Atayde (born May 19, 1971), better known as Sylvia Sanchez, is a Filipina actress and comedian. She is the wife of Art Atayde and the mother of actors Arjo Atayde and actress Ria Atayde. Personal life Sanchez was born and raised ...

Tita de Villa Teresa Theodossis-Martin (3 April 1931 – 7 February 2014), better known by her stage name Tita de Villa, was a Filipino actress. Her long acting career started in 1954 in a Sampaguita Pictures movie, '' Dalagang Ilocana (Ilocana Maiden)'', the ...

Jessa Zaragoza Richelle Ann Mallari Loyola-Avanzado (born January 31, 1979), better known by her stage name Jessa Zaragoza, is a Filipina commercial model, singer and actress. She is known as the "Phenomenal Diva" and "Jukebox Queen of the 90s" for her first ...

Beverly Vergel Beverly Vergel is an actress and film writer, director and producer, who now lives and works in Canada after many screen appearances in the Philippines during the 1980s and 1990s. Biography She was born in Manila, Philippines to actors César ...

Perla Bautista Perla Marcial Bautista (born February 18, 1940) is a multi-awarded actress in the Philippines. She acted in more than 250 movies and television shows. She won the Best Actress FAMAS Award for ''Markang Rehas'' (1962). She also won Gawad Urian A ...

Production

Judy Ann Santos Judy Anne Lumagui Santos (born May 11, 1978) is a Filipino actress and film producer. Prolific in film and television in the Philippines since the early 1990s, she is known for her comedic and dramatic roles in independent films and blockbus ...

was first offered to play the titular role but she was chosen to portray the main role of soap opera ''Ula, Ang Batang Gubat''. The production later conducted an audition and chose Margarita Fuentes to portray Anna Luna.

Timeslot

Anna Luna aired on

from November 27, 1989 to September 30, 1994, from 2:00 pm until 2:30 pm. Then it aired on RPN from October 3, 1994 to September 29, 1995

Controversy

In 1994,

Jose Mari Gonzales Jose Mari C. Gonzalez or Jose Mari Gonzales (July 26, 1938 – April 16, 2019) was a Filipino actor, executive, matinee idol and politician. Career Gonzales entered the movies at the age of 17 in the late 1950s. He appeared in ''Ulilang Anghel ...

, the president of RPN at that time, was accused by ABS-CBN of

copyright infringement Copyright infringement (at times referred to as piracy) is the use of works protected by copyright without permission for a usage where such permission is required, thereby infringing certain exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder, s ...

on this soap opera. He believed that ''Anna Luna'' was the intellectual property of Zenaida O. Soriano, the wife of ''Anna Liza'' director Gil Soriano. Gonzales also believed that ABS-CBN only acquired Soriano to line-produce the series and that the network attempted to buy its airing rights but the production company behind ''Anna Luna'' refused which led to its removal. However, RPN continued to air Anna Luna, with a new title ''Hanggang Kailan, Anna Luna?: Ikalawang Aklat'' (''English title'': Anna Luna, Until when?: Second Book) to become part of the network's relaunch on October 3, 1994. The series ended on September 29, 1995, after a year of broadcast on RPN, and almost 6 years on the air.

Award

* PMPC Star Awards for TV's Best New TV Personality (1990) – Margarita Fuentes

References

External links

* ABS-CBN drama series 1980s Philippine television series 1990s Philippine television series 1989 Philippine television series debuts 1995 Philippine television series endings Filipino-language television shows ABS-CBN original programming Radio Philippines Network original programming Television shows set in the Philippines {{Philippines-tv-prog-stub