Saving Grace (Philippine TV series)
| Saving Grace | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | Mother by Yuji Sakamoto |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by |
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| Country of origin | Philippines |
| Original language | Filipino |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production location | Puerto Princesa, Palawan |
| Cinematography |
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| Editor | Jay Mendoza |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 56–60 minutes |
| Production company | Dreamscape Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release | November 28, 2024[a] – present |
| Related | |
| Mother | |
Saving Grace is a Philippine drama television series, directed by FM Reyes and Dolly Dulu. The series is based on the Japanese television drama series Mother. It stars Julia Montes, Zia Grace, and Sharon Cuneta.[1] It premiered on November 28, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video.
Premise
The storyline of Saving Grace explores a mother's unconditional love while sharing the light of child abuse and domestic violence.[2]
Anna (Julia Montes), an elementary school teacher, has experienced life struggles until Grace (Zia Grace), a mindful student who her neglected mother abused, calls for help. In an attempt to protect Grace from further abuse, Anna kidnaps her, which leads to a nationwide manhunt against her.[3]
Cast and characters
Main cast
- Julia Montes[4] as Anna Grace Sarmiento
- Zia Grace[5] as Mary Grace Banaag
Supporting cast
- Sharon Cuneta[6] as Miranda Valdez
- Janice de Belen[6] as Helena Sarmiento
- Sam Milby[6] as Julius Hernandez
- Jennica Garcia[6] as Sarah Banaag
- Christian Bables[6] as Chito Sumulong
- Elisse Joson[7] as Atty. Jessica Valdez
- Eric Fructuoso[7] as Oscar Jimenez
- Sophia Reola[7] as Erin Sarmiento
- Adrian Lindayag[7] as Charlie Molina
- Mary Joy Apostol[7] Princess Sarmiento
- Aya Fernandez[7] as Ashley Santillan
- Karl Gabriel[8] as Matty Cabreras
- Andrez Del Rosario[7] as Vincent Jimenez
- Emilio Daez[8] as Wilson Hernandez
- PJ Endrinal[8] as Tommy Vasquez
- Fe De Los Reyes[7] as Carmen Flores
- Daisy Cariño[8] as Mely Bugayong
- Lotlot Bustamante[8] as Patty Capili
- Jong Cuenco[8] as Ramon Damiles
- Alma Concepcion[8] as Monika Hernandez
- Ramon Christopher[8] as Edgardo Hernandez
Guest cast
- Joel Saracho
- Gardo Versoza as Antonio Sarmiento
- Hannah Vito as young Anna
- Myel de Leon as young Princess
- Misha Kobayashi as young Erin
- Sherry Lara as Lucia
- Junjun Quintana as Bobby
- Michelle Vito as young Miranda
- Inah de Belen as young Helena
- Jeremiah Lisbo as young Antonio
- Franco Laurel
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date[9] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | November 28, 2024 | |
Two weeks before Grace was “disappeared”, Bagong Buhay High School held a Teacher’s Day event. During the students’ struggling performance, Grace came in late without her costume and joined the group, then suddenly, Grace’s teacher, Thelma, was taken to the hospital. After the school session ended on the same day, Anna was planning to move to Hong Kong instead of reuniting with her family as she experienced difficult life struggles since her father died from drowning. Anna became a substitute teacher for Thelma, but Grace was being bullied when she arrived. After school, Grace came back home cleaning while experiencing a struggling life with her mother, Sarah, and her stepfather, Chito. Later that night, Grace meets Anna at her restaurant for a conversation. The other morning, after Grace fainted at the principal’s office from a sudden fight, Anna discovered abuse marks on Grace’s back leading to a report to her parents. Sarah denied that Grace was abused and claimed it was an accident, but Anna and Patty are looking for more answers about the abuse. One day, Grace was looking for her pet, but Chito was the one who slaughtered and cooked it. It led to a fight, and a drunk Sarah sided with Chito by abusing her. The next day, Patty came back to the same house to look for Grace, but Chito took her into a bag and left it in the pickup truck. However, Anna discovered the bag and took Grace somewhere safe. Chito and Sarah are furious that their child “disappeared”. Grace was in emotional pain from the abuse and told Anna what had happened. However, Anna and Grace waved an emotional goodbye as she was supposed to head to the airport. | |||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | November 28, 2024 | |
Chito started looking for Grace, but she decided to run away from further abuse. Anna quietly took Grace to safety, and some fishermen discovered Grace’s stuff and called the police leading to an investigation. The next day, after Helena did another episode for her talk show at the headquarters of a broadcasting company, NTV, her manager informed her that the show’s ratings had gone down and was advised to find a solution. While Grace’s abusive parents were still looking for her, they got into a fight over what they’d done. Julius, an NTV producer, was looking for another story, which is the “disappearance” of Grace. Chito got into a fight with him and was charged by the police. Miranda arrived at Grace’s home and interviewed Sarah, who denied the abuse to her daughter and talked about her relationship. Meanwhile, Anna and Grace seek a place to stay while disguising Grace as a boy named Bright. Grace was supposed to meet her aunt at her house in Quezon, who was a relative of her father, but she unfortunately passed away years ago. Anna still has nightmares about the accident that led to a family struggle. At night, Chito arrives at Grace’s house and convinces Sarah to keep their truths hidden from the public after she bailed him out of jail. When the interview with Sarah is airing on TV the next morning, Anna and Grace find out and decide in an emotional agreement that she will kidnap her. | |||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | December 5, 2024 | |
While Julius is looking for clues about where Anna and Grace went, they go to the old orphanage in Batangas and meet Lucia to find someplace home. Anna told Grace that she used to live in that place back when she was a child and was abandoned by her biological mother. At Grace’s house, Chito knew that he had seen Grace on the bus transportation, and Sarah started to believe him and they went to find some clues. Helena went to Anna’s apartment in Manila and asked her neighbor where she went. She was supposed to head back to Palawan until she saw Julius, which they hadn’t met since the break-up with Anna. After the conversation, Julius went back to Miranda’s office at NTV headquarters finding out a possible connection on where Anna and Grace went. At night at the old orphanage, Lucia lets Anna and Bright stay for as long as possible and lets her keep her phone. Suddenly, Anna finds the report from the police and heads to the police station to make a false alibi while making legitimate accusations against the abuse from Chito and Sarah at the same time. After that, Julius confronted Anna outside accusing her of lying, which she denied. Meanwhile, Bright and Linda head to the house to try to steal a car key, that belongs to her son, Bobby. He found out and got into a rift between him and her mother as he was selling the orphanage and trying to send her to a nursing home. The next morning, Bobby and Lucia had an emotional conversation with Bright stepping in and convincing him to be with his mother. While Lucia packed her things, she talked to Anna after she found out who the real child was and then gave her the old bracelet Anna used to wear. Anna was supposed to take Grace to the orphanage for her safety, and Grace accidentally called her mother, Sarah, potentially tracking her. However, she decided to take Grace somewhere else safer. | |||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | December 5, 2024 | |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | December 12, 2024 | |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | December 12, 2024 | |
| 7 | "Episode 7" | December 19, 2024 | |
| 8 | "Episode 8" | December 19, 2024 | |
| 9 | "Episode 9" | December 26, 2024 | |
| 10 | "Episode 10" | December 26, 2024 | |
| 11 | "Episode 11" | January 2, 2025 | |
| 12 | "Episode 12" | January 2, 2025 | |
| 13 | "Episode 13" | January 9, 2025 | |
| 14 | "Episode 14" | January 9, 2025 | |
Production
Development
The project was first announced on July 15, 2024, after ABS-CBN Studios ink a deal with Nippon TV to do a Philippine adaptation.[1] The chief operating officer of ABS-CBN Corporation, Cory Vidanes stated:
"This is the [Filipino] adaptation of Mother that is created and produced by Nippon TV. This is our very first adaptation of a Nippon TV series, and we are very grateful to Nippon TV for entrusting us with the rights for the Filipino version. It's a beautiful story that really centers around the importance of family and motherhood and promises to be a very emotionally engaging and heartwarming series that will deeply resonate with the Filipino audience and the non-Filipino audiences worldwide."[10][11]
Content business representatives of Nippon TV, Sally Yamamoto and Yuki Akehi, express satisfaction with the partnership with ABS-CBN stating:
"As we celebrate our landmark tenth international deal for Mother, we are delighted to be announcing this adaptation with ABS-CBN. We truly believe in ABS-CBN’s production capabilities and that the Filipino audience will love this show. Mother is truly a beautiful story, and we are confident that the Filipino audience are going to love it. Best wishes to the cast and crew."[11]
This is the 10th adaptation from the original series, Mother.[12] This is also one of the final projects that the then-head of Dreamscape Entertainment, Roldeo Endrinal, was involved in before his death on February 3, 2024.[1][13] FM Reyes and Dolly Dulu served as co-directors for this series.[3]
Casting
On July 15, 2024, Julia Montes was the first cast reveal for the series.[1][10] Janice de Belen, Sam Milby, Jennica Garcia, Christian Bables, and Sharon Cuneta have joined alongside Montes as revealed during the same week.[14] Zia Grace was revealed as a child actress for the role of this series.[5] Elisse Joson, Aya Fernandez, Adrian Lindayag, Mary Joy Apostol, Sophia Reola, Eric Fructuoso, Andrez Del Rosario, and Fe De Los Reyes are joining alongside as well.[15]
Filming
Principal photography commenced on July 2024.[16] Filming took place in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.[17] It was concluded on October 2024.[18]
Release
Streaming
The series is streaming on November 28, 2024 with two episodes per week on Amazon Prime Video.[9] The series consists of 14 episodes.[3]
Television broadcast
It is set to air on TV in 2025, but the network has yet to be announced.[11]
Marketing
On November 22, 2024, advanced screening for the series was held at Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City.[9]
Reception
Ratings
Upon release, Saving Grace debuted at No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video in the Philippines.[19]
Notes
- ^ It was released in the United States on November 27, 2024.
References
- ^ a b c d Mallorca, Hannah (July 15, 2024). "Julia Montes to make teleserye comeback with 'Saving Grace'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ "ABS-CBN'S "Saving Grace" premieres on Prime Video this November 28". ABS-CBN. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Hicap, Jonathan (October 27, 2024). "Filipino family drama series 'Saving Grace' coming to Prime Video in November". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Deveza, Reyma (July 15, 2024). "Julia Montes is returning to primetime via 'Saving Grace'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Deveza, Reyma (July 17, 2024). "Child star of ABS-CBN's upcoming series 'Saving Grace' revealed". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Deveza, Reyma (July 16, 2024). "Sharon Cuneta makes primetime comeback with 'Saving Grace'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Deveza, Reyma (July 19, 2024). "Elisse Joson, other stars complete cast of 'Saving Grace'". ABS-CBN News.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "ABS-CBN's 'Saving Grace' premieres on Prime Video this November 28 - LionhearTV". LionhearTV. November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Julia Montes embarks on a 'motherly' mission". Malaya. November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Purnell, Kristofer (July 16, 2024). "Julia Montes headlining Filipino adaptation of Japan's 'Mother'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c Stalcup, Jamie (July 15, 2024). "Mother Lands Filipino Adaptation". TVDRAMA. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ "ABS-CBN in the Philippines to make 10th version of hit Nippon TV drama Mother". C21media. July 15, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Bolledo, Jairo (February 3, 2024). "Dreamscape head Deo Endrinal passes away at 60". Rappler. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ Purnell, Kristofer (July 17, 2024). "Sharon Cuneta, Sam Milby join Julia Montes in 'Saving Grace'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Purnell, Kristofer (July 19, 2024). "Elisse Joson, Aya Fernandez, Adrian Lindayag join 'Saving Grace' cast". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Abad, Ysa (July 15, 2024). "Julia Montes to star in PH adaptation of Japanese series 'Mother'". Rappler. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Evangelista, Jessica Ann (September 28, 2024). "LOOK: Sam Milby, Julia Montes arrive in Palawan to film 'Saving Grace'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "After last taping day for 'Saving Grace,' Sharon Cuneta embarks on US-Canada tour". ABS-CBN News. October 24, 2024.
- ^ "'Saving Grace' premieres as #1 show on Prime Video PH". The Philippine Star. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.