Sana Maulit Muli Episode 1

Episode 1 Ratings (Mega Manila)
January 8,2007

31.5 Sana Maulit Muli
25.6 Bakekang
27.0 Starstruck

This tale of crossed fates and destined love begins its first chapter in present-day Los Angeles, at a cemetery where the Johnson brothers mourn the loss of their father. While Brandon’s heart is filled with hate for this bad card dealt to him by fate, his half-brother Travis is filled with gratitude for his dad. A few months later, their mother Monica decides to move to Manila, her native country, along with the two sons. Travis is excited about the news, claiming that he knows a friend who can help them settle down there. This angers Brandon, however, who is reluctant to leave the place he calls home to live in the country where, he says, “Travis’ prostitute mother” lives.

Travis returns to his room and, while packing for the trip, discovers a single slipper which apparently has great sentimental value to him. He then flashbacks to 1996, when he was still a child in Cebu. After his mother died, he makes up his mind to go to Manila to find his father, after being informed by a neighbor that his real dad can be found there. He sneaks into a boat bound for the city, and while hiding, encounters a fellow stowaway – a girl just about his age, who is adamant about having someone occupy her hiding place.

Bokbok, Travis’ nickname as a child, names his new friend Poknat, after he notices her sporting a scar on her head. After several acts of kindness, Poknat eventually warms up to her new friend, and reveals that she decided to go to Manila to help her mom. She even plays the guitar and sings for her new friend. This was interrupted, however, when a member of the ship’s crew hears them. Bokbok quickly tells Poknat to hide, but he is quickly discovered and brought on deck. After a brief scuffle, the boy is thrown in the ocean; but Poknat, who witnessed this, quickly jumped herself to save him. The two cling to Poknat’s guitar, and by nightfall a few fishermen find the two on an Iloilo shore, unconscious and half-dead.

They wake up in a hospital, where the mayor himself offers to help the two children find justice. This proves to be the end of their paths, however, as Poknat is to be returned to her mom in Iloilo, while Bokbok will be sent to Manila to look for his dad, an American. The two bid each other a tearful goodbye, but not before Bokbok hands his best friend a slipper as a remembrance, and promises to write her regularly.

Poknat, whose name is actually Jasmine Sta. Maria, eventually travels to Manila with her mom Emily, who finds a job there as a maid to George and Clara Soriano. Jasmine quickly becomes friends with their amo’s daughter Camille, and tells her all about Bokbok. As time passed, Bokbok’s letters mysteriously stops; and a heartbroken Jasmine loses her passion for playing the guitar, as it reminds her of her best friend. But despite this, she couldn’t bear to part with the slipper Bokbok gave her. Unbeknownst to her, however, the real reason for this falling apart is the scheming Camille, who answers the letters herself and keeps in touch with him under Jasmine’s guise. In fact, it was also Camille who Travis contacted and asked for help, ten years later to the present day.

The other pair still lies in Travis’ possession, and he brings it back to the Philippines. Camille welcomes them at the airport along with George and Clara, and invites the balikbayans into their home. Clara was extremely pleased with Camille and Travis’ setup, because of the fact that their family is very rich; however, she treats her maids Emily and Jasmine quite the opposite. After angrily ordering Emily to serve the food faster and not keep the guests waiting, Jasmine offers to help her mother and serve the guests. She quickly runs into Travis, who was on his way to the bathroom to clean up a food stain; ironically, she spills a whole bowl of fruit salad on his shirt. Surprise suddenly turned into familiarity, however, when the two look at each other and sense a connection they cannot comprehend, but instinctively know…

SOURCE:abs-cbn.com