May Bukas Pa () is a Philippine religious-themed television series, inspired by the 1955 Spanish film Marcelino pan y vino and 1981 anime Superbook. Directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan, Jojo A. Saguin, and Erick C. Salud, it is topbilled by Zaijian Jaranilla together with an ensemble cast. It is a revival of the 2000–2001 series of the same name produced by Viva Television (now Studio Viva). Guest casts and addition of characters to the show are shown on each chapter.
The original broadcast cut version of the series aired on ABS-CBN's Primetime Bida evening block from February 2, 2009 to February 5, 2010, replacing Precious Time. After a two-year hiatus, an extended clean feed version of the show with a deleted scene of its finale episode 263 was released from July 2012 to December 5, 2013 where some episodes on TFC website replaced the former and continued through airing on its sister channel Jeepney TV from March 11, 2013. Four specials and one station ID in reference to the series were aired.
Overview Decade and year Chapter numbers (with episodenumbers) No. ofchapters No. of episodes No. of episodes (overall) No. of other contents (show-relatedstation ID and specials) First aired(bychapter) Last aired(bychapter) Firstaired(overall) Lastaired(overall)2000s (2009)1–12 (1–65)34652374February 2, 2009May 5, 2009February 2, 2009December 31, 200912–22 (66–121) 56 May 6, 2009 July 22, 200922–27 (122–155) 34 July 23, 2009 September 8, 200928 (156–160) 5 September 9, 2009 September 15, 200928 (161–179) 19 September 16, 2009 October 12, 200929 (180–195) 16 October 13, 2009 November 3, 200929–30 (196–218) 23 November 4, 2009 December 4, 200931–34 (219–237) 19December 7, 2009December 31, 20092010s(2010–2013) 34 (238–240)5 6262 January 1, 2010 January 5, 2010January 1, 2010December 5, 201334 (241–243) 7 January 6, 2010 January 8, 201035 (244–247) 4 January 11, 2010 January 14, 201035–36 (248–251) 7 January 15, 2010 January 20, 201036–37 (252–254) 6 January 21, 2010 January 25, 201037 (255–258), and Extended and Clean Feed Version (1–258) 5 January 26, 2010 December 4, 201337–38 (259–263), Extended Last 5 Episodes, and Specials5February 1, 2010December 5, 2013
Synopsis The story revolves around Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla), a wide-eyed young boy who was orphaned as a baby before being adopted and raised by Franciscans. Living in the fictional town of Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, he eventually discovers the ability to see and speak with Jesus Christ, whom he fondly called “Bro”. He also gains the ability to miraculously heal the sick. With these special abilities, Santino goes out to help other people with their problems and make a difference in their lives.
Episodes 2000s (2009) Chapters 1–12 (Episodes 1–65) The first 65 episodes of the series were re-aired during its two reruns, with the first 48 episodes of the series from April 9 to 11, 2009 during the Holy Triduum of that year, and the second being the first 65 (coinciding with the anniversary number that ABS-CBN celebrated from 2018 to 2019, with a video about Jaranilla returning to the church where the series was set made in June 2019) from March 16 to May 4, 2020 due to the network's shut down on May 5, 2020 as a result of the expiration of its broadcast franchise granted in 1995 the day prior, temporarily replacing FPJ's Ang Probinsyano because of the community quarantines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines which ABS-CBN temporarily suspended the tapings of their ongoing dramas.
Chapter number Chapter name Summary Found abandoned as an infant in a cemetery, Santino is adopted by a group of priests in a small town, who all pitch in to raise him as a little boy. Santino grows up happily in the church living with the priests, who raise him as their own.
Chin-Chin Gutierrez as Narrator (pilot episode)/Teresa Malimban† – Santino's biological mother and Enrique's former mistress before Malena. Accidentally killed by Malena. Father Anthony does not believe that she is Santino's true mother because the earring found with the infant Santino did not match Teresa's own pair. Cris Daluz† as Emong – cemetery groundskeeper. Tony Mabesa as Mayor Pio A. Ruiz† – former mayor of Bagong Pag-asa Liza Lorena as Doña Anita Rodriguez – Malena and Selda's Mother. Francis Magundayao as Paco – He used to beg with his grandmother. Eva Darren as Lola Belen – Paco's grandmother. Santino was kidnapped by an unknown man in the middle of the night. It was later revealed that this man is Olegario Pineda, a criminal who Mario have imprisoned years ago. Mario suspects that Olegario kidnapped Santino to take revenge, however, this is not the real reason. As the two journeys to an unknown location, Olegario tells Santino that he needs him to heal his son who has a brain tumor allowing his son to only have a shorter life. Olegario and Santino successfully made it to town of Sta. Maria where Santino could finally heal Olegario's son. In these events, Olegario was taken over by the police as they arrive, he was numerously shot by another policeman even though Santino begs that he is a good person. Later, Santino grants his promise to Olegario that he would heal his son. John Estrada as Olegario "Oleg" Pineda† – a prison escapee who kidnaps Santino in hopes for a miracle to heal his seriously illed son. He later befriends with Santino in their way to Olegario's home. He then later surrenders himself to the police, but is killed. Kimberly Diaz as Olegario's wife. She went to Santino in wish to heal their son, however, the court has forbidden Santino to heal people, due to the suspicion of this being a scam. Meanwhile, after being held in an orphanage, Santino runs away after learning that a couple would want to take him just to make money on his healing abilities. As Santino runs away, he meets Lolo Berting, a puto vendor who helped him find his way home. As Santino lives with Lolo Berting, Santino slowly learns that Berting has mysteries of his own. His son, Jojo, has despised him for leaving him and his mother alone till his mother dies. Santino then makes Berting's son to realize that he has to forgive his father because everyone also needs to be forgiven.
Robert Arevalo as Berting – a puto vendor who helped Santino when he was lost after running away from the shelter. His son has forbidden him from his life as it caused his mother to die. He comes around his son's house secretly and gives puto to his granddaughter, Bea. Richard Quan as Jojo – Berting's son, who has forgiven his father after Santino makes him realize that other people also needs to be forgiven. He also knows martial arts as he thought that after his father left him, he should learn how to protect himself. He helped Santino from being taken by Mayor's allies. Xyriel Anne Manabat as Bea – Jojo's daughter and Berting's granddaughter. Steven Christian Fermo as Young Jojo Jeffrey Hidalgo as Young Berting Jan Marini Alano as Fely Aragon – Berting's wife Tess Antonio – one of the social workers who came to the monastery to take custody of Santino. Julia suffers due to her mom's recent memory losses, causing her whole career, life and lovelife to be ruined. She feels depressed and tired about problems comes to her way. Her life then changes after meeting Santino.
Claudine Barretto as Julia – a woman who carries bitterness in her heart. Her life will change after she meets miracle boy Santino. Boots Anson-Roa as Esmeralda – Julia's mother, an old woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease, causing her to quickly forget memories and sometimes being too childish as what most old people become. Ryan Ramos as Winston – Julia's ex-boyfriend, he broke up with her because of her concentration on taking care of her mother. Mayor spills all the malodorous secrets of the priest in the monastery revealing that Father Ringo was an ex-convict and Father Jose's family are all dead.
Rodjun Cruz as young Ringo – As a teenager, Ringo was imprisoned for robbing a shop so that he can get money to help cure his ailing mother. Alfred, one of the students in the Bagong Pag-Asa school, has a family problem because his parents are about to separate. As so Alfred moves to the monastery, causing his parents have a hard time looking for him. Thus, Santino helped the couple overcome their problem.
Kaye Abad as Minerva – Alfred's mother and Peter's wife. She and her husband have been having problems due to family crisis and have been planning to separate, causing their child to run away from home. Joross Gamboa as Peter – Alfred's father and Minerva's husband. He and his wife have been having problems due to family crisis and have been planning to separate, causing their child to run away from home. Miguelito de Guzman as Alfred – Peter and Minerva's son. He ran away from after discovering that his parents would separate. He ended up in the monastery where he met Santino. Santino visits the circus and meets a magician named Ricardo. Ricardo and Santino later became friends revealing that Ricardo has a broken family he longs to see but due to some issues, meeting them is not easy. Gabby Concepcion as Ricardo – a magician that Santino met in the circus. Santino later finds out that he is just a lonely man looking for the comforts of his broken family. Jobelle Salvador as Kate – the wife of Ricardo who separated with him due to family crisis Jacob Rica as Michael – Ricardo and Kate's 2nd child Alexa Ilacad as Michelle† – daughter of Ricardo and Kate who died because of Leukemia Archie Alemania as Tipoy – Ricardo's friend works on with him on a circus Santino and the priests visited Father John's hacienda, where they have met the latter's father, Don Miguel. However, Don Miguel does not welcome his son's priesthood and thinks that John's plans are just silliness. He believes that his son becoming a priest is not the way to happiness. He only believes that the only thing that will let his son gain happiness in life is money.
Dante Rivero as Don Miguel Delgado† – father of Brother John. He initially refused Brother John's plan of being a priest because he believed that being rich and wealthy is the best way to get happiness, but soon realizes after having a talk to Santino that it is not. Nanding Josef as Manding – helper of Don Miguel whom Father John is more closer to, which caused Don Miguel to feel jealous because John treats Manding more as a father. Peewee O'hara – as Manding's wife. Santino meets a runaway woman named Cheska. She later reveals to Santino that she was searching for her biological mother who from what she knows still lives in Bagong Pag-asa. Her mother was later revealed to be the owner of the strip club of the town, "Heaven's Gate", but is not excited to meet her daughter. Cristine Reyes as Cheska – a runaway young woman who searches for real self. After finding out that she was an adopted child, she searched to find her whole life to meet her biological mother Lotlot De Leon as Natty – Cheska's adoptive mother. A woman who never gets a chance to get pregnant. She bought Cheska from Ella just after they saved her from committing suicide. Nattie and her husband took care of Ella while she is pregnant and bought the kid after it was born. Chapter number Chapter name Summary Santino meets a runaway woman named Cheska. She later reveals to Santino that she was searching for her biological mother who from what she knows still lives in Bagong Pag-asa. Her mother was later revealed to be the owner of the strip club of the town, "Heaven's Gate", but is not excited to meet her daughter. Cristine Reyes as Cheska – a runaway young woman who searches for real self. After finding out that she was an adopted child, she searched to find her whole life to meet her biological mother