Maalaala Mo Kaya’s tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of our country’s soldiers last Saturday (June 22) broke records as it registered its highest rating this year and topped the trending topics list on social media.
The episode recorded 30.8 percent or more than double that of Magpakailanman’s 14.6 percent. The show’s official hashtag #MMKMedalOfValor also topped the trending list on Twitter, earning thousands of tweets.
The episode that starred Joshua Garcia, who played Ian Paquit, the brave soldier who fought for peace during the Zamboanga siege in 2013, showed viewers the many struggles, sacrifices, bravery, and dedication of the military for the country, even if it cost them their lives.
The hurt felt by soldiers’ parents was also highlighted in the show in the emotional portrayal of Janice de Belen as Ian’s mother, Teba, who spent every moment in anguish and fear for her son’s life since he left to fight in Mindanao.
Along with MMK’s tribute to Filipino soldiers on television, ABS-CBN also held a thanksgiving event for over 500 soldiers at the “Saludo sa Sundalong Pilipino” on June 21 at the Camp Guillermo Nakar, Lucena. They were warmly greeted by various Kapamilya stars, played games with their colleagues, and brought home special prizes.
Now on its third year, the “Saludo sa Sundalong Pilipino” was first held at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija last 2017. It was then relaunched Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Command in Tarlac in 2018.