A new teleseries for Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual begins a new daily soap on his home network entitled Mangarap Ka this Monday, March 29.

A light drama with elements of action and adventure, Mangarap Ka marks a new direction for its makers ABS-CBN. Spotlighting the colorful sights and sounds of downtown Manila, Mangarap Ka is set in Quiapo, where we meet Oslec (Piolo), a street-smart young man whose life is about to be changed when he meets a lost young boy named Tikoy (newcomer Steven Christian Fermo).

Mangarap Ka is a memorable TV event for its star, as it’s the first time Piolo will be headlining a soap alone. "I’ve always wanted to do something personally interesting to me, and my character Oslec is so fascinating," says Piolo. "And, like everyone else on this project, I think Mangarap Ka is an exciting project because of everything it has to offer to viewers, young and old."

An excellent, handpicked supporting cast will join Piolo in the adventure that is Mangarap Ka. Celebrating her 30th anniversary in show business this year, Nova Villa turns around her image as one of Philippine television’s most skilled comediennes, with her first dramatic role in Mangarap Ka.

Playing the serious, deadpan and grumpy fortune teller Nana Zoila Catacutan, Nova explains how she can still find comedy in her newest character. "There’s a different humor in Nana Zoila, because Mangarap Ka has heart and depth."

Rio Locsin, meanwhile, is on her third ABS-CBN drama with Mangarap Ka, but believes her flamboyant new role as barangay captain Jacqueline Catacutan Carter has the potential to be one of her most memorable characters.

"It’s definitely an offbeat project, and it requires a lot of transformation on my part to play a character with such comedic touches. I’m looking forward to reinventing myself for this."

After playing ‘80s soap heroine Julie Vega in one of 2003’s highest-rated Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes, Angelica Panganiban plays Catherine Sita "Cutie" Carter, Kapitana Jacqueline’s eccentric 19- year-old daughter. "She’s kikay, loud, and looks like she’s going to be so fun to play. I just hope the fans support Mangarap Ka."

Patrick Garcia returns to the teleserye fold (after the hit Darating ang Umaga ). "It’s really a treat to work on an ABS-CBN teleserye and be surrounded by all these great actors and creative people. My character Tristan is so different from Darating ang Umaga’s Nathaniel — Tristan is very introverted and prefers to stay with his computers, which means he’s very close to my real personality."

Finally, Mangarap Ka introduces a fresh new face in Steven Christian Fermo, a six-year-old actor set to take on his first teleserye co-starring role as Tikoy Chu, a Tsinoy who finds himself lost in Manila. First seen by the public in a memorable spot on a toothpaste commercial, Steven is poised to run away with viewers’ hearts in this endearing new role.

Mangarap Ka boasts of top-quality talent behind the scenes, as well. Two young directors, Malu Sevilla and Cathy Garcia Molina, will helm this charming new show, with Ricky Lee serving as Creative Manager. Dado Lumibao is head writer. Executive producer is Marivic Oducayen, with Anna Goma as supervising producer and Malou Santos as executive in-charge of production.