ABS-CBN resident director, Emmanuel (Manny) Quindo Palo, returns to prime-time TV at the head of the landmark "Unbreak My Heart" – the first collaboration between the two biggest networks in the Philippines, ABS-CBN Corporation and GMA Network.

The show, a collaboration with Philippines production house Dreamscape Entertainment and regional streaming platform Viu, follows a career filled with hit series, including "Ikaw Lamang", "Doble Kara", "The Good Son", "The General’s Daughter", "Walang Hanggang Paalam", "Love Lockdown", "Click Like Share", and "Hwag Kang Mangamba". 

Born and raised in Angeles City, Pampanga, Palo graduated from the University of the Philippines, and took up post-graduate studies in film direction at the Film and Television Institute of India. His films and TV projects have won numerous awards in his country and abroad, including the best film award for the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala (Iffk) for "Sta. Nina". Palo spoke to Malena Amzah about industry trends, his craft and what he’s most hoping for...

What do you think is the most significant industry trend impacting directors in the Philippines?

“There are a lot of major changes happening now in the Philippines TV industry, one is the narrative that we’re telling to the world since there’s now a lot of platforms that have opened. Before, we wrote narratives specifically for the local audience and our shows were geared towards very specific sectors within the Philippines context. 

Now we’ve been more open and adventurous in terms of presenting new narratives not only to our own local audiences but also to audiences outside of the Philippines – specifically in Asia and even Africa and LATAM – because some of our titles are dubbed and screened there. 

Companies now have also been more open to casting talents that are not stars, as long as they are competent and they can deliver in terms of performance, unlike before where we were so tight up with the star system. Of course we still are but now major roles have been assigned to senior actors, especially in independent series/films that are being screened in international festivals and other international platforms.

Also, we now have to be technically competitive and adapt to new technology. It’s important to use the latest equipment that is available in the industry now. Even for TV now, we employ directors of photography who used to only work on films because certain platforms demand a certain level of technical quality.”

What’s your hope for "Unbreak My Heart"?

“The series is a major breakthrough for all of us in the Philippines TV industry. The hope is that it opens up the gate for future collaborations and partnerships.”

What, in your experience, is the most important quality in a TV director?

“You have to be receptive and open to challenges because that’s life. And that experience is what we’re sharing with our directors, our writers, and to all the members of the production team.”

What would you most like to see happen in the Philippines’ creative landscape? 

“It’s a small industry, a small market so we need to have more partnerships and collaborations, not only among ourselves, but also with creators in the Asia region.”

Published in the 12-25 June 2023 issue of ContentAsia's eNewsletter