As the input of Pinoy soaps increased in the 1990’s onwards to the new millenium, so are the ways and means for producers to get people hooked on whatever soap being shown on our TV screens. Other than the glossy title cards, the cheesy storylines, the glamorous stars with oozing seks appeal, and the “showbiz-branded” titles to the casted soap/movie veterans, the one thing that serves as the primary heart nad soul is the theme music that accompanies a drama serial, as with any TV show found on any other genre.

May it be an instrumental tune composed for the show (Hindi Ka na Mag-iisa, Sinner or Saint) to a lyrical song written FOR the show (Mara Clara), as well as a mainstream/commercial song that was licensed to soap producers (Pangako Sa’yo), a theme song is part of a soap opera’s over-all package and without it, it is nothing.

Unfortunately, if anyone didn’t already notice, there seems to be a rising trend among today’s soaps from the past ten years onwards of recycling each other’s theme songs to the point that there is no longer anything that could help regular viewers like me, to differentiate one drama to another. Yes, a show’s title and its basic premise is something to consider, but reusing/rehashing/over-recycling another soap’s theme tune is just as worse as having soaps copying each other’s stories. It kinda ruins the whole soap viewing experience if you think about it. With the quantity of soaps churned out in the dozens every year, it’s getting difficult to identify them right after they end their run.

Using commercial songs is one thing, but this one is a whole lotta different.

Here’s a list of a some significant TV theme songs that have made the rounds of being used by at least more than one teleserye as it’s main theme (some of the songs listed are credited to several people from Pinoy exchange):

1. Ngayon at Kailanman by Basil Valdez
-used by: Ina Kapatid Anak, Precious Hearts Romances: Martha Cecilia’s Kristine, and Sinenovela Presents: Ngayon at Kailanman

2. Natutulog Pa ang Diyos by Gary Valenciano
-used by Mga Basang Sisiw, Cielo de Angelina, Noel and Sineserye Presents: Natutulog Ba ang Diyos?

3. Please Be Careful with My Heart by Jose Mari Chan
-used by Be Careful with My Heart, and Your Song Presents My Last Romance

4. Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan by Basil Valdez
–Walang Hanggan, Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan

5. Maging Sino Ka Man by Rey Valera
-used by Juan de la Cruz, Maging Sino Ka Man, Te Amo: Maging Sino Ka Man

6. Patuloy ang Pangarap by Angeline Quinto
-used by May Isang Pangarap and Maria la del Barrio

7. Saan Darating ang Umaga? by Raymond Lauchengco
-used by Pyra: Ang Babaeng Apoy, Budoy, Sinenovela Presents: Saan Darating ang Umaga?, Darating ang Umaga

8. Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas by Sharon Cuneta
-used by Anna Karenina 2013, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas

9. Sana’y Maghintay ng Walang Hanggan by Zsa Zsa Padilla
-used by Luna Blanca, Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay

10. Habang May Buhay by Wency Cornejo
-used by Bukod Kang Pinagpala, Habang May Buhay

11. Babalik Kang Muli by Regine Velasquez
-used by Unforgettable, and Your Song Presents: Babalik Kang Muli

12. Narito by Gary Valenciano
-used by Hiram na Puso, and Narito ang Puso Ko

13. Hulog ng Langit by Donna Cruz
-used by Mundo Man ay Magunaw, and Langit sa Piling Mo

14. Ikaw na Sana by Kristine and Butch Montejo
-used by Sana ay Ikaw na Nga 2012, and Ikaw na Sana

15. Ikaw ang Pag-ibig by La Diva
-used by Magdalena: Anghel sa Putikan, and Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang

16. Pangarap na Bituin by Sharon Cuneta
-used by Mundo Mo’y Akin, and Pangarap na Bituin

17. Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala by Ogie Alcasid
-used by Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala, and Hanggang Kailan

18. Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin
– used by Babaeng Hampaslupa, and Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin 2001

19. Hiram b Zsa Zsa Padilla
– used by The Sisters, Palimos ng Pag-ibig, and Hiram

So far, here are all the songs used as themes for at least 2 shows. What do you think? Adik ba ako to even come up with such a list? Bweehehehe!

It’s either the networks making these soaps don’t have the time and money to invest a new song for a majority of the shows they produce every year or that they need an all-too familiar tune to bring viewers in, even if it has been heard before in another soap.