Starting Monday, September 5, a new show will each air on ABS-CBN and GMA-7: these are The Greatest Love on the Kapamilya Network's afternoon block and Someone To Watch Over Me on the Kapuso primetime block.
These two shows have something is common: their major characters are both diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.
Though airing in different timeslots, it is inevitable for both shows to get compared, mainly because of its same theme.
The Greatest Love lead star Sylvia Sanchez agreed with this observation when PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked the cast during the September 1 press dinner with the cast.
She explained, "Hindi yun maiiwasan na ikumpara kami dun sa isa.
"I think ito yung tinatawag na healthy competition. Iba yung istorya nila, istorya yun ng mag-asawa, love team yung mag-asawa.
"Ito, istorya ng pamilya, ng nanay. Although pamilya din sila, pero dito sentro ang nanay.
"So maganda yun, meron silang ganon, meron kaming ganito.
"Healthy competition. Walang problema.
"Kasi hindi naman kami pwedeng mandikta sa inyo o sa viewers na kami ang panuorin, o sila ang panuorin, nasa tao. Okay lang yun."
Aside from Sylvia, The Greatest Love also stars Dimples Romana, Andi Eigenmann, Matt Evans, Arron Villaflor, and Joshua Garcia.
Meanwhile, Someone To Watch Over Me is topbilled by Lovi Poe, Max Collins, and Tom Rodriguez (whose character is suffering from early onset Alzheimer's Disease).
(Read: Lovi Poe on Tom Rodriguez: 'Kahit di kailangan mag-kiss, ipapakita namin dahil mag-asawa kami.")
DELAY IN AIRING. Originally, the two shows aren't supposed to air on the same date.
It can be recalled that this soap opera was originally slated to air last July, as pre-programming to TV Patrol.
However, it was later on announced that the series will air in September as part of the Kapamilya Gold block.
The Greatest Love production manager Mark Anthony Gile explained why the show was delayed in terms of airing.
He pointed out, "The simplest way po siguro to explain is we first thought of a different way of storytelling for The Greatest Love.
"Yun yung original naming naisip and then of course, dadaan 'yan sa proseso ng pagpe-present sa management.
"Parang nag-suggest sila na bakit hindi natin daanin sa linear way of storytelling, so that's what we did.
"Siyempre, it's a creative process na dinadaanan, di ba? We realized, we want to add elements para maging bago yung feel ng storytelling.
"So it took a while to do some revisions para mas mapaganda pa yung pagku-kwento.
"Ang goal lang naman ng buong team, e, mapaganda at mabigyan ng ibang feel siguro yung pagku-kwento.
"Of course, siyempre yung papalitan din naming, pang-hapon, it's a high-strung drama but ito we want to give a different flavor of storytelling.
"Siyempre, it takes a while to do some revisions kaya nagkaroon ng delay.
"[But] we want to thank also the management kasi it's an opportunity na mas mapaganda pa yung project kaya nagkaroon ng kaunting delay."
The ABS-CBN executive also promised that the program is still made with quality even though they won't be aired on primetime anymore.
"Sa amin kasi, whether its pang primetime or non-primetime, di ba ang goal naman ng lahat ng producers at ng ABS-CBN is to give quality shows to the viewers?
"So whether it's a primetime show or hindi, ako, of course I'd like to think na afternoon [block] also, it's a good venue to give good stories and bagong experience sa audience.
"So pwede ko ring ma-consider na afternoon is the new primetime."
The show is produced by the team headed by business unit head Ginny Monteagudo-Ocampo, who also helmed daytime programs Be Careful With My Heart, Dugong Buhay, Pure Love, Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita, and Ningning that all became top-raters in their timeslots.