That golden saying about how family sets the foundation of love may sound cliché but its honesty and meaning will never get old. Living up to this timeless pearl of wisdom is the Mabunga clan of the primetime series Pamilya Ko. At the top of their genealogy are Luz (Sylvia Sanchez) and Fernan (Joey Marquez) whose decades of union – that will soon face common marital issues however – bore eight wonderful children all named after a fruit.
The pilot episode of Pamilya Ko opened with the Mabungas sans Fernan and eldest child Chico (JM De Guzman) looking all giddy amidst a typical morning chaos. Luz was seen trying her best to control all seven children’s preparation time, mentally calculating bathroom schedule, and just juggling everything that falls under the hands of a selfless homemaker.
All the rush was soon explained in Chico and Fernan’s conversation inside a moving vehicle. It was apparently a big day as three of the Mabunga kids – fourth child Persi (Jairus Aquino), eldest daughter Peachy (Maris Racal), and the youngest Pongky (Raikko Mateo) – are graduating in the same hour. Moreover, Pongky turns a year older. And what could be a bigger surprise apt for the quadruple feat than Fernan’s unannounced homecoming from working as on OFW.
Three graduation rites all at the same time but in different halls inside a big campus – this may sound like a dilemma to some but not the Mabunga ensemble. They divided themselves into groups, so to signal their parents when to change location. It was a clever yet truly heart-warming strategy, with the Mabunga Family proving that they are a team and they were all in it together.
More touching moments ensued thereafter, leading us all into the inevitable path of crying over a teleserye. There was Peachy’s flying kiss caught and shared by her parents and some siblings. Came next the scene where the whole Mabunngas made quite an entrance in the middle of Persi’s commencement speech as the batch cum laude. Persi took a pause and introduced his family to all the attendees, drawing a standing ovation and loud applause for the Mabungas.
The bunch revelled at their simple abode that night. With Luz mistaking Lemon (Kira Balinger) for Peachy, the matriarch arrived at a unique collective nickname for her children – “mga fruit salad ko.”
Last on the list is the scene where Luz received a birthday surprise from her kids. And when asked for her wish, the doting mother smiled and looked at her big happy family, and said she couldn’t ask for anything more.
The Mabunga kids obviously know that they belong to something bigger than themselves. They are willing to work as a team without turning their backs at their unique individualities. And all these sacrifices and sense of unity within the family will always remain as the loudest expression of love.