Rod Maceda Reimagines “Puppy Love” for a New Generation — With a Heartwarming Twist for Kids and Families
By Nick Sandoval
CEBU CITY — Bisaya auteur and filmmaker Rod Maceda is bringing back the magic of one of Cebu’s most beloved youth drama series with a brand-new adaptation of “Puppy Love” on WCN PPV — and this time, it comes with a fresh modern twist designed especially for today’s generation of children.
Originally inspired by the 2016 hit Bisaya drama series that aired on CCTN Channel 47, the new “Puppy Love” targets children ages 8 and below, although Maceda says viewers of all ages are still welcome to enjoy the fun, nostalgia, and heartfelt moments the series is known for.
“The original fans can still experience the kilig and fun,” Maceda shared. “But we also updated the story to reflect modern technology and the way people behave today.”
One of the biggest surprises in the new adaptation is the return of Hanna Remorosa as fan-favorite character Chat Abarquez — now portrayed with a more mature and emotionally layered backstory.
In the new series, Chat is older than the other members of Club 888. After sacrificing her education years earlier to help support her struggling family, she eventually decides to return to school — becoming the playful yet fiercely protective big sister figure to Kristine Navarro, played by Alyssa.
Together with the rest of Club 888, Chat remains close to Kristine’s father Kaloy, portrayed by Rod Maceda himself.
As the story unfolds, Ivan Santos ( Kiel Rosales ) eventually joins the group to help spread awareness about self-discovery, anti-bullying advocacy, and animal welfare.
In a unique detail that ties into a major emotional twist later in the series, all members of Club 888 are portrayed as vegans.
Maceda also revealed that several scenes in the show are among the proudest moments of his career — describing them as empowering, emotional, and deeply educational for children while still keeping the energy light, exciting, and entertaining.
Visually, “Puppy Love” introduces an unusual hybrid presentation style rarely seen in local productions.
“It feels like watching a Disney-Pixar-inspired anime,” Maceda explained, “except the audience sees real-looking people onscreen through AI hybrid models.”
Despite the use of AI-assisted visuals, Maceda emphasized that all voice performances remain fully human.
“There’s no AI voice recording involved. The actors still perform and dub their own lines using traditional recording methods. It’s like animation voice acting — only the characters look real.”
At 44 years old, Rod Maceda is now considered one of the first filmmakers in the Bisaya entertainment industry to fully embrace AI-assisted production technology.
According to him, the innovation offers both creative and practical advantages:
“It maximizes high-quality production at a fraction of the cost while creating a safer working environment for children and women.”
Adding to the emotional atmosphere of the series is its official soundtrack, “Ingna Ko,” performed by Rod Maceda himself.
With its blend of nostalgia, technology, family values, and socially relevant themes,
“Puppy Love” hopes to introduce a new generation of viewers to the warmth and lessons that made the original series unforgettable.
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