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*Bituin*
Bituin
	Title card
Also known as	Star
Genre	Drama; Musical;
Created by	ABS-CBN Studios
Directed by	Wenn V. Deramas; Trina N. Dayrit; John D. Lazatin; Malu L. Sevilla;
Starring	Nora Aunor; Carol Banawa; Cherie Gil; Desiree del Valle;
Ending theme	"Langit na Bituin" by Carol Banawa
Country of origin	Philippines
Original language	Filipino
No. of episodes	173
Production
Executive producer	Nini S. Matilac
Camera setup	Multiple-camera setup
Running time	25-30 minutes
Original release
Network	ABS-CBN
Release	September 23, 2002 –; May 23, 2003

Bituin (international title: Star)^[1] is a Philippine television drama series broadcast by ABS-CBN. Starring Carol Banawa, Desiree del Valle, Nora Aunor and Cherie Gil. It aired on the network's Teleserye Primetime Bida line up from September 23, 2002 to May 23, 2003, replacing Pangako Sa 'Yo and was replaced by Basta't Kasama Kita.

Premise

Laura Sandoval and Carmela Gaston are half sisters who grew up with Carmela's mom (Doña Virginia Gaston) not treating Laura right. When they grew older Carmela doesn't marry while Laura marries Badong. After their second child, she found out he had been cheating on her.

As a single mother she was struggling to support her two daughters Melody and Bernadette. When her eldest Melody becomes sick, Laura goes to Carmela asking for help, who says that she will help if she hands over Bernadette so she may raise her as her own. With no one left to turn to Laura does it.

Carmela left for the United States to raise Bernadette and soon returns as a singer. In a concert, Laura knew their whereabouts. The kids grow up not knowing they are sisters. Melody notices that Laura is much closer to Bernadette, such as Laura teaching Bernadette to sing when she forbids Melody to do so. Bernadette becomes a star by recording Melody's voice and claiming it as her own. Both soon become singers. Melody finds her father and wins the heart of a young man named Dante.

In the end they all become a family: Badong and Laura find their love again, Carmela is no longer jealous of her sister, Doña Virginia gave the rightful will of her husband to Laura, Melody is a great singer and marries Josh Santana who is her singing partner, and Bernadette becomes a famous composer, especially the song she composed for her sister as a way to show she was sorry called "Sana Bukas"; she marries Dante, whom she fell in love with accidentally when she tried to help him win Melody's heart.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Nora Aunor as Laura Sandoval
Cherie Gil † as Carmela Gaston
Carol Banawa as Melody Sandoval
- Kristel Fulgar as young Melody
Desiree del Valle as Bernadette Gaston
- Eliza Pineda as young Bernadette
Carlo Muñoz as Dante
Michael Santana as Josh Santana
Michael de Mesa as Salvador Sandoval
Gardo Versoza as Diony
Cherry Pie Picache as Olivia
Celia Rodriguez as Doña Virginia Gaston
Jessa Zaragoza as Sultanna Andromeda "Andromeda"-left the series during her pregnancy and taped her finale episodes
Ronaldo Valdez as Amante Montesilverio
Chat Silayan † as Elvira Montesilverio
Tess Aquino as Madonna
Frank Garcia as Alex Montesilverio
Geoff Rodriguez as Dave Montesilverio
Kuh Ledesma as Lyrica Luna

Supporting cast

Efren Reyes Jr. as Arnel
Ricardo Cepeda as Conrado
Emilio Garcia as Ernesto
Lui Villaruz as Boom
John Apacible † as Willy
Perla Bautista as Ofelia
Rodel Velayo as Jimmy
Camille Prats as Lovelyn Gaston
Mat Ranillo III as Filemon Gaston
Sylvia Sanchez as Eva
Tado † as King
John Lapus as Queenie
Harlene Bautista as Tootsie
Rochelle Barrameda as Leila
Anita Linda † as Rustica
Jestoni Alarcon as Bienvenido Galang
Gigette Reyes as Dra. Reyes
Julia Clarete as Agnes Gandoza
Romnick Sarmenta as Pepito
Camilla Villamil as Melai

Cameo appearances

John Lloyd Cruz as Atty. Yuri Orbida (from the character of Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay)
Bea Alonzo as Atty. Kathrina Argos (from the character of Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay)
Kris Aquino
Boy Abunda
Ogie Diaz as Ogie
Carlos Agassi
Robert Seña
John Lesaca
Dessa
Franco Laurel
Divo Bayer
Cooky Chua
Agot Isidro
Julius Babao
Christine Bersola-Babao
Edu Manzano
Julio Diaz
Tirso Cruz III
Dolly de Leon
Randy Santiago
Bayani Agbayani
Willie Revillame
Ai-Ai Delas Alas
Romi Sison
Dindo de Viterbo
Tonette Escario

Reception

This was Nora Aunor's acting comeback after her shortlived stint on the series "Nora", a drama anthology that launched the second incarnation “Star Drama Anthology”. The series also launched the careers of Carol Banawa and Desiree Del Valle who played supporting roles in various TV and films. Senior stars such as Chat Silayan, Ronaldo Valdez and Celia Rodriguez and Cherie Gil played big roles in the series varying away from films.

Ratings

Its highest rating was 48.7% for the "Ultimate Showdown: The Diva VS The Supernova" of Melody and Bernadette at the Araneta Coliseum, while the lowest was 29.5%, its fifth episode.

In 2002, the series aired as the first line up of Teleserye Primetime Bida at 7:00 PM, followed up by Sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka (until February 14, 2003), Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay and Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan (until February 28, 2003).