Tabing Ilog — Season 1

Aired 14 March 1999

Everyone eagerly prepares for the Junior-Senior Prom, notwithstanding the roller coaster ride of emotions that comes along with it. While Rovic and Eds strive to make their relationship work despite their differences, Badong and James’ unspoken rivalry manifests and leads to a fatal accident that almost costs Badong’s life.

Georgina arrives from the U.S. and meets her childhood friends Eds, Badong, James, and Rovic. However, Eds seems to be jealous of the treatment everyone is giving Georgina. James is then challenged by Georgina to face his problem as the apparent reason behind their friend Shiela's suicide.

Out of Rovic’s concern to lead Fonzy to the right track, he takes the blame to protect Fonzy from a cheating scandal. As Rovic faces suspension, his friends are prompted to support and defend him. Rovic still keeps his silence, putting at risk the opportunity to become class valedictorian. Fonzy's denial of allegations against him causes an uproar among the student body.

Eds decides to work in Manila as a music lounge entertainer despite the dangers she might face. George's refusal to accept her father's new partner puts to waste Pia's efforts to win her heart. Fonzy and Corrinne become the newest additions to the group.

Rovic spends his birthday on an adventure trip with friends, and even visits a mall in Manila. But their joyous celebration is cut short when jealousy unravels flaws in their individual relationships.

The ghost of his father’s illicit affair continues to haunt Fonzy even as he returns to the province. Amid the problem he is going through, Fonzy finds a new family in Rovic’s home. Believing that Fonzy is a bad influence, Eds and their other friends convince Rovic to cut ties with Fonzy once and for all.

Out of his love for Corrinne, Badong is willing to defy all odds just to please her. But when Corrinne demands more than what he can afford, Badong steals money from his father and takes a beating for it. Meanwhile, Fonzy faces his fears and follows his father to Manila. In order to shield his family from pain, Fonzy chooses to keep the burden of knowing his father’s infidelity to himself.

Since the death of her daughter Shiela, Belen refuses to get too involved with “Flores de Mayo” festivities. Only helping out with the initial preparations, she then leaves everything to her husband, Nato, and youngest daughter, Anne. However, Anne and Belen soon realize that they committed an honest mistake after asking both George and Corrinne to join the parade as “Reyna de las Flores.

As Mother’s Day approaches, emotions are stirred by a sudden turn of events in the riverside community. Family issues are suddenly revealed in the homes of James and Rovic. Yet in the end, forgiveness finds its way to everyone’s hearts save for Chuck, whose strong presence causes an upheaval between him and George’s male friends.

Unlike Rovic who is free to decide on his own, Badong is left with no choice but to comply with his parents’ desires, even if it means sacrificing his own happiness. Thus, he is forced to take up dentistry in college. His friend George, on the other hand, remains aloof toward her pregnant stepmother, Pia.

Though it breaks her heart, Elvira leaves her family after another argument with her husband. James and his father look for Elvira, but their efforts prove futile. Another heart crushes as Badong discovers that Corrinne still loves James. Nevertheless, Corrinne reassures Badong that she has chosen him even if it is against her will.

Just in time for the school enrollment, James' mother leaves him and his father. Anne and the others choose to keep their friend company in this time of confusion. As her feelings for James grow stronger, Corrinne ponders the best way to call off her relationship with Badong. Feeling jealous of Eds' boss at the café, one fateful night seals Rovic's suspicions all along.

The group comes at a crossroads in their respective lives. Rovic and Eds break up over his jealousy toward Marcy. Anne runs away from home because her father, Nato, forbids her from seeing James. In their attempt to escape from Nato, Anne and James figure in a vehicular accident.

James and Anne may have survived a fatal accident, but they continue to bear the wrath of Anne’s parents. This prompts the two to defy all odds just to be by each other’s side. Despite this, Nato’s heart somehow softens as he realizes the risk of losing another child. In order to protect Anne, Nato chooses to remain stern toward the man they think is a threat to their daughter’s life.

The thought of a possible clash between Rovic, Jerry, and Eds is getting into Fonzy. He then takes it upon himself to protect Rovic from the trouble that Jerry’s presence may bring. Eaten up by guilt, Rovic makes an agreement with Jerry to keep their one-night stand a secret from Eds. Things should have gone smoothly if not for Fonzy, who unintentionally spills the beans to Eds and their friends.

Bitter over all the pain she experienced in love, Jerry makes it her quest to prove to Eds that Rovic is not a perfect gentleman. She then sets Rovic up to make Eds hate him, just like the way Jerry feels for all the men she encounters in her life.

Jerry’s plan of ruining Rovic’s character succeeds as Eds breaks up with Rovic. Because of this, a rift ensues between Rovic and his friends. While George and Fonzy stay by Rovic’s side, James and Badong opt to be in favor of Eds and Jerry. But before Rovic could even pick himself up, Jerry reveals that she is pregnant with his child.

Three of the riverside boys grow up to face all their problems, the best way they know how. Rovic decides to accept his responsibility as the father of Jerry’s unborn child and even agrees to marry her. James, on the other hand, joins the school fraternity as an outlet to escape from all his problems. And with the help of George, Fonzy deals with his teacher, Ms. Castro, who accuses him of cheating during an exam.

With the special treatment that their fraternity master, Perry, is giving James, the latter thinks that he has found a new family with the kind of brotherhood they have. Unfortunately, Perry has his own ulterior motive--that is, to make his way to Anne. Since Perry knows that James is Anne’s friend, he uses James as a bridge to befriend the apple of his eye.

Rovic has always been his friends’ peacemaker and adviser. Now that he faces his own predicament with Jerry’s unexpected pregnancy, the group experiences the downfall of a meaningful friendship—something that George refuses to accept.

For the sake of James and their friends, Anne continues to date Perry even if it is against her will. Because Perry threatens to hurt Badong, James, and Eds if she leaves him, Anne is left with no choice but to stay. James, on the other hand, learns from Jerry that her pregnancy is just a lie.

James saves Anne as Perry attempts to rape her. In spite of his heroic deed, Anne’s parents still put the blame on him and order his arrest. James is left with no choice but to leave. Meanwhile, Anne accidentally reads Shiela’s suicide letter, prompting her to follow James. While Perry and his fraternity haunt James and Anne, the pair executes their escape.

To evade the troubles they have at home, running away is the only solution James and Anne could think of. They wander around Manila, until they find themselves asking for Marcy’s help. Marcy lets them stay with him and his family. Everyone instantly welcomes them with open arms, save for Linda, Marcy’s sister.

Jerry’s accident caused by Perry and his gang leads to Rovic’s discovery that she is not pregnant. The friends continue to worry about James, Anne, and Rovic’s dillemas, unwary of the impending danger that comes with Jackie’s return and Perry’s rage.

As a desperate measure to get to James, Perry and his gang attack Badong. Luckily, Corrinne comes to Badong’s rescue and rushes him to the hospital. Meanwhile, Anne returns home and faces her parents about the truth behind the death of her sister, Shiela.

Since Jackie knows her way around, she forms an alliance with the nemeses of the riverside friends and keeps the trust of Anne and her parents. She makes sure that she gets the revenge, which she has planned against Eds for years.

Jackie’s plan is falling into place as she plays all her cards right and manipulates Anne’s mother and Jerry to go against Eds. She does everything subtly that they fail to notice that she is just using them as minions to take revenge against Eds and her friends.

Jerry’s obsession with Rovic leads to an accident that almost costs her life. She breaks out of prison and attempts to kill Eds again. With Rovic’s intervention, Eds’ life is spared. However, Eds’ plight continues as Jackie carries out her plans of gaining access to the riverside friends. Without Eds knowing it, Jackie pretends to befriend them so she will eventually gain their trust.

Jackie infiltrates the riverside friends to slowly attack from the inside. She gets James and Rovic’s trust, and manipulates Perry to leave James alone so Perry could have Anne for himself. Amid the calm after the storm, Badong, George, and Eds still could not bear to place their trust on her.

Anne believes that the truth behind Shiela’s death is the key to prove James’ innocence. However, Jackie makes sure that her ulterior motive comes first so she presents a dubbed voice tape of Shiela to brainwash Anne. Upon hearing her sister’s venting, Anne embraces her family once again and rids of James in her life.

Love comes for Fonzy and George as they officially become lovers. But their friends Badong and James both lose one of the most important women in their lives. Fer bids Badong goodbye and entrusts him to Corrinne, while love goes for James as Anne opts to end their relationship.

Believing that their team lost in the basketball game because of him, Fonzy starts to belittle himself. Unfortunately, this attitude of him also starts to affect his relationship with George. Instead of appreciating his girl’s efforts, Fonzy puts the blame of his misfortune on George. This prompts George to move on and break up with him—an act that signals Darian’s return.

Without George by his side, Fonzy’s life is a terrible mess. He tries to woo George back to his side, but his efforts are in vain. Now that Fonzy’s at his weakest, Darian, a woman from his past, uses the opportunity to get even. She plots a way to publicly humiliate Fonzy and make him feel the pain twice as much as the hurt he inflicted on her before.

To gain the trust of Anne and her parents, Jackie conspires with Perry and devises a way to make it seem that Perry is their savior. Meanwhile, Fonzy gets involved in a sexual scandal. With the help of his family and friends, he manages to clear his tarnished reputation.

Dex and his accomplices attempt to serve Eds as a prostitute to one of their richest clients. Luckily, Rovic comes to Eds’ rescue. Dex and his gang manage to escape, only to return during Jackie’s birthday celebration and take Ryan and Eds as hostages.

Aired 19 October 2003