The story revolves on a barrio lass Catherine Ramirez, a young woman who has been deprived of everything. Due to her mother's death and her father's disappearance, she is concerned that one day someone will abandon her and she will end up like her parents. She grows up in the care of her grandmother Aurora. The family is connected to the Castillejos, a family Aurora is a part of; she was born out of wedlock to the late Castillejo patriarch. Their lives seem to be in an unlikely fate when Isadora the greedy new wife of Aurora's stepbrother, tries to take control of half of their property. Isadora has a son named Miguel. On the night of their arrival Miguel runs away after being horribly abused by his mother. Miguel runs into the barn; Catherine follows him and sees him crying. The young Rafael saves the two in from a fire. Catherine suddenly sees Rafael as a guardian while Miguel owes him his life, but is jealous. The young puppy love is cut short, but Catherine remembers the promise the three made that when the time comes they will all meet again. Catherine grows into a beautiful woman. When Miguel comes home, a longing affection strikes them and draws an attraction. But beyond their happiest moments Rafael comes home to visit the two. What Catherine does not know is that they returned just to see her and spend time with her. Miguel's ex-girlfriend Scarlet comes home from abroad to disturb Miguel. Catherine and Miguel try to escape and get help from Rafael. Catherine is abducted, leaving them worried and speechless. Three months pass and Catherine is trapped in a basement. She tries her best to run away and is saved by Louella from this heartache. She decides to regain her strength from the pain that this has caused her. Catherine, in the middle of hope and salvation, meets a rich old man Martin Dela Rhea. After finding important belongings and a load of cash at a park, he repays the offer by giving her a scholarship. She agrees and does well; leading her to a position and eventually, a proposal of marriage. Even though her grandmother opposes, she uses this as a way to fight off Isadora and Scarlet, who is revealed to be Martin's spoiled daughter and now Miguel's wife. But how long will she be happy? How long will she suffer the consequences of her decision? Who will be the only one so far to love her? In the end, whom will she choose: Rafael or Miguel
Cast
Main cast
Supporting cast
Guest cast
Frances Makil-Ignacio as Winnie "Tita Winnie" Ignacio: One of Scarlet's employees and friend.
Jefrrey Hidalgo as TBC: A woman Isadora hired to pose with Catherine, naked, hoping to destroy Miguel and Catherine's relationship by sending pictures. The former succeeds and their relationship is ruined.
Soliman Cruz
Jeoff Monzon
AJ Perez as young Rafael Torralba: Young Raphael saved Catherine and Miguel as becomes their "Kuya".
Chinggoy Alonzo as Don Amadeo Castillejos†: The late head of the Castillejos' clan and Aura's father.
Angelo Patrimonio
Mika dela Cruz as young Sofia Castillejos / Sofia Ramirez
Gemmae Custodio as young Catherine Ramirez
Donita Rose as Rose Ramirez†: Rolando's wife and Catherine and Anna's late mother.
Bing Pimentel as Anna Ramirez†: Catherine's deceased older sister and Rose and Rolando's daughter.
John Suarez as young Miguel Castillejos: After being abused greatly by his mother, Isadora Castillejos, Miguel decided to run away and he meets Catherine and Raphael. Little did he know that they would be in a love triangle in their adult years.
Trivia
the series was also cited to be one of Claudine’s best works in all of her soaps the mature concept of the telenovela was also cited
The series became 2008's hottest television primetime drama, leading with GMA-7's Dyesebel which was also on the top of the ratings.
Angelica Panganiban, who was given the role of Scarlet, was given a chance to act in the recent hot series Rubi, a Philippine adaptation of the 2004 Mexican telenovela of the same name made by Television Franchise Televisa.
This was Melissa Ricks' and Matt Evans's first primetime TV series before doing afternoon daytime dramas such as the remake of Jim Fernandez' Kambal sa Uma in 2009.
This was Diether Ocampo's second team-up with Claudine Barretto since Mula sa Puso, Saan Ka Man Naroroon and Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin.
The series was nominated in 2009's PMPC and Guillermo Mendoza Awards for Most-Loved Drama Television Series. Claudine Barretto was nominated for Best Actress and Best Performance.
In 2012, Erik Santos made a cover of the drama's theme song, included in the second volume of the official soundtrack of another ABS-CBN teleserye, Walang Hanggan.
