On Barbie Hsu, ‘Meteor Garden,’ and the rise of Asian novelas 

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MANILA, Philippines – Few shows have been as iconic in the Philippines as the original Meteor Garden in 2003.

When the Taiwanese drama aired in the country in the early 2000s, it became a cultural phenomenon as it introduced Asian novelas to Filipinos. 

Meteor Garden follows the love story of Shan Cai (played by the late Barbie Hsu), and Dao Ming Si (Jerry Yan) and his bad-boy crew of Hua Ze Lei (Vic Chou), Xi Men (Ken Chu), and Mei Zuo (Vaness Wu) — the cast all gaining a mammoth fan base in the Philippines because of the show. 

Based on the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango, popularly known as Boys Over Flowers, the original Meteor Garden became a pop culture landmark that disrupted local television entertainment for the years that followed. 

Breath of fresh air

When Meteor Garden first aired in the Philippines on ABS-CBN, few could have predicted the lasting impact it would have on the local entertainment scene.

The Filipino-dubbed Meteor Garden quickly became a hit among viewers, turning itself into one of the highest-rated programs in the country. The drama got so big among fans that its phenomenon was labeled “The Meteor Garden Fever.”

Its soundtracks — “Qing Fei De Yi”, and “Ni Yao De Ai” — were translated into Filipino by Josh Santana and Michelle Ayalde to further connect with Pinoy viewers. The translated songs were hits too, mainly because of their catchy tunes and association with Meteor Garden. 

Before Meteor Garden, Filipino TV was largely dominated by local teleseryes and dramas from Latin and North America, which were known for their melodramatic storylines and familial conflicts. 

Meteor Garden provided something different — a youthful and fresh alternative. It was mostly lighthearted, yet still packed a punch in its high-drama scenes. The series blended romance, humor, and the rich boy-poor girl trope.

The drama got popular not just in the Philippines but also in its neighboring countries. Meteor Garden got its live adaptation in Japan, which was titled Boys Over Flowers. In 2009, South Korea had its own adaptation of the show, which featured Lee Min-Ho, who soon became a household name in Korean dramas in the Philippines. 

The show was again rebooted in 2018, airing on ABS-CBN. It was still met with enthusiastic support from Filipino fans as it used nostalgia and some of its original charm to lure fans back into the Meteor Garden craze. In 2021, the series also got its Thai adaptation, adding to an already stacked number of iterations of the show.  

The show has been attributed to the direct increase in the popularity of other Asian novelas in the Philippines since live-action dramas from Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan were given regular time slots on major television networks following Meteor Garden‘s initial run. 

For many, Meteor Garden was their introduction to Asian dramas, and that initial spark has only grown stronger over the years. Dramas such as Stairway to Heaven in 2005, Boys Over Flowers in 2009, Wish Upon A Star in 2013, and Hotel del Luna in 2019, were just some of the most popular Asian series in the Philippines since Meteor Garden’s inception. 

Barbie Hsu and Jerry Yan’s charm

Meteor Garden anchored its episodes on the magnetic charm of its main stars Shan Cai (Barbie Hsu) and Dao Ming Si (Jerry Yan). 

Barbie, in particular, became a sensation in the Philippines, as her resilient and strong-willed character and optimistic attitude resonated with Filipinos. 

The impact of Barbie was so great that even after the show’s conclusion, she continued to be recognized by Filipino fans as Shan Cai. 

Barbie visited the Philippines in 2003 at the height of the Meteor Garden fever for a concert at the now PhilSports Arena. ABS-CBN was so afraid she would be swarmed by fans in the airport that the management used decoy actors pretending to be the actress while Hsu went through the immigration procedure. 

The charismatic Jerry Yan also became a household name with his brooding heartthrob character Dao Ming Si, a rich, spoiled, and often temperamental character who ultimately showed a more vulnerable and caring side when he met Shan Cai. 

Dao Ming Si’s character saw a captivating arc from a cold, distant figure to a passionate, conflicted lover, making his character a hit. His bad-boy charm and soft-man demeanor kept viewers invested in his love team with Shan Cai. 

F4 legacy

The F4 (Flower Four) — four handsome and wealthy boys at the top of the social class in their school — was an added dynamic to the series. The group was composed of Dao Ming Si, the charismatic leader; Hua Ze Lei, the quiet and sensitive guy; Xi Men, the charming playboy; and Mei Zuo, the witty one.

The group set new standards for what was considered cool and trendy back then. They had sleek hairstyles, fashionable accessories, and a distinct overall look that made them stand out in the show. 

Filipinos then rocked similar hairstyles, clothes, and accessories inspired by their favorite Meteor Garden characters. The iconic red bandana worn by Dao Ming Si, for example, became synonymous with his character’s passionate nature, and soon, was ever-present in the fashion scene in the country. 

The group also transcended the show, releasing three music albums and turning themselves into a real boy band. The boy group sold over 3.5 million album copies in their time together. 

Enduring popularity

Years after the original series aired on ABS-CBN, Meteor Garden’s pop culture impact can still be felt. 

Networks still have dedicated screen times for Asian dramas in their everyday programming. The same tropes have been rehashed in different shows in a bid to capture the meteoric highs Meteor Garden reached in its time.

Even as new shows and trends emerge — like the rise of Asian shows on streaming platforms — Meteor Garden will always remain a classic to Filipinos. 

Perhaps, it was a symbol of a time when Filipino television audiences first embraced their Asian neighbors’ drama offerings. – Rappler.com