The government closed several networks (including ABS-CBN) during the 1972–1986 martial-law period, leaving RPN and GMA the country's only two commercial television networks. Veteran actress Caridad Sanchez enhanced the series' popularity. Its TV version starred Marianne Dela Riva and Ronald Corveau and introduced young actors, including Romnick Sarmenta. Gulong ng Palad, co-written by Loida Virina, was the longest-running radio serial and ran until the mid-1980s. Larawan ng Pag-ibig ( Picture of Love), Prinsipe Amante ( Prince Amante), and a number of others followed. The first Philippine TV soap opera was Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato ( Mystery at the Stone House) in 1963, produced by ABS-CBN. Soap operas in the Philippines began with Gulong ng Palad ( Wheel of Fortune) on radio in 1949, and the genre expanded into television during the early 1960s.
