The show began in 1987 with the original cast composed of Joey Marquez, Richard Gomez, Miguel Rodriguez, Gloria Romero, Cynthia Patag, and Amy Perez. They were later joined by Carmina Villaroel (who then played Richard's younger sister, Cathy, a street smart tomboyish kid from the province, and Apa Ongpin (who played the role of a rich Castilian hunky nerd). Over the years, many characters have come and gone, like Rene Requiestas (as Minerva's genius brother who is never taken seriously), John Estrada (as Johnny, a dumb hunk whose favorite endeavor is to invent things that never succeed). Later additions to the family was Gwapings member, Eric Fructuoso, who was first featured as a suitor of Cathy. Eventually the two other Gwapings members namely Mark Anthony Fernandez and Jomari Yllana were also added to the cast. They played regular teenage rascals always on the lookout for girls). Still later on, another bench brat joined in the fray, Jao Mapa.