Nita Negrita (International title: Nita) is a 2011 Philippine television drama series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by Gil Tejada Jr., it stars Barbie Forteza in the title role. It premiered on February 14, 2011 on the network's Dramarama sa Hapon line up replacing Little Star. The series concluded on June 10, 2011, with a total of 83 episodes. It was replaced by Sinner or Saint in its timeslot.
Cast and characters
Lead cast
Barbie Forteza as Antoinette / Nita "Netnet" Raymundo
Supporting cast
Joshua Dionisio as Prince Ramirez
Lexi Fernandez as Mystica "Misty" Del Castillo
Nova Villa as Ima
Lotlot de Leon as Mirasol "Mira" Buenaventura
Zoren Legaspi as Arturo Del Castillo
Diana Zubiri as Danica
Rachelle Ann Go as Amanda Del Castillo
Bubbles Paraiso as Alexandra "Alex" Del Castillo
Lollie Mara as Andrea Del Castillo
Jenny Miller as Pia Antonio
Dexter Doria as Segunda
Jim Pebangco as Ben
Alvin Aguilar as Edgar
Miguel Tanfelix as Jun Jun
Michelle Vito as Peachy
Jhoana Marie Tan as Selyang
Glenda Garcia as Belen
Mel Kimura as Bella
Sabrina San Diego
Guest cast
Melijah Panturilla as young Misty
Blackface controversy
The show's use of blackface was criticized in the media and by foreign academics. Axel Honneth professor of philosophy at both the University of Frankfurt and Columbia University stated that the show "presents the stereotypical theme of poverty being ascribed with skin colour", while Dr Elaine Marie Carbonell Laforteza, Lecturer in Cultural Studies Macquarie University, Australia, stated in her book The Somatechnics of Whiteness and Race: Colonialism and Mestiza Privilege, that "Nita does not appear 'authentically black', but painted as black. The effect is a caricature of blackness" and that "blackness is used to create Nita as a manifestation of black identity that is constantly open to scrutiny and mockery".
Ratings
According to AGB Nielsen Philippines' Mega Manila People/Individual television ratings, the pilot episode of Nita Negrita earned a 7.8% rating. While the final episode scored a 19.1% rating in Mega Manila household television ratings.