'KAPUSO' GAINING FOOTHOLD IN CEBU
MANILA, JANUARY 23, 2011 (STANDARD) by Isah V. Red - Cebuanos have always been watching ABS-CBN shows since the network established a foothold in the island province decades ago, and when it returned to the broadcast arena when then President Ferdinand E. Marcos was forced to live a life in exile in Hawaii in 1986.
Since the network's resurgence in the broadcast industry, it dramatically changed the viewing habits of the Cebuanos who were then left with no choice but watch shows on either the government sequestered networks RPN and IBC or what used to be the Republic Broadcasting Service and eventually renamed GMA Network, Inc. when the Gozons, Duavits, and Jimenezes acquired the network from the American Bob Stewart, if and when their TV sets could receive broadcast from them. Remember that during that time satellite transmission of shows from Manila was costly, and therefore these networks were forced to use what we now know as relay transmission.
And so, for nearly two decades since the iconic ABS-CBN logo returned to Cebu, programs of the network have dominated the TV lives of the Cebuanos. Not for long, maybe.
Last weekend, signs of a divided audience was clearly on the rise. We were at the Ayala Center Friday afternoon, waiting for the Kapuso show that would have the stars of Alakdana—Louise de los Reyes, Paolo Avelino, and Alden Richards entertaining the audience that had massed at the center of the open area of the mall culminating in a performance by I ª You Pare star Regine Velasquez.
I was with other members of the print media from Manila who braved a threatening bad weather for the annual Sinulog Festival upon the invitation of the Kapuso network to cover the Kapuso shows that would be held on Friday late afternoon at the Ayala Center and Saturday afternoon at the SM City Event Center.
Both shows were part of the weeklong Sinulog celebration, the highlight of which was the street dancing parade and culminating in the competition that would last the whole morning and afternoon and extend towards the evening on Sunday, feast of the city's patron, St. Niño, or the Holy Child Jesus.
By 6 p.m. that crowd at the Ayala Center had become a bit restless but the local GMA talents kept them glued on their seats and, for most of them, where they were standing since around 3 p.m. with antics in Sugbuanon and which we had no clue what they were screaming about or laughing at. The slight drizzle didn't face them, most of them came armed with umbrellas to keep the dry from the rain.
Afternoon delight
The Kapuso stars arrived and met with the Cebu-based members of the press who were delighted with the fact that Louise de los Reyes, Alden Richards, Paolo Avelino mingled with them answered their questions gamely. They had fun having their pictures taken with the stars.
We asked a local journalist how the Kapuso network is faring in the province. The writer said, "Based on how the fans have grown, I guess the network is doing okay…maybe in a couple of more years, Kapamilya might have a problem already. The fans, in fact, have become partisan. Even among families now, there are two camps—Kapuso and Kapamilya. Sometimes they end up bickering on which network has better shows and better looking stars.
When Regine Velasquez arrived, the corridor on the second floor had been crammed with people craning their necks to have a look at the singer/actress. Some of them carried their toddlers and raised them to the glass windows to look at Regine, who said during the interview how she wished she and husband Ogie Alcasid could have a baby soon.
Regine, at that time, was nursing a bad cold, coughing now and then to clear her throat. She would be singing for the Cebuanos and she didn't want to let her fans (the gays came in their best outfits…gowns, cocktail dresses…as they brandished placards with words expressing their love for Regine and GMA Kapuso).
The main show, as the organizers called it, started with songs from Alden, Paolo, and then Louise. Each of them were met with eardrum-splitting screams from Cebuano fans, but they all shrieked in delight when Regine came on stage. The singer, despite her condition, entertained the audience with her gay impersonation. It was nearly a riot when she asked all those gay men dressed in women's clothing to join her onstage.
Sensational Trillo, Evangelista and Devaughn
The following day, the Kapuso fans were all at the SM City Event Center. It was a convenient five minute walk from where we were booked for the night, the SM owned Radisson Blu, a luxurious hotel right in the middle of the reclaimed land in Cebu City.
The fans were all agog waiting for the appearance of Dwarfina stars Heart Evangelista, Dennis Trillo, Will Devaughn and Iwa Moto.
The local press was held up waiting for the stars at the local Cabalen branch munching on Kapampangan delicacies in the land of Cebu lechon.
Heart, Dennis, Will, and Iwa had fun doing the round-robin type interviews, talking mostly about their roles in Dwarfina. Heart plays a thumb-size girl, result of a curse of the elves in her parents backyard. Dennis is her childhood friend, Iwa her stepsister and Devaughn, the guy from the world of the elves who falls for her.
During the show at the mall's event center, the fans shrieked in delightful glee when Devaughn came out and sang. Well, he could carry a tune, but he'll never be a great singer. So was Iwa Moto who tried to relate to the fans speaking in Sugbuanon.
But, it was the game where Devaughn acted a best friend to the female contestants where the audience went wild, especially when the actor hugged and kissed the contestants.
Trillo did the same and the females in the audience seemed ready for anything Dennis would do to them.
Heart did a bit like Dennis and Will, but to male contestants. But Heart didn't have the guts to be as wild as the two men before her. But she did okay, notwithstanding the limitations she set on herself.
The show was sensational to the Kapuso fans that crowded the mall's event center. Outside, it was already raining hard, and the Sinulog Festival was nearing its culmination.
The Kapuso network's officers should be glad that after all the years that the network has been sending stars to promote the shows, it seems it's paying off.
We went home and after a couple of hours, we had dinner at Feria, the coffee shop of the hotel where at the time it was featuring some Spanish dishes. At the lobby later, we stumbled upon Tween Hearts stars Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio. The two were being mobbed by guests for photo opportunities.
Well, the Kapuso network, once unknown in this city, has come of age, at last!
Tunay Na Buhay
Fascinating, inspiring, astonishing – all of them with a lesson to impart. These are the stories that Tunay Na Buhay, a 30-minute profile magazine program that features compelling stories of people, will share.
Hosted by Rhea Santos, the show goes beyond biographies by searching far and wide for the most riveting life stories. These are stories of people who have gone through some of the most unforgettable, amazing experiences, life events that are sometimes beyond belief but are always engaging and thought-provoking.
"Tunay Na Buhay is different because our subjects are the storytellers themselves," Rhea says. "They will share their lives and the lessons they have learned that will make us appreciate life more. These are life stories that will make us cry. Or will make us smile. Or maybe both. And this is really our show because each of us has a story to tell."
The program will feature three stories each episode, each with a different feel or tone. "For me, it's important that I connect with my interview subjects," Rhea says. "I have to share their laughter, feel their pain and, in a small way, be part of their dreams."
For its pilot episode, the show featurs the inspiring love story of Wawel and Mila who have been married for 15 years despite Mila's condition. After their wedding day, tragedy struck, and from then on, Mila has been wheelchair bound.
The next story talks about a mother's unconditional love for her children, twins who are conjoined at the head. These two kids share one body but they have very different personalities.
Finally, there is the story of success of a multi-millionaire at the age of 26. This man was only 20 years old when he earned his first millions. What could be the secret to his success?
Tunay Na Buhay premieres tonight after Saksi on GMA-7.
Bubble Gang remains on air
If you heard that Bubble Gang has burst and would disappear from the Kapuso screen, Wilma V. Galvante, GMA Network's Senior vice president for Entertainment TV, says,"No, it won't!"
Bubble Gang is Philippine TV's longest-running and most successful gag show, so why axe it when it ain't broke.
The Kapuso Network finds no reason to end Bubble Gang, one of its flagship programs, as it goes stronger and continues to deliver its unmatched brand of comedy to its loyal viewers every week as it did for the last 15 years. In fact, it has been airing at an earlier time slot to cater to even more viewers since November 2010.
Rep. Irwin to make landlords liable for piracy
Buhay Party List Congressman Irwin Tieng reinforces his support to the government's ongoing anti-piracy campaign by penalizing even the landlords, who knowingly lease their premises for manufacture, distribution or sale of pirated discs.
Cong Irwin filed House Bill 3823 otherwise known as "Landlords and Building Owners Liability on Piracy Act," which intends to punish the owner of a facility, house, building or any establishment that allows and tolerates the proliferation of illegal discs.
Imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than three years or a fine of not less than P20,000 will be meted on the law-breakers.
"Piracy creates a big dent in the profits of music and motion picture industries," reasons out Cong. Irwin. "Pirated CDs and DVDs have become a major player in the black market. It does not only hurt the country's international image to do business, but it also greatly affects local performers and manufacturers."
Cong. Irwin authored the bill with his fellow lawmaker, Cong. Michael Velarde. Together, they also seek for the assistance of the Optical Media Board (OMB), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other government agencies to formulate and develop implementing rules and regulations for the proper execution of the provisions of the law.
Since his first term in the Lower House, Cong. Irwin has been zealous in his battle against piracy, even as he also succeeded in lowering the amusement taxes for the local entertainment industry.
"The key to solve piracy lies in the hands of the Filipino people who should stop patronizing pirated copies of music CDs and film DVDs," insists Cong. Irwin. "There is hope to curb piracy if only the people will be vigilant."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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