Ultimate Throwback March

Yes, March indeed is the ultimate throwback month for ABS-CBN because a lot of shows and familiar stories are about to return!

Let's start off with the return of the well-loved Koreanovela which was aired last 2011 - MY GIRLFIREND IS A GUMIHO. It starts airing tomorrow at 5:15 PM.

Before the return of a favorite character, let us of course watch the finale week of the longest pre-primetime teleserye to date - ANNALIZA! Watch as we guess if she will have a happy ending at 5:45 PM before TV Patrol.

And of course, the much-awaited return of our most beloved comics character - DYESEBEL - starring Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby and ANNE CURTIS in the title role, no less. This airs at 7:45 PM after TV Patrol.

Don't forget that GALEMA is also down to its last two weeks - weekdays at 4:15 PM.

Monday next week, March 24, the most awaited teleserye MIRABELLA starring Julia Barretto is also airing. No timeslot has been announced yet.

AND OF COURSE ON MARCH 31... the return of the steamy afternoon habit returns after PHR has ended its run with the latest Kapamilya Gold offering - MOON OF DESIRE starring Meg Imperial, JC De Vera and Ellen Adarna. BUT BEFORE THAT...

THE ULTIMATE THROWBACK IS HAPPENING RIGHT AFTER IT'S SHOWTIME

BECAUSE THE ASIANOVELA THAT STARTED IT ALL IS BACK.

METEOR GARDEN! Fall in love again with Shan Chai and the F4 weekday afternoons on Kapamilya Gold, and weeknights on Jeepney TV!

And that is our Ultimate Throwback this March only from ABS-CBN! :)

Quiz 5 - Post modernization

In this time today, the local entertainment is trying to get out of the usual pinoy stories. If someone would ask you, "What is Filipino Teleserye?" people will just answer, "mahirap naging mayaman, nagkapalit ng anak, inapi lumaban sa mga nag-api, finale that consists gun shooting and kidnapping, finale wedding and of course, after getting into an accident; the character will have an amnesia".

But now, our local writers try to be open and more expressive on the stories for the people to experience new and much greater stories. Good example to this is some soap operas like Magkaribal that talks about fashion, Ina Kapatid Anak focuses on shoe business, Pangarap na butuin is all about singers, Diva which is a musical, My Husband's Lover that was criticized and created a big issue because it is about a gay love story, and the recent Rhodora X that tackles dissociative identity disorder.

Also, remakes are part of the modern television. It started with GMA 7's Darna which stars Angel Locsin on the year 2006 that made a big bang, and another big hit is ABS-CBN's Mara Clara on the year 2010. Another side of remakes that made a new impact in the world of local television is the remakes of the shows from different countries. Marimar is just one of the biggest proof that Filipinos has this curiosity illness that makes them watch something that made by other countries that are being remade here in the Philippines.

But despite of all these new concepts of Philippine television, there are still subplots that goes back to the cliches and traditional story lines of the usual Filipino stories.

Q3 - Marxism and Social Classes

In our last entry, we discussed about the common plots that Teleseryes are tackling at the moment - and one of those is the Rich Man falls in love with Poor Lady, or vice versa, or the rich people are more powerful than the poor ones - in short, Inequality between the social classes.

Last Thursday, we discussed in our Pop Culture class about Social Classes, Marxism and Hegemony. Marxism, which was proposed by Karl Marx, is a method of socio-economic analysis and worldview based on a materialist interpretation, and is also an analysis of class-relations and conflict within society.

In teleseryes, even though we are used of these genres, the rich man-poor lady love affair plot still sells. Numerous teleseryes have been produced using this plot but they still win in the viewers' hearts. Examples are: Walang Hanggan, Mula sa Puso, Ang Lalaking Nagmahal Sa Akin, Villa Quintana and Gulong ng Palad among others. Gulong ng Palad, for one, is the first ever soap opera in the Philippines which started in radio and spawned two television remakes. It's plot is simple - Rich man Carding falls in love with poor lady Luisa and there is Carding's mother Menang who's bound to hinder their love and make Luisa's life a living hell.

In 2005, QTV and Viva Television produced a teen show that was quoted to follow the footsteps of the successful teen-oriented program TGiS - POSH. It's story is about two groups of college teens - the POSH or the rich ones, and the Ka-POSH - or the less rich ones. Their groups would clash until they all discover that two members of the POSH people are not really POSH. Of course, you know what's next for these two characters. However, unlike TGiS and Gulong ng Palad, Posh did not do that well in the ratings that it bid goodbye after 5 months.

I am (and my blogmates are, I guess) a fan of these shows. However, these two shows proved that there is really an inequality in society and thus, social classes really exist. Because these shows would not be created for nothing. As they say, TV shows, most especially teleseryes, reflect the society that is existent today. Not only that, these are also the shows that are rating very well. And why do people watch these shows? It's because they can easily relate to the characters.

And yes, teleseryes are produced, are written, and are created the way we want it. We may say that we are tired of seeing the same thing over and over again. But we still watch them because we see ourselves in the characters, whether the working class being maligned by the ruling class, the working class strives to be better, to be good. And that's what we love about being Filipinos, that despite the inequality, we never stop being better. And that's how teleseryes depict our lives.

Quiz 2 - Structuralism

As for our second quiz in Pop Culture, we are tasked to give you a list of the common things that happen and are still present in our Teleseryes. This is actually in line with our lesson about Structuralism.

I'm sure our readers are also supporters or typical viewers of Teleseryes. And more than a thousand has been produced already by the giant networks ABS-CBN, GMA and  TV5. If we can notice, most stories use the same formula or some subplots and storylines can also be the same, intentional or not, adaptation or original story. And so, my group mates Ina, Mart and I were able to list down a lot. And we are also asked to write down examples of Teleseryes in which the following common plotlines are present.

1. "Rags to Riches" - This may be is the most commonly used storyline ever. Nothing can beat a story that inspires the viewers to reach for their dreams and do good in their lives. Female characters are often used as lead in these kind of stories. The characters achieve their so-called "riches" by undergoing these possible situations: 1. Marrying an older and richer man who fell in love with the lead and then will later die in the story, and of course the inheritance all goes to the girl. 2. A poor lady/man is discovered to be the daughter/son of either a business tycoon, a CEO, or someone who is rich. And of course before the discovery, they have been already close and felt the so-called "Lukso ng Dugo". Most of the time, the leads in this kind of storyline are driven to succeed to seek revenge to those who belittled them during their poor, low times.

• Maria Mercedes - This I think is the most recent one. Mercedes married Santiago del Olmo - a rich man who fell in love with her beauty and wit. What makes it different is that Santiago knows that they are marrying each other for Mercedes to get revenge to those who killed her brother, and she obviously needs money and connections for her to solve the crime. Sooner in the story, Santiago died and Mercedes inherited his company, San Carmelo, and all the money he has.
• MariMar - Another Thalia remake, MariMar lost her memory and soon, she discovered that she is a son of a rich business tycoon. And after knowing that, she would seek revenge to those who harmed her like Angelika and Sergio.
• Iisa Pa Lamang - Catherine was belittled by Isadora Castillejos after discovering that she had a love affair with Isadora's son Miguel. Isadora succeeded to drove Catherine and her Lola Aura out of the Hacienda Amadesto. But years after, Catherine returned as rich woman Cate and a married woman to Martin Dela Rhea.

2. Amnesia - Ever since the birth of Pinoy Soap Operas until its modernization and improvements, this plot is still used and in fairness, in different angles. These can be sometimes part of the original plot where the lead would lose his/her memory during the childhood years. Or the lead characters can experience this after an accident in the middle of the story which will open to another chapter for the serye, which is existing right now in one of the topraters - Got To Believe.

• Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin - Mylene is the illegitimate daughter of Ferdinand Fuentebella, a rich and popular man. However, she was taken care by her mother Lilian. A big fire caused her amnesia and was renamed as Katherine. She soon works for Ferdinand as his secretary. Fastforward to the next chapter, she discovers that she is really Mylene. However, she met a car accident with her obsessed lover Gabriel, and again gets amnesia and was renamed Carmencita.
• Maging Sino Ka Man - Jackie is the princess of rich business tycoon Don Fidel Madrigal and is set to marry a son of a shipping magnate JB Berenger. But then, she was kidnapped after an outreach program and met a car accident. She was believed to be dead by her family members but unbeknownst to them, she is alive and can't remember anything. She is now known as Princess, the wife of Eli.

3. Star-Crossed Lovers - Of course, everyone finds this plot amusing. How will a teleserye fail to get the viewers kilig everytime a rich man fights for his relationship with a poor lady from his villainous mother or disapproving father? Also, how can the lead characters have a harmonious relationship if one of them is already married with someone they do not really love? These teleseryes answer the questions.

• Villa Quintana - Lynette and Isagani are total opposites. Lynette came from the rich clan of the Quintanas while Isagani came from the poor Samontes. Plus let's add the fact that both parents of theirs are very much against with their love story. But of course, they will fight for each other that led them to committing suicide in the end... not so sure if the remake is set to that though.
• Walang Hanggan - The phenomenal teleserye of course. Daniel and Katerina are childhood sweethearts but then their worlds change and soon, Daniel is believed to be dead while Katerina gets married with Nathan. They meet again soon, and discover their feelings with each other again.

Okay. So this is the part where my Google Chrome suddenly crashed and lost all the other things that I have typed already. And since it would be too intoxicating to remember everything again and retype it, we will still continue to give you a rundown of other things commonly found in teleseryes but this time a short but many examples of teleseryes that used the plots. Calm down, typist, please? :)

4. Sibling Rivalry - Siblings are always pitted as rivals - either in their work, for their parents' attention, or for the love of the same man or woman. Examples are Gelai VS. Victoria in Magkaribal, Margaux VS. Celyn in Ina Kapatid Anak, Victor VS. Rafael in Dugong Buhay, Charming VS. Kristal in Bakekang, Dave VS. JR in Tayong Dalawa, The Jewel Sisters in Pangarap na Bituin, and The Four Sanggres in Encantadia.

5. There is only one man in the world. - The third wheel villains always act as if there are no other men in this world and they are really obsessed with the male lead. Examples are Misty of Maria Mercedes, Agatha of Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas, Bridgitte of Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit, Gina of Galema, and Stella of Annaliza. Of course, there are also male counterparts like Marcus of Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin and Roberto of Broken Vow.

6. Ikaw ang Tunay naming Anak. - Baby-Switching Blues, Kidnapping after birth or an accident that separates the mother and the child - it will never fail to make a heart-wrenching, top-rating teleserye. Examples are: Mara and Clara, Fina of Tanging Yaman, Annaliza, Mylene of Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Victor of Dugong Buhay, Yuri of Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay among others.

7. Cats are not only the species given 9 lives - the leads and villains of soap operas too! Daniel of Walang Hanggan was shot in the series I guess three times or more. In fairness, after 10 months of airing, he died in the penultimate episode. Selina of the original Mula sa Puso was diagnosed of Leukemia, but managed to survive a car explosion, a gunshot that led her falling to a building...but after that she was quickly ran into by a truck that finally ended her life after two years of her evil ways to Via.

8. The Bestfriend - A lead character won't survive without having a supporter, a joker, an adviser. And that is the role of the bestfriend. Chorva of Pangarap na Bituin, Mikay of Adarna, Patricia of Got to Believe, Mimay of Kaputol ng Isang Awit are just some of the bestfriends the lead characters were able to hold on to survive their miserable world.

9. Devices - Some objects or places were used as devices or symbols to make the story flowing. Katerina and Daniel had their Infinity Ring in Walang Hanggan while Yanie and Brennan went back to the island where they got stuck in  the ending of Paraiso. These are also used to discover the parentage of the leads like the diary in Mara Clara, Sketch Notebook in Magkaribal and necklace in Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin.

10. The Finale: Kidnapping or Cornering - Expect that if the the last two-four weeks teaser is aired, a kidnapping is about to happen just like the case of Celyn in Ina Kapatid Anak, Fina in Tanging Yaman, and Lovelia in Akin Pa Rin  Ang Bukas. Also, if no kidnapping is about to happen, the villain will just appear where the lead is and will corner him/her usually using a gun, like Misty of Maria Mercedes, Eva of Legacy among others.

These are just 10 of the most commonly used plots/scenes in Teleseryes. But admit it, you catch new shows because you want to see these things too...with of course knowing how it will be treated. Almost all the stories, local or Hollywood (in my opinion ha! I hope with my groupmates as well..but I'm sure Mart would disagree and Ina would agree with me! Haha!) are just the same! They are just given a new treatment depending on the profile of the audience, the target market, and most especially if it will work in the flow of the story. And most of the time, those shows without these cliches do not rate. But with new shows coming this year, we should look forward to seeing what will be repeated and if something new will be offered.

Q1 - Use Value vs. Exchange Value

Filipinos really love watching films. And Filipinos love making films as well. Top-notch producers Star Cinema, Regal Films, Viva Films, GMA Films and other film-making productions in the industry always come up with new movies almost every two weeks to a month, offering different genres, different (or can we say almost similar) stories. But at the end of the film, there are always two questions that come out of our minds -- Did we enjoy the film? And is the film worth paying-for?

Last Monday in our Pop Culture class, we discussed the Theory of Commodity Fetishism, and we emphasized more on the USE VALUE and EXCHANGE VALUE. Use Value would refer to the usefulness of the good for the one who consumes it, and how practical it is for us to buy it while Exchange Value is the money that a commodity can command to the market or the cost depends on its popularity or scarcity of that commodity.

Obviously, for Philippine TV, we cannot actually analyze its value in Use and Exchange because it is free, as long as you have a TV set in your house, then money won't be an issue (unless you're a TV addict like me and that consumes your more than half of the Meralco bill.). But Filipino films are in a different case.

Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin movie poster. This
1993 film stars Maricel Soriano and
Zsa-Zsa Padilla with Gabby Concepcion

Let us use, for that matter, one of the most popular genres/plot lines in the industry today - the 'mistress' films. These films have been existent already in the early times - with titles such as 'Langis at Tubig', 'My Other Woman', 'Nagalit ang Buwan Sa Haba ng Gabi', 'Relasyon' and 'Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin' - until now in the modern times - 'A Love Story', 'A Secret Affair', 'The Bride and The Lover', 'The Mistress', 'No Other Woman' and 'When the Love is Gone' (which is actually a remake of Nagalit...). A Secret Affair, The Mistress and No Other Woman were certified box office hits reaching more than a hundred million ticket sales. But is spending an almost-200-peso ticket worth it?

Well, for me, I am a fan of these films and I can say that it's worth it. After all, I am a fan. I can endlessly watch these films and after I buy the ticket and watch the movie, once the DVD copy is released, I would buy it too. BUT for the non-fans, would they watch those kinds of films? We are not sure. I am not sure. People have different preferences and we cannot question that. Also, people have different priorities. But as I watch those films and read reviews, I can really say that they are worth the money I paid for. These films have the same genre, but they tackle different issues. They don't offer the same acts and stories...or do they?

No Other Woman is a 2011 mistress movie produced
by Star Cinema and Viva Films

Let's take No Other Woman and A Secret Affair as an example. Many regarded A Secret Affair as a 'part two' of No Other Woman  basically because Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay are starring in the film again and another affair will be tackled. But when you watch the film, it's different. No Other Woman is about a woman fighting for his husband after discovering that the husband has an affair with another woman, while A Secret Affair is about a woman who did not come to her wedding after having a cold feet, and later on, discovers that her fiancee had an affair with her sorority sister after the cancelled wedding. The two films had different and realistic endings too. In NOW, Cristine Reyes (the wife) and Derek Ramsay (the husband) moved on and stayed married after a catfight with Anne (the mistress) while in ASA, Anne Curtis (the girlfriend) rejected the second wedding proposal of her boyfriend Derek Ramsay after realizing that she cannot trust him anymore. Another difference is that in NOW, the characters are already married while in ASA, the characters are not. So I guess, watching both films in the cinemas are okay and worth it, since the cast in both films gave an impressive acting as well plus they are worth to be called as films.

If there are movies that are not so-worthy of watching, maybe those are the films that do not bring any message to the viewers, but only to showcase that they can produce or make something to show to the public. But can you question the moviegoers? Of course not. After all, movies are created to entertain. But if at the end of the film, you'll ask yourself where did your money go, think again. It's your decision after all, not the moviemakers.

So, from the latest films that you've watched, most especially that MMFF had just finished its run, are they worth of your time, or not? I was able to watch two, and I can say that the other movie's worth it, while the other is... not? Hahaha! And if you'll ask me what the movies are? Secret! :)

Images courtesy of Wikipedia and Pep.PH

Flashback: Encantadia

PART 1

Several years ago, a fantasy show or "Fantaserye" was created by GMA-7 called "Encantadia", it is said that "Encantadia" is the most grandest, biggest and most expensive production on Philippine Television and it lasted for almost a year.

"Encantadia" consists of 4 kingdom, Sapiro, Lireo, Adamya and Hathoria, but later becomes 5 on the 2nd book that was called Etheria. The story revolves around 4 sisters named Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya, each of them protects an element, Pirena controls fire, Amihan can manipulate air, Alena can command water while Danaya has the power over earth. 

Sapiro, Lireo and Adamya joined forces against Hathoria and its king Hagorn, for they are eager to have all the power and have the gems of the four elements so that they can rule over Encantadia. 

Q3 - Americanization

As we all know, the primetime soap "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" of ABS-CBN did run well, having a lot of viewers, followers inside and outside of the country, the show lasted for like eight to nine months.

On our group discussion, we all approved that the show "Ina, Kapatid, Anak" showed americanization. To some viewers, the show's concept is somehow new to them for the show talks about surrogate mother and the effects on the family that made them curious. What made us picked this show is that the story revolves in violence and family war which everyone is aware that almost all "Pinoy teleserye" consists. The extension of the show made the story very draggy and predictable because it became a typical serye and we blame the people for it because the more violence and blood in the show, the more viewers it gets, it's just people watch the show for having a kidnapping, car chase, the forever shooting of one of the main character just to save the other main character scenes. So we guess that the writers followed what the viewers wants to see in the show and I think it may be a good and a bad idea at the same time.

But what we appreciate and love in "Ina. Kapatid, Anak" is that the filipino loving spirit were still present despite of all the killing and stuff. The modern elements they used such as in vitro fertilization and the shoe company and its symbolisms.

GMA's New Show: Rhodora X

This 2014, GMA Network presents a teledrama that has a new concept and new take on Philippine TV Programming - Rhodora X.

Rhodora X isn't just a simple teleserye that we used to see and watch in our TV Screens. It is about a woman diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which was previously known as multiple personality disorder - who will be played by Starstruck season 1 Ultimate Female Survivor Jennylyn Mercado. In an article written by columnist Rey Pumaloy in PEP.PH, Jennylyn said that her character Rhodora was able to acquire DID because of her traumatic experiences when she was a child, and so another character in her persona will appear - Roxanne. Roxanne will do the things Rhodora cannot do.

Joining Jennylyn in this new series are her former loveteam and fellow Starstruck 1 ultimate survivor Mark Herras, Starstruck 1 First Princess Yasmien Kurdi, and Mark Anthony Fernandez. Rhodora X is scheduled to air January 2014 on GMA Telebabad.

This is another exciting soap for us to see this 2014 because this is something that has not been done before on Philippine TV, plus it is a reunion for Starstruck alums Jennylyn, Mark and Yasmien. And we should also take credit on its teaser which made the show more promising. And here is the teaser of Rhodora X:

However, what should we wait for is if it will do good in the ratings game and if the Filipino audience will accept this new type of show. As for my opinion, it is something to watch out for because of its different concept. And will it make a new record in Philippines' Pop Culture? Let's wait and see once it airs on January.

ABS-CBN's New Shows for 2014

Recently, ABS-CBN launched teasers for their upcoming shows this 2014 which will first quarter this year - Mirabella and The Legal Wife.

Mirabella stars Julia Barretto in the title role, for her launching soap. Joining her is Enrique Gil and Sam Concepcion as her leading men with Pokwang, John Lapus, Mylene Dizon, Diego Loyzaga, Miss Gloria Diaz and many more. This will be directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan (of Mara Clara) and Erick Salud (of Aryana) and written by Joel Mercado and Noreen Capili. According to entertainment site Pep.PH, Mira Bella is about a girl who was cursed. We just have to check out the show what curse is that and how did she get it.

Here is the teaser of Mirabella:

The Legal Wife, on the other hand, is a family drama which stars Maja Salvador, Jericho Rosales, new Kapamilya actor JC De Vera and the primetime comeback of Angel Locsin. It also stars Rio Locsin, Mark Gil, Neri Naig, Joem Bascon and Christopher de Leon among others. It is directed by Rory Quintos and Dado Lumibao (both from Princess and I) and written by the team who created Guns and Roses headed by Generiza Reyes. What we have to wait for is why the soap is entitled The Legal Wife and what are its differences from the usual kabit movies and teleseryes we have seen over the years.

Here is the teaser of The Legal Wife:

Both shows were supposed to air last quarter of 2013, with Mirabella replacing Juan Dela Cruz and The Legal Wife replacing Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin (according to some reports), but due to some circumstances, management has decided to air both shows on the first quarter of 2014. Despite the promising teasers with great casting, what we also have to wait for is how both shows will differ from the rest of the shows being aired right now and most especially from the shows aired with almost similar genre and concept. And moreover, how will the mass culture audience accept these shows? Will they do good in the ratings game? We will know the answer once both shows premiere this January.

Anyway, we also have to tune in for ABS-CBN's New Shows such as the remake of the Koreanovela Pure Love, You're My Home (which stars Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez), Moon of Desire, and the adaptation of Mars Ravelo's Dyesebel.

As for me, I will watch these shows, how about you guys? :)

Q1 - What is Popular?

Two Thursdays ago, the other bloggers Ina and Mart did an interview (because I was absent :D) on what is popular for the students around our school, St. Paul University Manila. They were able to interview 5 students who were asked on what makes something popular and how are they influenced by these popular things around.

For the first question, they were asked what makes something popular and how do they know if someone or something is popular. Common answers would be if that someone or something is talked about. One interviewee answered that if a lot of people follow him/her on Twitter, he/she is popular. Another answered that gadgets, blogs and the internet makes something popular. But basically, all answers would lead to one thing --> if that someone/something is the talk of the town.

However, for the next question, which was how are they influenced by these popular things, the 5 interviewees had different answers. The first interviewee said that she is being influenced not just by these popular things, but by her friends who are into these popular things. An example that she gave was K-Pop. Her friends listen to K-Pop music, so out of curiosity, she would also listen to these songs. And maybe eventually, she will get used to listening to K-Pop. Another interviewee said that she bases her behavior by what's within. An example that she gave is what happened in Tacloban. Since it was the talk of the town and we all know that it was really devastating, proved by the news and pictures shown on TV/Internet, she was influenced to donate relief goods to those heavily affected by the typhoon.

I guess by reading all their answers, they all lead to one thing, that trends are really set by media. Most answers would mention something about TV, gadgets, internet, etc., which are all part of media. Media is really powerful that it can influence others, from their perception of popularity is to what do they think is popular for them.

TV and Film, in their own distinct ways, also influence people. In TV, ratings define what is the most popular Television Show, and in film, the Box Office Results determine how popular a movie is. And both lead to one thing, that people also decide what is popular for them. But again, how can they choose to watch this certain TV show or Film? Obviously, by watching their trailers, looking for reviews and latest news, viewing their posters or knowing who the actor or the director is. And of course, you can access all these things in media. Reading the newspapers, surfing the internet or watching the TV can give you the vital information that you need.

That's why you really have to tune in to our blog, because we will really give you what's in and out, what's the latest and the most popular in Philippine TV and Film. And of course, we will together reminisce what had been popular for the past few years and generations. :)

Flashback: TGiS

Just recently, ABS-CBN’s afternoon teen comedy show Luv U won as the best Teen-Oriented Show at the PMPC Star Awards for TV and is still enjoying its run every Sunday after premiering last February 2012 (which makes the show already running for 1 year and 9 months). This just proves that the Teen-Oriented format in Philippine TV is still effective with the audience. But before we have Luv U and Dormitoryo (on GMA Network), the first one that really captured the Pinoy Teens’ attention was aired during the 90s.

It was in August 1995 when boring Saturday afternoons were made colorful and exciting. Top film-producer Viva Films (by its TV counterpart Viva Television) and GMA Network conceptualized a new program especially-made for the teens. It was entitled as T.G.i.S or Thank God It’s Sabado! The cast was composed of now known-actors in the industry Angelu de Leon (as Peachy) and Bobby Andrews (Wacks) who was the phenomenal love team of the show (and that time as well!) They were also joined by Michael Flores (Mickey), Raven Villanueva (Cris), Onemig Bondoc (JM), Rica Peralejo (Mich), Ciara Sotto (Rain) and Red Sternberg (Kiko). The program was about a set of friends facing together life’s challenges as High School teens – like studies, vices, popular hobbies that time, and love.

Only a few thought that the show would be a big hit. Raven Villanueva, in an interview, even said that one of the hardest parts was during the first few episodes of the show because they don’t know if people would accept their show and if they will have sponsors, etc. But surprisingly, it became phenomenal. The barkada’s first movie together, “Takot Ka Ba Sa Dilim?”, was a blockbuster that even a movie version of TGiS was spawned, and became a hit as well. Moreover, rival network ABS-CBN also had its own teen-oriented show, Gimik (stylized as G!M!K).

Because of the rising popularity of the show, GMA and Viva decided to transfer the barkada to primetime, which became Growing Up. This time, the barkada faced more mature problems as they reach their College Life. They were joined by other actors Donna Cruz, Jake Roxas, Bernadette Allyson, Diego Castro (who came from the rival show Gimik), Mariel Lopez and Ryan Eigenmann. It was first aired Monday nights then later transferred during Wednesday nights.

Maybe now, your question is, what happened to TGiS? Ciara Sotto did not actually join Growing Up because her character Rain was still in High School, and so she was joined by a new batch of teen actors Antoinette Taus, Dingdong Dantes (then Rafael Dantes), Polo Ravales, Chantal Umali and Chubi del Rosario. Kim delos Santos and Idelle Martinez, who were part of the supporting cast of TGiS, also became the flag carriers of the show. Later on, Sunshine Dizon, Dino Guevarra and Anne Curtis joined the cast. TGiS 2 and Growing Up cast members would appear in both shows in some episodes.

No wonder TGiS (both batches and even Growing Up) was a hit, it had a plotline that every teenager can relate to. Besides that, it also used the popular music of that time, and that of the 80s. The show’s original theme song was Dyslexic Heart by Paul Westerberg. The songs It Might Be You, You Should Know By Now, Open Arms and As I Lay Me Down were used as theme songs for the love teams. Also, they had memorable music videos and opening billboards. Glad to say that I was able to find video clips of TGiS/Growing Up’s Top 10 Music Videos, TGiS 1/VGrowing Up's Opening Billboards and TGiS 2's OBB.

Currently, GMA, TGiS Batch 1’s director Mark Reyes V, and TGiS writer Kit Langit conceptualized a continuation of Growing Up which was Teen Gen. The cast was composed by a new bunch of teenagers with TGiS’ phenomenal love team Angelu de Leon and Bobby Andrews. The show was a continuation of their love story as it did not finish that good in Growing Up after Peachy, Angelu’s character, and Wacks, Bobby’s character are set to get married. However, at the last minute, Peachy did not show up at the wedding. It’s because Angelu that time got an unexpected pregnancy. Teen Gen also became a hit, but not that of TGiS’. It only ran for 28 weeks.

TGiS is being re-aired on Fox Filipino every weeknights. However, it’s down to its last week. And to reminisce, here are some video clips of TGiS.

Honestly, if there is one thing I really get jealous of with the 90s generation, it’s that they have this show. Yes, teen-oriented shows may still exist now but TGiS and even Gimik are still better than of today’s teen shows.

Videos Courtesy of Tgis Thankgoditssabado and ArdiAquino on Youtube
Images Courtesy of Google

Movie Review: Bendor

Bendor

Ralston Jover, 2013 (Cinema One Originals entry)

"Bendor" is an entry of Ralston Jover for this year's "Cinema One Originals", and this movie made a huge impact for the comeback of the one and only Ms. Vivian Velez who also won best actress for this entry. The story of this movie is really captivating, well for me. Because it is very timely, the story revolves around the morality issue. Blondie is the main character in the story that was played by a great actress, Ms. Vivian Velez. Blondie, a grandmother of five, worked as a vendor outside the Quiapo church. I can call her “Wonder Woman” because she raised her kids without the help of her husband. The story showed the life of people who sells abortifacient or abortion pills. She also serves as a middleman for an illegal abortion clinic, escorting young girls that want to terminate their pregnancies. This film’s opaque shutout on morality issues became its barrier against its audience’s full understanding of Blondie. The film introduces this doppelganger, but doesn't get too far into exploring the strangeness that it entails. It instead thrives on the jumble of details that make up Blondie’s life. It lingers, for example, on how she puts on her makeup in the morning. And what breakfast is like in her household. 

Known for her lustful and frisky screen roles in the 80’s, Ms. Vivian Velez’s Blondie’s efforts at the notion of rejuvenation gives way to a tired and defeated iconography. By this time, she has gone the rounds, committing crime, enabling crime, abetting crime, eluding arrests before landing in jail.

I personally think that this movie deserves to be noticed internationally for its great story line and cinematography, well I guess if you watch this film, you can really tell that the concept is fresh, and that it is made by a great team. 

I am proud of this movie because a close friend of mine produced "Bendor" and I know that they all worked hard for it. And what inspired me the most is that, most of the people who created this are new to the business. Meaning, they are young yet they have created such a wonderful work.