After the three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus lockdown and a month after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) imposed a shutdown on the station’s TV and radio broadcast, ABS-CBN programs finally returned successfully through ABS CBN’s Kapamilya Channel last June 13.
One of the most awaited shows that came back is ABS-CBN’s longest running primetime show, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
Even if the National Capital Region is still under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), the action-drama series didn’t waste time and started resuming taping under strict compliance with health and safety guidelines.
One of the procedures that FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano followed is for the workers and artists to undergo a rapid test for COVID-19. After the said rapid test, the artists will go home to prepare but the production staff will immediately be confined inside the hotel and escorted to the venue.
Actress Lorna Tolentino, who plays First Lady Lily Ann Cortez-Hidalgo, confirmed earlier in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Mario Dumaual, that they will continue the production at a locked-in taping at a resort in Batangas.
“Para kaming nasa ‘Pinoy Big Brother,’ nakakulong sa bahay ni Cardo Dalisay. So dapat all the way sa mga siguradong negative , ‘di na pwede lumabas,” Tolentino said.
In addition to the minimum health standards, the almost five-year-old series will also ensure that there will be no more than 50 employees, including the cast, during the shoot.
“Parang kami ang sampol o halimbawa sa balik-taping. Dapat walang mali sa procedures namin. Ang laki ng sakripisyo at sugal namin dito,”
Similar to FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano‘s protocols, the stars of the ABS-CBN afternoon series Love Thy Woman are now under self-isolation as a requirement just before they begin to tape after more than three months of lockdown.
According to Ruffa Gutierrez, even though they have not resumed taping, they’re starting to prepare themselves by doing self-isolation/quarantine,
“As early as now, we are already in self-isolation. We are already preparing for when we are going to tape again. Lahat kami talagang naghahanda na ngayon pa lang.
“We are already memorizing our lines, we are already preparing our outfits… para dala-dala ko na lahat ng kailangan ko for the whole few weeks that we will be taping.”
While ABS CBN is starting to resume its production and tapings, its rival network, GMA Network, still hasn’t resumed taping for their programs, except for their noontime show, Eat Bulaga.
The network is airing reruns of some teleseryes including Encantadia, Kambal Karibal, Ika-6 na Utos, My Husband’s Lover, and Meant To Be in the meantime.
