Author: JE CC

Rising up from all the tragedies that practically crippled the network this year, ABS-CBN has all the sentimental motivations to be very emotional with its newest Christmas Station ID. With ‘Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya’ however, the Kapamilya Network shows its gratitude to its loyal viewers, and to lift up all it went through this 2020 to ‘Bro. The vibe it imparts feels mostly heartwarming and its upbeat melody danceable, but the story embedded in the conception of the song itself creates a haunting tug at the heartstrings of every Kapamilya who followed the trail that led to the media…

Singing talent searches, like their artista search contemporaries, have been proven and tested potent launchpads for future superstars in the local setting. The amount of talent discovered and their subsequent popularity can not be overstated as many of our biggest singing acts today emerged from various reality singing competitions on local television. Nora Aunor, Regine Velasquez, Sarah Geronimo, KZ Tandingan, Morissette Amon, Yeng Constantino…I could go on, but I’m afraid this article won’t be able to accommodate every name. Of three previous singing competition shows—Star in A Million, Pinoy Dream Academy, and Pinoy Pop Superstar, which one would prove to…

TV5 never took catching up with GMA Network and ABS-CBN in producing station IDs too seriously. It released some in the past, but none ever made an impression as memorable as that of its rivals. With many big stars having moved into its stable (in the wake of ABS-CBN shutdown) it seems fitting that TV5 releases a heartfelt and inspired Christmas Station ID featuring its expanding catalog of stars for this holiday season. Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko is composed by master composer Louie Ocampo (who also judges ABS-CBN’s Tawag ng Tanghalan), while lyrics are provided by writer and producer…

TV5 Carpool Actors: Alex Diaz, Sarah Carlos, Kate Lapuz, Kenneth Medrano, Elora Espano, Empress Schuck Format: TV series (weekly) Premise: A string of supernatural hauntings and tragedies follow a group of carpool riders involved in an accident Timeslot: Thursdays, 9:30 PM Why You Should See It A familiar yet breathtaking suspense thriller unfolds in ‘Carpool’ where characters are haunted by a mysterious culprit motivated by vengeance. TV5 continues to shake up its entire programming with the introduction of five new weekly shows to its Primetime Todo block. Among these five new shows include the suspense-thriller, ‘Carpool’, headlined by the ‘Oh,…

As early as 2007, ABS-CBN was already regaining foothold in Mega Manila, after GMA Network unseated the media giant as the top tv network in the country in 2004, although it wasn’t until 2009—as reflected by the ratings of top-rated programs like May Bukas Pa, Tayong Dalawa, Only You, and PBB Double Up— when the Kapamilya Network started to completely recover its lead in Mega Manila, and further expanded its reach nationwide. As GMA Network amped up its efforts to provide counter-programming, largely banking on reboots of its hit programs like Encantadia, Mulawin, Darna, and Marimar, ABS-CBN was again faced…

A2Z | Kapamilya Channel Maalaala Mo Kaya Actors: Arjo Atayde, Sylvia Sanchez, Jane de Leon, Hero Angeles, Rommel Padilla Format: Drama anthology Premise: Lives of letter senders are dramatized featuring some of the industry’s brilliant actors. Timeslot: Saturdays, after I Can See Your Voice Why You Should See It Arjo Atayde, Sylvia Sanchez, and Hero Angeles, share powerful moments in the first part of MMK’s two-part special, which loyal followers will surely have their hearts shed tears. The longest-running drama anthology in Philippine television returned on Saturday, November 28, featuring an utterly moving story about self-sacrifice, compassion, and heroism. First…

TV5 | Viva Entertainment Bella Bandida Actors: Ryza Cenon, AJ Muhlach, Josef Elizalde, Efren Reyes, Lito Pimentel Format: tv series (weekly) Premise: A young woman seeks to vengeance against those who raped her and made her ethnic tribe suffer, using the supernatural powers the goddess of moon and night bestowed her Timeslot: Wednesdays, 9:30 pm Why You Should See It Socio-political themes are teeming in TV5’s newest weekly fantasy-action drama series, which fits beautifully with the empowered character of Bella, who is destined to fight for justice and the poor A foreboding tone persists in the pilot episode of…

GMA Network’s campaign to solidify its hold in Mega Manila and to strengthen its nationwide presence didn’t stop with bombarding its line up with fantasy-themed series. As popular shows like Mulawin, Darna, and Encantadia catapulted GMA Network to the top of ratings charts, the network experimented with more genres and formats and this time, it banked on producing reality shows and news and public affairs programs. EXTRA CHALLENGE Extra Challenge’s origins go back to 1999 as the lifestyle show, Extra Extra, which was originally presented by Karen Davila and Paolo Bediones. When Davila moved to ABS-CBN, the show reformatted into…

TV5 | Cornerstone Entertainment Stay-in Love Actors: Ruffa Gutierrez, Maris Racal, Pooh, Kokoy de Santos, Marc David, Elsa Droga, Ashley Colet, Bobby Andrews Format: tv series (weekly) Premise: A young lady has to accept a house helper job in order for her to follow and check on her big brother Timeslot: Tuesdays, 9:30 PM Why You Should See It Humor comes in healthy dosages with TV5’s new weekly tv series, Stay-in Love, which is among the network’s six new shows premiering this week. Jolly and carefree Diding (Racal) has to work her ass off inviting villagers to come to her…

The history of talent shows in the Philippines is practically as old as television itself. In the local setting, many veteran stars we know started as contestants in talent searches. Nora Aunor, Edgar Mortiz, and Diomedes Maturan are among the most successful alumni of the original iteration of singing talent search, Tawag ng Tanghalan. These days, Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) and StarStruck are the first to come to mind when a discussion about popular talent shows is initiated. PBB, while it wasn’t originally marketed as an artista search, eventually became one and has been producing new stars for the Kapamilya…

TV5 Ate ng Ate Ko Ate ng Ate Ko’Actors: Kris Bernal, Jake Cuenca, Joem Bascon, Isabelle de Leon Format: tv series (weekly) Premise: Two sisters have to switch roles, when the older one gets involved in an accident that will make her suffer a memory disorder and behave like a child. Timeslot: Mondays, 9:30 PM on TV5’s Primetime Todo Why You Should See It Kris Bernal’s versatility as a dramatic actress is highlighted in this inspiring story of broken family, and how two totally opposite sisters mend their broken relationship, when one of them has to step up to protect…

TV5 | IdeaFirst Company Paano Ang Pasko Actors: Ricky Davao, Maricel Laxa, Beauty Gonzalez, Julia Clarete, Elijah Canlas, Devon Seron, John Lapus, Matt Evans, Danita Paner, Allan Paule, Ejay Falcon, Cedrick Juan, Ace Ismael, Justine Buenaflor Format: mini-series Premise: An unexpected holiday gathering throws a family into chaos when the widowed matriarch announces her intent to marry the family’s driver Timeslot: Weeknights, 9:00 PM on TV5’s Primetime Todo Why You Should See It Beautifully acted and written, the lessons of Paano ang Pasko are too sentimental not to remind every viewer of the unfading significance of Christmas and the symbolic…

Everybody seemed very excited when ‘Marina’, the TV series about a girl cursed to be a mermaid, premiered on ABS-CBN on February 23, 2004. It’s over 40% ratings on Mega Manila was an enough indication that the media giant found a new way to further cement its lead over then struggling second, GMA Network. A few months later, however, after lording the ratings game, Marina’s winning streak suddenly came to a halt, with the arrival of Mulawin, GMA Network’s first-ever telefantasya, and as they say, the rest is history. MULAWIN Mulawin’s arrival was highly sensational. Its first teaser talked of…

TV5 seems to be hot on the heels of sealing its place as GMA Network’s biggest rival, after media giant ABS-CBN was shut down from the free tv competition. Since August, the Kapatid Network has been among the busiest among local tv networks, in terms of content production, boldly defeating the challenges presented by industry-imposed restrictions. With a number of partnerships and blocktime deals with other production units, TV5 has been busy amplifying its game, offering more new shows than any other tv station did in the past six months. Since August, the Kapatid Network has intensified its campaign to…

Looks like ABS-CBN and its loyal viewers can’t sleep soundly just yet, as legalities of the media giant’s blocktime arrangement with Bro. Eddie Villanueva-owned Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc., are now under the scrutiny of some of the old prominent figures—and some new ones, too— who opposed ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. Following ABS-CBN’s shutdown on free television, the network entered into a block time deal with Zoe Broadcasting Network Inc., leading to the birth of A2Z Channel 11, which is now available to free analog and free digital tv users in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. A2Z’s launch marked the return of…

iWantTFC Loving Emily Actors: Iza Calzado, Jameson Blake, Epy Quizon, Christian Vasquez, Ruby Ruiz, Anne Feleo, JJ Quilantang, Heaven Peralejo, Claire Ruiz Format: Digital series Premise: A married woman is at an unexpected crossroad where she must decide whether to keep a family that no longer makes her happy or pursue a new love with a young man Where to watch it: iWantTFC site and streaming app Why You Should See It Beautifully shot and compellingly-written, ‘Loving Emily’ does not just underscore Calzado’s and Blake’s incredible restraints, but also a moving story about a woman’s struggle to free herself from…