Author: Je Cabebe
The pandemic took a great toll on the local entertainment scene with live audiences and productions put on hold. As new and fresh content become scarce on free television, smaller production units take the charge in the country’s foray into spicing up the audiences’ to-binge-list.. Here’s a look at the best digital series produced and aired within the year. As the boys’ love phenomenon explodes in the Philippines, more production houses tap online streaming as a potent platform to deliver beautiful stories, which the audiences are more than willing to follow. 2020 is definitely the Boys’ love year, but there…
The XTREME MF 4900s Smart LED TV is a decent multi-functional SMART TV that gives back so much for its very affordable price. Its sleek design and array of impressive features are definitely the top qualities that should make it an easy sell, but there are a lot more to satisfy potential buyers. Easy and Quick Set-Up Setting-up the XTREME MF 4900s Smart LED TV is as easy as 1, 2, 3 (although there is a manual that provides clear instructions) that it would take only a few minutes to have it completely set-up. Our LionhearTV Tech Jungle reviewer, Franz…
Loyalty has always been a big deal with local actors and their fans. Ever since network exclusivity became a practice in local entertainment, any time a big celebrity leaves one network or transfers to another tv station, fans and social media go wild. We vividly remember when Angel Locsin went to London one day and woke up on another, to see her signing an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN, her previous home network’s closest rival. Likewise, we were struck with awe when long-time Kapuso, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid made her debut performance in ASAP. This year, in the wake of ABS-CBN’s losing its…
The pandemic took a great toll on the local entertainment scene. As stern health and safety measures were raised by the government, local production houses struggled to come up with new and fresh content, but there were some who manage the challenges presented by pandemic on filming strategies and practices. Here’s a look at the best new and returning tv shows, that have—one way or another—helped viewers cope with being stuck at home. As tense and dramatic as traditional Filipino soap operas, the year 2020 in the context of Philippine television is no doubt intense, with lots of shows getting…
The pandemic has been taking a great toll on many industries, and even if most restrictions have already been eased by the government, businesses are still struggling to bounce back. Taking some of the bluntest impacts of the pandemic is the movie industry, with movie distribution and viewing suffering the most. Recently, there have been efforts to present alternatives intended to simulate theater viewing experience at home. As most households have become heavily-reliant on digital streaming platforms to meet their television and movie demands, local distribution companies shift their attention to online streaming to deliver movies straight to the moviegoer’s…
Battle of Christmas Station IDs: ABS-CBN vs GMA Network vs TV5. Now that ABS-CBN already released its much-awaited Christmas Station last December 1, the time has come to assess which among the station IDs released by the three major TV stations tugged at the heartstrings of Filipino viewers the most. We take note of the strong and weak points of each station ID, and the unifying themes that make them the same. Common Themes A common denominator in local station IDs is they all highlight the Filipino resilience and other strong positive traits of every Filipino in dealing with challenges…
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…