Celebration is the operative word at the GMA Network complex soon after boxing champion Manny Pacquio clinched his eighth title on Nov. 13 (Nov. 14 in Manila) in Texas. The network big bosses left no time to prepare for the boxer/ Saranggani congressman?s return to Manila with a party that was held on Sunday, Nov. 21, at the GMA Network Studio 6.
It was a thanksgiving and victory lunch for the boxing champion who would also be the special guest of the network?s Sunday noontime show called Party Pilipinas.
The ?8th Wonder of the World,? as he is known now among his fans, shuttled between Studios 6 and 7 to party with the network?s guests and perform his numbers in the show.
At the victory lunch, Pacquiao was welcomed by no less than and back to the luncheon, was greeted by fellow Kapuso stars, members of the press, advertisers and GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr.
Duavit was also in Texas to watch the fight.
Gozon called Pacquiao a ?national treasure? during a brief speech he delivered after lunch. He said, “He is such ? not only because of his historic triumph but also for inspiring and reminding all his followers, supporters especially all the Filipinos worldwide to thank the Lord for all the blessings he has received.?
Pacquiao who has remained a simple man despite his enormous wealth, thanked GMA Network for the support the network has thrown behind him all these years and most especially for giving him the confidence so he could speak on camera and to the crowd.
The merry-making continued with a showing of a video featuring Pacman and his victories on the boxing ring against the boxers who went up against him.
But, of course, parties wouldn?t be without the non-stop picture taking, autograph signing and congratulatory greetings from well wishers crowding the studio turned into a dining hall last Sunday. Pacman was accompanied to the victory lunch by wife Jinkee and their four children. Similarly famous mother, Dionisia, was with his boxing-legend son, naturally.
As a fitting end to the victory lunch, the network showed a tribute to Manny, his grand homecoming concert at SM Mall of Asia dubbed as ?Show Me The Party? in his Sunday comedy show, Show Me Da Manny.
Batibot returns to TV
Today?s young viewers will finally get to watch the most popular and well-loved Pinoy children?s show, either again or for the first time.
TV5 and Philippine Children?s Television Foundation, Inc. (PCTVF) reintroduce Batibot to the new generation of televiewers beginning tomorrow, 8:30-9 a.m.
Almost a decade after 18 years of providing smart teaching tools to generations of kids, Batibot returns on TV in its new home, TV5. ?Batibot is our response to the growing need for an intelligent educational show on TV. While TV5 continues to deliver child-friendly programs, it?s high time that we supplement child?s growth with a children?s program generations of Filipinos have grown up with,? says Roberto Barreiro, TV5 executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Batibot welcomes the new generation of Filipino kids, the Batang Batibot, into the world full of fun and learning. Anchored on research-based developmentally-appropriate curricula, the show teaches the ABCs of life and essential skills they need to learn in their early years. The kids? new play buddies, Kuya Fidel (Abner Delina) and Ate Maya (Kakki Teodoro), will help children explore the world fuelled by their inquisitive minds.
The most-awarded children?s show also brings back some of its iconic characters well-loved by millions of kids. Meet Ningning and Gingging, the sister muppets who set admirable traits that value relationships and emotions. Another character, Manang Bola, peeks into her ?perlas na bilog? to respond to kids? interests. Meanwhile, Kapitan Basa guides beginning readers to an exciting journey in the world of words and meanings, equipped by his powers derived from curiosity and desire to learn.
The all-new episodes of Batibot introduce modern-day kids to a various range of art styles. It also introduces the latest approach in storytelling that is sensitive to the changing landscape, while weaving excellent stories and contents visualized in a virtual set provided by leading media production outfit Unitel Productions.
Feny de los Angeles-Bautista, executive producer, affirms that Batibot?s comeback is attuned to the needs, interests and learning styles of the present generation. ?We?re making sure that every show?s episode is relevant to what the kids need today. The show focuses on essential life skills that children need to learn as they grow in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world,? Teacher Feny shared.
Viewers will wake up to the tune of the Batibot?s original theme song, with music by Louie Ocampo, lyrics by Rene O. Villanueva and arrangements by Mel Villena. Batibot veterans like director Kokoy Jimenez, producer/director Lem Garcellano, Chuck Escasa, Andy Cawagas and production designer Dwight Gaston are part of the creative team. But this time children and teens and many young artists are also part of creating Batibot. This ?for kids, by kids? is one of the exciting features of Batibot 2010. The Batibot animation team is composed of old-timers like Wayie Canoy and artists-teachers Andrew Villar and Upper School and High School students of Community of Learners. Artists like Nono Ignacio, Keni Ken and Rommel Estanislao who grew up with Batibot are also among the contributing artists and animators.
Bring child-oriented fun and learning to your home with Batibot every Saturday, 8:30-9 a.m., with five-minute daily educational shorts on the family-friendly station, TV5.
Survivor?s final four
The race to become the winner of the biggest reality show in the country has come down to four?Aubrey Miles, Akihiro Sato, Ervic Vijandre and Solenn Heusaff.
Among the intriguing, exciting and sometimes exasperating mix of 18 celebrity castaways who have braved harsh living conditions and nature?s deadliest predators, and faced their fears, the Final Four?Aubrey, Aki, Ervic and Solenn?made it to the coveted top spot that puts them within striking distance of winning it all?the P 3 million, tax-free, prize and the bragging rights to being the first celebrity sole survivor.
Who has what it takes to outwit, outplay, outlast, and outshine on primetime?
In the toughest Survivor Philippines edition yet, Aubrey Miles proved to be more than up to the challenge. The sexy actress and hot mama turned out to be ?Ang Pasimuno? of the tribe, something she downplays by saying that each castaway has always arrived at his or her own decision. Some have taken to calling her a ?villain,? while others see her as the brilliant strategist that made this season even more exciting, using her beauty and brains to stay in the game. Whatever else she may be called, Aubrey is certainly one of this season?s gems?the castaway with a sweet exterior and a tough attitude that made her a force to reckon with. Will these be enough to help her walk away with the prize?
Akihiro Sato, the Brapanese hunk with a very Pinoy heart. He was no doubt one of the hottest celebs in the country even before he joined Survivor. And as he turned out to be the camp?s ?Mr. Nice Guy??the hottie whose smile never wavered even as life in the island became unbearable, the one who quietly toiled and remained one of the physically strongest and most determined among the castaways?he gained even more fans. But the last tribal council did not have an ending that is fit for a ?Mr. Nice Guy.? Akihiro voted out an unsuspecting Elma Muros, something he deeply regretted afterwards. Could this affect his chances of winning?
Model, socialite, artist, entrepreneur?Solenn Heusaff is all that and, as her awesome run at Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown shows, more. Solenn, ?Ang Diwata ng Isla,? was a smart player?she knew how to blend in, establish herself as a loyal team player, and was strong and determined enough to stay in the running even during the toughest challenges. Like Aubrey, she is beauty and brains; but unlike Aubrey, she seems to have less ?enemies? among the jury. Will this ultimately spell the difference for Solenn?
Because of his hard court stint and his wily moves in, Ervic Vijandre has been tagged the ?Power Player.? His strategies and his rock-solid alliance helped him defy the odds and remain in the game. But has he gone too far by supposedly breaking a promise he made to Akihiro during the last immunity challenge? Will his moves steer him to victory or bring him crashing down to the ground?
More heated exchanges, raw emotions, dizzying twists and a shocker of a finale that will determine who will win it all are up ahead as the biggest edition of Survivor Philippines, hosted by Richard Gutierrez, races to its explosive finale.
Who will become the first ever Celebrity Sole Survivor?
Torn between two Princes Charming
The romance and magic continue in GMA Telebabad?s compelling drama series, Grazilda this week as Glaiza de Castro gets torn between her two Princes Charming?Geoff Eigenmann and Daniel Matsunaga.
After their painful separation, Grazilda is finally reunited with Eric (Geoff). She also learned from him that he has met his mother, Matilda (Rio Locsin). She returns to their house in hopes of seeing Matilda but she is nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Veronne (Cherie Gil) discovers Matilda?s real identity and her relationship with Fernando (Joel Torre). A big confrontation ensues between the two that eventually leads to Veronne committing a crime against Matilda.
Using her tarot cards, Fabiola (Sheryl Cruz) learns that Grazilda is still alive and is in search of her missing mother. She uses her magic to turn Vicente (Dominic Roco) as one of her minions.
Grazilda comes face to face with Vicente who is now under the spell of Fabiola. She gets the shock of her life when Vicente transforms into a human rat in front of her.
Will Fabiola succeed in her plan to end Grazilda?s life using Vicente? Can Matilda escape Veronne?s evil schemes? Now that Kasmir has fallen in love with Grazilda, how will Eric win her heart all over again?
Grazilda airs weeknights right after Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown on GMA Telebabad.
