ABS-CBN's "It's Showtime" to Air on GMA

In the years to come, March 20, 2024, will be remembered as a historic date in the chronicles of Philippine television. On that Wednesday afternoon, GMA Network Inc. executives played host to their counterparts from ABS-CBN Corp. to hold a contract signing ceremony. In this much-anticipated media event, a partnership to extend the simulcast of the noontime variety show It's Showtime to GMA Channel 7 was announced.

Image Credit: YouTube / ABS-CBN News

The Return of the "Dog of Flanders" on TV

Dog of Flanders, a tearjerker Tagalog-dubbed anime series that was broadcast by ABS-CBN during the 1990s, will start its re-run on the same television network starting today at 9:30 in the morning from Monday to Friday.

Photo Credit: Anime News Network / Tokyo Movie Shinsha

The original series is the 1992 Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS) production My Patrasche. Two years later, ABS-CBN started airing the Tagalog-dubbed version as part of a children's programming block that also included Bananas in Pyjamas and A.T.B.P. (Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata).

Dog of Flanders has literary roots: It is an adaptation of A Dog of Flanders, a novel by Maria Louise Rame. Set in 19th-century Belgium, the novel is about an orphan boy named Nello, his grandfather Jehann and the titular canine Patrasche.

In the early part of the story, Patrasche was a beaten dog who was found and taken care of by Nello and Jehann. Following recovery to health, Patrasche helped Nello and Jehann in selling milk by pulling their cart into town. Moreover, the dog became Nello's best friend.

I will not discuss the story further to prevent myself from revealing some spoilers. All I can suggest is to view the series once more and relive some childhood memories associated with it. Following is a composite YouTube video featuring the opening and closing themes of the series' 1994 airing:

Video Credit: YouTube / theblueskiesofromeo's channel

Battle of the Mermaids on Primetime TV: "Kambal Sirena" vs. "Dyesebel"

Philippine primetime television will see the "Battle of the Mermaids" starting tonight as the leading networks, GMA Network and ABS-CBN, offer programs that feature the mythical creature: Kambal Sirena (Tagalog, "Twin Mermaid) and Dyesebel. Both programs can be seen from Monday to Friday.

The sirena or mermaid is a staple of Philippine folklore and popular culture. Similar with other cultures, the sirena is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman with the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish. Aside from having long and flowing hair, the breasts of the sirena are typically covered by a pair of large seashells.

GMA Network seems to have gained a headway by commencing the broadcast of its Kambal Sirena exactly a week ago. Kambal Sirena features Louise delos Reyes in a dual title role. Support is provided by Aljur Abrenica, Mike Tan and Angelika dela Cruz.

Kambal Sirena is about twins named Alona and Perlas. One of them is born with gills behind her ears and the other with a mermaid's tail. (Note: Alona is presumably derived from alon, the Tagalog word for "wave"; perlas is Tagalog for "pearls). The twins' mother moved along with them to an isolated island due to worries that neighbors might be surprised by their strange features. Circumstances eventually led the twins to live separately.

Image Credit: GMA Network

On the other hand, ABS-CBN is going to present Dyesebel starting March 17. This fantasy drama series is based on a graphic novel by Mars Ravelo, whose other works have been licensed to the network. Anne Curtis will play the title role. An ensemble cast led by Gerald Anderson and Sam Milby.

Image Credit: ABS-CBN.com

The story of Dyesebel is about a young mermaid that discovers the world above the ocean and gets involved in a love triangle. It has a long history in film and television starting with a 1953 movie having Edna Luna role. Vilma Santos, Alma Moreno, Alice Dixson, and Charlene Gonzalez followed suit in playing the role of the well-known mermaid in movies in 1973, 1978, 1990 and 1996.

Interestingly, Marian Rivera played the character in the 2008 TV series of the same name on GMA Network. Anne Curtis played the role of the eponymous  goddess who can transform into a mermaid, a harpy or a centaur in the 2008 ABS-CBN series Dyosa. 


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Other notable Philippine TV programs about mermaids include ABS-CBN's Marina starring Claudine Barretto in 2004. GMA Network matched it in the same year with Marinara starring the comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto. In 2011, ABS-CBN aired Mutya which launched child actress Mutya Orquia in the title role.

The sirena is also commonly associated with gays in Philippine popular culture. In light of Filipinos' love for spoofs and spin-offs, an enterprising producer can adapt Kambal Sirena into a series or a movie titled Kambal Siyoke. (Siyoke is a slang term for a homosexual man.).

It is off-topic but now that spoofs have been raised in the discussion, why not remake the U.S. TV series Breaking Bad into either Breaking Bading or Beking Bad (Bading and beki are other common slang terms for a homosexual man).

Goodbye, Studio 23; Hello, ABS-CBN Sports+Action!

UHF television network Studio 23 made its final broadcast to give way to the birth of ABS-CBN Sports+Action, a new free channel that makes its initial broadcast today, January 18. The new channel will showcase local and international sporting events, along with programs geared toward viewers who like action. As viewers bid farewell to Studio 23 and welcome ABS-CBN Sports+Action, let us recall some milestones in the former's 17-year history.


Studio 23 was officially launched by ABS-CBN on October 12, 1996. Dubbed as the "Premium Network," Studio 23's programming was deemed upscale at the start. The network gradually targeted the youth and young adult markets through the airing of English-language shows such as Smallville, Charmed and Dawson's Creek.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer - October 12, 1996

Acting as ABS-CBN's extension, Studio 23 eventually produced original programs such as the talk show Y Speak and the news programs News Central and IbaBalita. Tagalog movies, Tagalog-dubbed anime and Asian drama series, were also broadcast on Studio 23.

During its 17-year existence, Studio 23 underwent numerous slogan changes. From "Premium Network," the slogan became 'This is My Channel." Other slogans were "Cool TV," "Watch U Want!," "Kabarkada Mo,"and "Get It Here!" At the time of its dissolution, the slogan was "IbaKabarkada!"

Source: Studio 23 website

The transition to ABS-CBN Sports+Action is not that surprising considering that Studio 23 has a long tradition of covering sporting events. Studio 23's first major sports coverage was the Metropolitan Basketball Association or Metroball games from 1998 to early 2000s. When ABS-CBN acquired the broadcast rights to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) games, Studio 23 covered the basketball matches. Studio 23 also covered the Philippine Azkals football team.  

Source: Facebook page of ABS-CBN Sports+Action

In accordance with the slogan "Play Hard," ABS-CBN Sports+Action will continue the coverage of the UAAP games and the Azkals. Top Rank and Pinoy Pride bouts will still be seen by boxing fans on the new sports channel. Major international sports tournaments such at the National Basketball Association games, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and FIFA World Cup will also be covered.

During ABS-CBN Sports+Action's January 16 trade launch, non-sports programs such as News+, The Ultimate Fighter: China, Zero Hours, and Fernando Poe Jr.'s memorable films were also announced as parts of the new channel's lineup.

2013 is 60 Years of Philippine Television

Officials and employees of leading television network ABS-CBN gathered earlier tonight to launch the year-long celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Philippine television. According to a report by the news program TV Patrol, ABS-CBN Chairman Gabby Lopez and President-CEO Charo Santos-Concio led in reminiscing about the network's history.

The launch was also highlighted with  performances by Gary Valenciano, Kuh Ledesma, Jed Madela, Erik Santos, KZ Tandingan, Yeng Constantino, Jovit Baldivino, Marcelito Pomoy, and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.

It can be recalled that Alto Broadcasting Systems (ABS) made its first TV broadcast in October 1953. In 1958, a merger with Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) resulted in the formation of ABS-CBN. The declaration of Martial Law in 1972 led to the network's closure. A few months after the People Power EDSA Revolution, ABS-CBN reopened.

SOURCE: ABS-CBNNews.com

"Dolphy Alay Tawa: A Musical Tribute to the King of Philippine Comedy" Airs Tonight

On September 19, a musical special dedicated to the late Dolphy, King of Philippine Comedy, was held at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The special, titled Dolphy Alay Tawa: A Musical Tribute to the King of Philippine Comedy, celebrated the life and times of the showbiz luminary. It was originally scheduled on August 31.

SOURCE: Facebook page of SM Mall of Asia Arena

"Johnny: The Juan Ponce Enrile Story" Airs Tonight On ABS-CBN

Tonight at 11:00 p.m., ABS-CBN will air the documentary "Johnny: The Juan Ponce Enrile Story" as its Sunday's Best presentation. The documentary will tackle the Senate President's life and career in the government, which has spanned almost five decades.

Aside from a witness and participant in many events that shaped the Philippine nation, Enrile has also gained a considerable number of detractors and admirers alike. The country has just commemorated the fortieth anniversary of martial law, so the documentary is expected to highlight his role as martial law administrator.

Here's a TV plug for the documentary:

150 Corporate Center Featured in a TV Series

150 Corporate Center, a building located along a portion of Panay Avenue, between EDSA and Sgt. Esguerra Ave., was featured in a recent episode of the ABS-CBN drama series Kahit Puso'y Masugatan.

Andi Eigenmann, Jake Cuenca, Iza Calzado, and Gabby Concepcion (Source: ABS-CBN.com)

Final Tribute for Dolphy at the Dolphy Theater

Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr., better known as Dolphy, passed away at 8:34 p.m. on July 10, 2012, fifteen days before what would have been his eighty-fourth birthday.  Dubbed as the King of Philippine Comedy, Dolphy left behind a legacy of giving smiles and laughter to Filipinos of all walks of life for more than six decades. As an icon of Philippine culture, his unequaled talent was highlighted in theatre, radio, television, and film.

His remains were brought the next day to the Dolphy Theater within the compound of the television network ABS-CBN for public viewing.  This also provided an opportunity for the public to pay their final tribute to the late Comedy King.

It can be recalled that in 1965, Dolphy launched his television career with the network through the program Buhay Artista. During the 1990s onwards, he starred in the sitcoms Home Along da Riles, Quizon Avenue and John en Shirley for the network.


I will be sharing with you pictures relating to the situation outside the Dolphy Theater before the public viewing of Dolphy's remains started.

Star Cinema's First Production

Star Cinema, the film production outfit of television network ABS-CBN will be celebrating its nineteenth anniversary with the release of Every Breath U Take on May 16, 2012.  Every Breath U Take stars Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban under the direction of Mae Czarina Cruz.


Nineteen years back on May 13, 1993 the action movie Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite , Laking Tondo was released in theaters. The movie, Star Cinema's first, was produced in collaboration with Regal Films.  It stars Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Sheryl Cruz, and Miguel Rodriguez, under the direction of Joey del Rosario.


Following is a newspaper clipping of the movie advertisement:

B1 and B2: "Bananas in Pajamas" Balloons

Children during the 1990s probably remember B1 and B2 of Bananas in Pajamas (originally aired in Australia's ABC as Bananas in Pyjamas).


ABS-CBN aired the Tagalog-dubbed version of this television show in 1994. The about five minute-long show was aired between the schedules of the tearjerker anime series A Dog of Flanders and the educational program A.T.B.P: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata.


Two Saturdays ago, while walking along a sidewalk in Caloocan's Monumento area, I saw B1 and B2 balloons costing 35 pesos each.


Since I cannot find high-quality videos of Bananas in Pajamas, I just posted the pictures of the inflated B1 and B2 balloons.