BOYFRIENDS & I HITS BACOLOD THIS 03/16/2013

This March 16, 2013.... it's going to be Valentine's Day all over again as Merci Bakeshop proudly brings together for the first time....

Teen heartthrobs DANIEL PADILLA and ENRIQUE GIL

Japanese-Brazilian hunk DANIEL MATSUNAGA

and Esquire Philippines' Sexiest Woman SOLENN HEUSAFF!


in... 


"Boyfriends & I"!


A one-night variety concert with the right mix of sweet and sexy entertainment that will surely leave your face with a smile. 

Scream your hearts out as Daniel Padilla and Enrique Gil bring the energy higher with their talent and charm while Daniel Matsunaga and Solenn Heusaff will surely attract Bacolod men and women with their wholesome sexiness and wit to match.

This March 16, 2013, 8:00 pm at the USLS mark your calendars as "Boyfriends and I" takes centerstage! 


Ticket Prices are at:Platinum: P2000 Gold A: P1200 Gold B: P600 Silver: P300 Bronze: P150


Tickets are available at all MERCI Branches, Munsterific, Chika-an, MOOON Cafe and USLS TicketronFor inquiries: contact (0917)3080088, (0999)9917172 (0922)8777863.

EAT BULAGA FRANCHISED AFTER 33 YEARS

When "Eat Bulaga" premiered 33 years ago on July 30, 1979, those who grew up watching the show started chanting "Mula Aparri hanggang Jolo" that eventually evolved into "Mula Batanes hanggang Jolo".

Now for those born later (since 2000 until now), they will be chanting "Mula Pilipinas hanggang Indonesia".

The country's longest running noontime show has started to export their trademark fun and excitement to the world's largest archipelago and the world's largest Muslim nation.  In fact, the Indonesian version of "Eat Bulaga", entitled "Eat Bulaga Indonesia", already started airing last July 16, 2012 over SCTV (Surya Citra Televisi), the number 1 network in Indonesia.

It is interesting to note that it was an SCTV executive Harsiwi Achmad who made an effort to bring "Eat Bulaga" to Indonesia after seeing some episodes on Youtube.  And thanks to a Filipino mediator Gerry de Guzman, who works as Marketing Creative for SCTV, all efforts to import "Eat Bulaga"'s format and bring it to Indonesia was made possible.

So after two weeks, how did "Eat Bulaga Indonesia" fare in the ratings?

The good news is, the Indonesian version did very well in its timeslot.  The show airs at 3:30 pm, Philippine time.  And best of all, it's the number 1 show in the 2-4 pm timeslot besting other shows aired by other Indonesian networks. 

It's also interesting to note that "Eat Bulaga"'s rich history on Philippine television has gotten more interesting with the franchise to Indonesia. It makes them the first Philippine TV show to be franchised internationally by other countries. 

So brace yourselves because sooner or later, other TV shows will follow what "Eat Bulaga" just started.  To "Eat Bulaga", happy anniversary and to "Eat Bulaga Indonesia", keep up the good work!

Terimakasi.

DENNIS TRILLO REMAINS A KAPUSO

For those who are wondering if Dennis Trillo will leave GMA Network for ABS-CBN, the reports are false.

The 32-year old actor just inked a contract with the Kapuso Network for three years last February 18, 2011.  (Source: Dennis Trillo Remains a Kapuso; Signs Contract with GMA-7 Anew)

The said aforementioned deal was reportedly worth P45 million, making him one of the highest paid talents of the network (Source: BAGONG KONTRATA NI DENNIS TRILLO SA GMA-7 P45 MILLION ANG HALAGA!!!)

The rumors about Trillo's supposed transfer floated after he showed up during the premiere night of Star Cinema's "The Healing", which starred Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and directed by Chito Rono.

Trillo's presence at the premiere night was due to the fact that he and actress Janice de Belen share the same manager in Popoy Caritativo, who also manages the careers of GMA's primetime star Marian Rivera and TV5's Mart Escudero.  Janice is one of the cast members of the said movie and also a contract star of ABS-CBN where she is one of the hosts the Saturday talk show "Showbiz Inside Report".  She is set to star soon in the upcoming Kapamilya teleserye "Ina, Kapatid, Anak".

Dennis originally started out in showbiz in 2002 when he was launched by ABS-CBN as one of the members of Star Circle Batch 9.  His contemporaries included Alfred Vargas and Bea Alonzo.  He appeared in soaps like "Pangako Sa 'Yo" and "Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan" until he named Popoy Caritativo as his new talent manager in 2003 and subsequently transferred to GMA-7 the same year.  His first shows on GMA were the Sunday teen drama "Kahit Kailan" and the primetime soap "Twin Hearts".  He was launched alongside Angel Locsin and Richard Gutierrez in the telefantasya "Mulawin" in 2004 that brought high ratings for the network.

His role the transvestite spy Inya in the period drama "Aishite Masu" won him awards and acclaim from various award-giving bodies.  His latest movie appearance was in Cinemalaya's "Ang Katiwala".

Aside from being an award-winning actor, Dennis is also listed as one of the stockholders in the publicly-listed GMA Network (Source: List of Top 100 Stockholders As of 06/30/2012)

RANCHO DRAMA WITH ZEST

(Photo courtesy of gmanetwork.com) "Makapiling Kang Muli" main cast lead by Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati and Carla Abellana.

Last June 4, 2012, GMA's new drama series "Makapiling Kang Muli" graced the Philippine TV screen.  Starring Richard Gutierrez and Carla Abellana, the series also boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Ms.Gloria Romero, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Sarah Lahbati and Philip Salvador.  The series is directed by Ricky Davao, whose directing credits include the Kapuso afternoon dramas "Sisid" and "Kokak".

DEVELOPMENT OF A SERIES

It's actually a challenge for GMA to put up this drama particularly because lead star Richard Gutierrez is involved in the creative process.  Probably tired of playing superheroes that made him a household name (among them were "Mulawin", "Sugo" and 2 "Captain Barbell" incarnations), he reportedly asked the GMA creative team to develop a different role that will test his acting abilities.  "Challenge me" was his battlecry in his quest to regain the "Primetime King" title which he has lost to ABS-CBN's Coco Martin whose own soap "Walang Hanggan" continues to reign nowadays.

The network began arduous tasks in casting the right people to collaborate with Richard.  A lot of names have been considered for various roles, particularly for the leading lady part.  I correct myself, it's leading ladies since it was decided that Richard will have 2 women who will fight over him.  Starstruck 5 winner Sarah Lahbati was virtually a shoo-in for the role since her afternoon soap "Kokak" just ended when this series was developed.  While on the other hand, the role for the other leading lady was first considered to Carla Abellana, whose contract with GMA expired at that time.  It took a month to convince Carla to do the project since she was in a quandary whether to stay with the network that launched her via "Rosalinda" in 2009, or jump "ober the bakod" to ABS-CBN for greener pastures.  Eventually, Carla renewed her contract with GMA and came on board for the soap.

The veteran cast is also no pushover as Gloria Romero and Robert Arevalo are in the soap, thanks to their acting chemistry in "Munting Heredera" which clicked with the viewers.  Another alumnus from "Munting Heredera" is Mark Anthony Fernandez is playing villain for the second time around against Richard (the first time they acted against each other was in "Kamandag").  Action superstar Phillip Salvador will also be a part of this huge drama series.  This will be the first time he will be seen again on GMA after several years (his first GMA show was a weekly action series entitled "Verano").

THE PILOT EPISODE

The series started with Martin (Richard Gutierrez) trying to escape from prison with his ka-kosa Wesley (Dominic Roco).  Unfortunately, the helicopter that they used as a getaway aircraft crashed and their supposed demise reached Rancho Paradiso which was holding a celebration.  Mara (Rio Locsin) turns on the TV for proof of the unfortunate news and her suspicions were confirmed.  The story then sets back to 25 years ago when Mara as a young adult (Jennylyn Mercado) had a romantic relationship with one of Rancho Paradiso's laborers Emilio (James Blanco).  Their love affair was apparently doomed as she was already betrothed by her mother Senora Soledad (Gloria Romero) to Roman (Gabby Eigenmann).  

Emilio was beaten up by Senora Soledad's henchmen while trying to elope with Mara.  The hospital refused assistance to him and Mara had to follow her mother's orders to marry Roman just to save Emilio's life.  On Mara's wedding day, Emilio tries to object against her marriage but it was too late.  As a consequence, his house was burned down and he had to leave the ranch, while instructing his best friend Buboy (Dex Quindoza) to look after Mara's welfare.  Years after, Mara bore a son with Roman and named him Louie.  However her secret meetings with Buboy made her aware that Emilio is doing fine thus, she still has fondness for him despite being married.  The upcoming episodes will show Emilio's second attempt to elope with Mara but will fail because Roman intervened.  And subsequent episodes will now forward to Martin's life in Rancho Paradiso.

REVIEW

The series follows the usual chronology for most soaps where it usually starts with a backstory. In this case, the backstory of Mara's love affair with Emilio and her miserable life under her domineering mother Senora Soledad and abusive husband Roman ate up the first two days of the pilot week.  But thanks to the acting ensemble of Jennylyn Mercado, Gabby Eigenmann and James Blanco, I ended up getting engaged with the story.  Gloria Romero's portrayal of Senora Soledad 25 years ago left me hanging though.  Age has caught up with her.  She lacks the grit, intensity and attitude of a villainess.  It would have been better if GMA casted a younger Senora Soledad rather than letting Gloria play out Senora Soledad's back story.  The only time I got angry over Gloria Romero was when she played Richard Gomez's domineering and nasty mother in "Kapag Langit ang Humatol" some 20 years ago, when I was still a kid.  But I am expecting that the older Senora Soledad will be more cunning and vindictive as the series continue to progress through different timelines.  

Overall, the series looks promising.  The Rancho Paradiso settings are a cinematographer's delight.  The acting ensemble of the backstory part deserves an A+ from me.  Hope the rest of the cast will pick it up from there as "Makapiling Kang Muli" fasts forward to the present setting.

STAYING RELEVANT BY SELLING

 

First off, we start with ... pickup lines!

CORONA KA BA?

Bakit?

Gusto ko... co-mingled tayo ha?

*******

Lumabas ka na sa kinatataguan mo!

Bakit?

Delikado kasi diyan sa KLOSETA, baka mababakla ka lang!

*******

Now... on with the first post!

The rumored "merging" of GMA Network and TV5 has definitely shook the whole broadcast industry.  If I were to be asked if who will benefit from this merger in the long run, I would definitely say...

It's GMA Network!

Come to think of it, the Kapuso Network set off the wrong foot at the start of the year after the exodus of most of its stars to rival network ABS-CBN.  Plus the fact that they offered more straight drama shows on primetime instead of the usual "telefantasya" that was closely identified with them.  And the retirement of Wilma V. Galvante, the lady genius behind some of GMA's most successful shows these past decade, it seems that GMA was going down the drain.

But thanks to their daytime offerings bannered by "Eat Bulaga" and now pre-noontime favorite "Kusina Master", GMA was able to keep its lead in the ratings.  Plus the primetime offerings "Biritera", "Alice Bungisngis and Her Wonder Walis" and "Legacy" did not lag behind the ratings game as well, despite the fact that ABS-CBN's "Walang Hanggan" is the top rating primetime show nowadays on both AGB Nielsen and Kantar TNS.  However, as far as Visayas and Mindanao is concerned ABS-CBN is still the top network in some of the key cities there.  Which is why, the moment a merger is indeed happening anytime between GMA and TV5, expect GMA to be more aggressive in promoting its artists, current shows, and upcoming shows and movies in the future.

What will happen to TV5 then?

Well, in my analysis, TV5 will might as well become the "farm station" for GMA, where we might be seeing good, quality shows but less big stars.

What about GMA?

Well, if it will be under MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan), GMA will go all out to match ABS-CBN's roster of glittery stars.  Who knows, we might be seeing recently converted Kapatids Sharon Cuneta, Aga Muhlach, Derek Ramsey, Willie Revillame, etc. doing shows on the Kapuso Network.  We might be seeing younger faces on noontime to match with ABS-CBN's "It's Showtime" while "Eat Bulaga" might be on TV5.

Whatever will be the outcome of this possible merger, I am positive in saying that it will benefit both TV stations.  But GMA has succeeded in staying relevant by selling to a big businessman who's running a network consistent in placing third in the bloody ratings game.