Behind the scenes: The making of the new ‘Kapuso’ Station ID

"Sama-sama tayong nananalig, nangangarap, nagsisikap… Kapuso ng bawat Pilipino." That is today’s leading television network GMA-7 speaking to every Filipino, figuratively at the very least, thru the network’s newest station ID that was launched last April 15, just right before the highly anticipated Manny Pacquiao-versus-Jorge Solis bout.

TALKING SIDES now brings to you an inside look to the production of GMA’s new station ID. The 2007-version of the network’s station ID replaces the first Kapuso plug that was first aired on 2002, which was also the year when GMA Network transitioned from being the station "where you belong" to being the "Kapuso".

"Marami na pong nangyari mula nang magsimula tayo bilang Kapuso noong 2002. Pangunahin dito ang pagiging number one natin sa ratings — matapos tayong pumangalawa ng mahabang panahon sa kabilang istasyon. Bilang Kapuso, sabay-sabay nating hinarap at napagtagumpayan ang mga hamon ng buhay. Sama-sama tayong nanalig, nangarap at nagsikap. Isang pagpapatunay na ganap nga tayong Kapuso ng bawat Pilipino. Kaya naman buong-puso po naming inihahandog sa inyo ang ating bagong Station ID," says GMA Network chairman, president and CEO Atty Felipe L. Gozon.

Star-Powered

Produced by GMA Network EVP and chief operating officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr, directed by the exceptional tandem of directors Louie Ignacio and Paul Ticzon, and ably supported by Ding Achacoso (director of Photography), Ingrid Navarro (line producer), Butch Garcia (production designer), and Vince Gealogo (acting director), the network’s station ID showcases in full-strength GMA-7’s roster of top-notch stars and highly respected news personalities.

About two hundred fifty GMA-7 talents, all clad in white and maong jeans, were gathered inside the network’s Studio 3 for the shoot. And that very same number of stars and news personalities, all rushing to memorize the new Kapuso jingle barely a few minutes before the shoot, positioned themselves into a grand black stage, with the whole set decorated with almost three thousand light bulbs.

Deeper Message

"As we confront daily challenges, we often overlook the virtues that allow all of us to overcome these. The production of our new Station ID was driven by the desire to celebrate these virtues we proudly share with our valued Kapuso. Bilang isang organisasyon na tulad ng sambayanang Pilipino, ay nananalig, nangangarap, nagsisikap at nagkakaisa kaming lahat sa pagdiriwang ng mga katangiang ito. Sa pamamagitan ng ating bagong Station ID, nais ng inyong Kapuso na haranahin at magbigay-pugay sa inyong lahat, aming mga minamahal na kababayan at manonood," shares Duavit.

And indeed, the new station ID, which was conceptualized by GMA-7’s Program Support Department – Regie Bautista (VP – PSD), Armie Herrera and Dong Tan (associate creative directors), Hasmin Marable (project manager), Joy Comia (copy writer), and Manuel Edralin and RJ Corgado (storyboard artists), celebrates the virtues that the network shares with its valued viewers.

Featuring scenes from farmlands to homes, individual joys and accomplishments, the Kapuso station ID gives viewers a glimpse of different slices of life that celebrate our day-to-day challenges, moments, and triumphs. A Louie Ocampo (musical arrangement) and Mon Faustino (vocal arrangement) collaboration, the new Kapuso theme is an updated version of the old Kapuso song.

Armie Herrera further notes, "It was a conscious effort to make sure that every sector is represented in the Station ID -– farmers, construction workers, yuppies, students, families, even kids. We also want to impart the message that GMA, the Kapuso station, can identify with their daily struggles –- na nagsisikap sila araw-araw para mapaganda ang kanilang buhay. Parang GMA, nagsisikap para makapag-handog ng mga orihinal, kakaiba at magagandang palabas para sa mga manonood."

"Our 2002 Station ID was a very successful material that allowed us to define to our audience what Kapuso meant. We lived and practiced it — and the TV viewing public responded. Now that we are leading in the hearts of our viewers, it is only proper to celebrate our shared aspirations and experiences with our viewers and further deepen viewer affinity through our new Station ID. Majority of Filipinos continuously aspire for better lives just as GMA continuously aspires to lead in the hearts of its viewers," explains Bautista. "Our climb to the top was not easy as we were a far number 2. But we made it happen dahil patuloy tayong nanalig, nangarap, at nagsikap. Tulad ng ating mga manunuod na araw-araw ay nagsisikap at humaharap sa hamon ng buhay, baon ay pangarap at pananalig na balang araw ay makakamit rin ang inaasam na tagumpay. It is our hope that through this new Station ID, we both affirm and inspire our viewers."

Taking center-stage together with GMA’s new station ID is the network’s new jingle. A Louie Ocampo (Musical Arrangement) and Mon Faustino (Vocal Arrangement) collaboration, the new Kapuso theme is a seemingly updated version of the old Kapuso song.

And no less than the network’s biggest names in the music industry gave life to the new Kapuso theme – Regine Velasquez, Jaya, Ogie Alcasid and Janno Gibbs, together with Jolina, Karylle, Kyla, Jay-R, Jonalyn, Gerard, Brenan, Aicelle and Sugar Pop.

But at the end of the day, however grand the production may have been, the inspiration for all the hard work goes back to the most basic – simply being the "Kapuso ng bawat Pilipino."