"MAGTV NA" turns 3 with a month-long celebration

CEBU, Philippines - ABS-CBN’s top-rating regional magazine show and Anak TV Seal awardee “MAGTV Na!” celebrates its third anniversary for the entire month of April. Models turned TV hosts Phoebe Fernandez, Borgie Cabigas and Blinky De Leon experienced the pristine beaches of the tropical island of Boracay as part of the month-long “T3rrific Anniversary” that kicked off in yesterday’s episode. 

HELLO, BORA!

The two-part summer escapade of “MAGTV Na!” showcases how beautiful the island of Boracay is—from its sugar-fine white sands, crystal blue waters, warm people to the must-try attractions of the island. “It’s definitely a T3rrific Anniversary! We will show our loyal Kamags how to enjoy their vacation to the fullest,” said Phoebe who experienced the magnificence of Boracay for the first time. “We will give viewers the idea that they can have a wonderful vacation, enjoy the summer, and spend two nights at Bora with a budget of only P5000. It’s really the company that matters most,” added Blinky.

The hosts tried the Bungee Fun, wherein you are tossed up and down some 20-25 meters above the ground. They also tried the newest offering in Boracay called the Ride the Zorb. It’s an adventure sport which originated in New Zealand wherein you roll down a hill on board a giant inflatable bouncing ball. “It was so much fun. Ako pa gyud gisuwayan nga giligsan ko sa bola. You have to try it when you go to Boracay. Grabe, we did so many things in our two-night stay in Boracay,” added Borgie.

HOSTS COME AND GO

Since the program started airing in August of 2007, the program has had nine hosts in different batches. When it was launched, it had Charlene Go, Genesis Nacua, and Blinky De Leon as hosts. In 2008, Erwin Lim and Inday Tikay entered the picture when Genesis and Charlene left the program. A year after, Erwin Lim and Inday Tikay decided to leave because of their hectic schedules. In a phone interview, Erwin Lim said that it was difficult to leave the program because he was working with a great team. “Even until now, I miss them, I miss the weekly routine. It’s like you’re having a vacation and you are being paid. It was so much fun.”

In 2009, Mc Billy Sy and Phoebe Fernandez replaced Erwin and Inday Tikay. In 2010, Mc Billy had to migrate to New York to reunite with his dad so “MAGTV Na!” had to hold a “Search for the new Kamags”. Mr. Mandaue 2010 1st runner-up Dan Harry Genson and Mr. Cebu 2009 Kris Nimrod “Borgie” Cabigas emerged as winners. “MAGTV Na!” is currently a top-rater regardless of who the hosts are. “With the fast turn-over of hosts almost every year, we realized that it’s not the hosts who are the main stars of the program but our loyal viewers, who have been watching our program because of its contents and its subjects,” said Cebu TV and Entertainment Head Neda A. Esguerra. “Ang mga ordinaryong tawo ug ang mga lugar nga among gibisita ang bida sa ‘MAGTV Na!’ Sila gyud ang sikat.”

Blinky de Leon, who is the remaining original host, said that hosting on TV is fleeting but as long as there is “MAGTV Na!,” she will be around. “I have developed my hosting skills because of the show. It’s something that I didn’t even know I have and for that I am so thankful to “MAGTV Na!”

HOME MAKE-OVER AND GRAND FANS DAY

One of the reasons why it’s going to be a “T3rrific Anniversary” this April is that “MAGTV Na!” will be giving a free home make-over to one lucky Kamags. All they have to do is email a photo of their living room or dining room and the reasons why they should be the recipient of the make-over. A living room or dining room showcase awaits the lucky winner.

They can send their entries through MAGTV Official in Facebook or email to [email protected]. To culminate the “T3rrific Anniversary” and as a way of saying thank you to the loyal Kamags who have supported the program for three years now, they will be treated to an afternoon of fun, games and entertainment during the Grand Fans Day on April 16, 2011. Catch “MAGTV Na!” every Sunday at 8:30 am on ABS-CBN after “Salamat Dok.” 

EMILY BLUNT PROVIDES THE VOICE OF JULIET IN “GNOMEO”

For Emily Blunt who provides the voice of the feisty and independent Juliet in Touchstone Pictures' animated comedy “Gnomeo & Juliet,” becoming a gnome isn’t a walk in the garden, so to speak.

“Acting is acting,” says Blunt, adding “the approach to this film is not unlike others. When you’re doing a comedic version of one of the greatest love stories of all-time, I think it always has to be ingrained in some kind of truth because people don’t laugh if they’re not invested. We all very much wanted to play real people in this.”

She’s beautiful, delicate and pristine—at least according to her father, Lord Redbrick, the head of the Reds. As such, Juliet's place is aptly atop a grand fountain pedestal. “But she’s also very fiery,” says Blunt of her character, “and very much her father’s child, so I was really thrilled to see that they’ve made her kind of a tomboy.”

But Juliet is just not cut out for life on a pedestal. She longs to get her hands dirty in the garden alongside the rest of the Reds. She wants to contribute, but her father won’t allow her off her pedestal—he’s afraid she’ll get chipped. When Juliet spots a beautiful orchid beyond the garden’s walls, she decides to venture out to retrieve it. That’s when she meets him. She doesn’t realize Gnomeo is a Blue until it’s too late. Juliet’s in love. And she doesn’t really understand just why it’s so wrong to love a Blue—even if you are a Red.

Reflecting on their comic re-imagining of the classic Shakespeare tale, Blunt attests “It is very, very funny and it's a very heightened world to invest in, but I really feel that the core of what is so sweeping and romantic about Romeo and Juliet is still there. This truly captures the essence of forbidden love and it really captures the teenage frustrations that we’ve all felt. It's a very human story at the end of the day and quite an emotional one. And I think this is definitely the ending that people always wanted from Romeo and Juliet.”

Emily Blunt shot to international prominence with her lead role in the multi-award-winning romance from Pawel Pawlikowski “My Summer of Love.” Later, an adaptation of the hugely popular Lauren Weisberger novel “The Devil Wears Prada” features Blunt as the intensely neurotic Emily Charlton. Co-starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, the film opened to great acclaim, earning more than $320 million worldwide.

Blunt plays Britain’s Queen Victoria in the early stages of her life in “The Young Victoria.” The Martin Scorsese-produced biopic gave her Best Actress nominations at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards and the Critics’ Choice Awards.

Her other films include “The Wolfman,” “Gulliver’s Travels,” and “The Adjustment Bureau.” Up next for Blunt is “The Muppets” for Disney, which is slated for a holiday 2011 release. Directed by James Bobin, “The Muppets” also stars Jason Segel and Amy Adams.

Opening soon across the Philippines in Digital 3D and regular format, “Gnomeo & Juliet” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International.