It's all about child's play

MANILA, Philippines - There’s something about children that brings out the best in us. Their untainted ways make the most jaded adults believe in the goodness of man all over again. It makes us grown-ups children again: Cheerful, hopeful, ready for anything.

And so it is that director Louie Ignacio always looks forward to taping episodes of his new show, Q-11’s Tropang Potchi every Saturday, 11:30 a.m.

The award-winning director has handled many a TV show (he’s on top of GMA 7’s S.O.P. and Mel & Joey). But Tropang Potchi stands out as “a refreshing break” from his regular load.

“Directing children is easier,“ he relates. “They‘re not pasaway at all.“

Direk Louie cites Tropang Potchi main hosts Ella Cruz and Julian Trono as examples.

“They come to the set well-prepared. They memorize their lines. They study the lesson for the day (among the weekly show‘s features is a segment which tests the kids‘ mental abilities),“ he points out.

No one raises his voice or eyebrows here. No one gives anyone the cold shoulder. It‘s all for one and one for all.

Ella, for one, does not wait for anyone to put make up on her face. She does it herself.

“It‘s really simple, especially for a kid like me,“ the 13-year-old freshman high school student brushes off compliments.

She and the rest of the kiddie cast members go to the set to tape the show only on Saturdays, when they have no classes. Being minors, all of them have work permits from the Labor Department. The network also makes sure the seven young hosts stick to the number of working hours the law prescribes for minors.

“Even time spent for press interviews like these is counted as part of their working hours,“ direk Louie reveals.

These working hours double as bonding moments among the kids as well. Ella and Julian may be the main hosts, but they never throw their weight around the set the way some of their adult counterparts do.

“We‘re happy on the set,“ they chorus.

Their director agrees. “There are no intrigues. Everybody is equal,“ he reports. 

Thus the word Tropa in the show‘s title is as apt as can be. Potchi, on the other hand, is the name of the candy brand that sponsors the show.

Though everyone treats everyone as part of the gang, someone always stands out from the rest.

Ella and Julian bested 100 other children who auditioned for the show to emerge as the main hosts. Ella, with her rich acting background (Super Twins, Majika, Atlantika, Resiklo, Goin‘ Bulilit, Marimar) always wanted to act.

“I forced Mama to let me join showbiz,“ she giggles.

 Julian‘s passport to showbiz, on the other hand, is his dancing skills.

“I‘ve won dance contests in our hometown,“ the 12-year-old honor student says. One look at Julian, and Sexbomb dancer Joy Cancio decided his sense of rhythm and skills on the dancefloor make him a potential star. She has since taken the Daisy Siete mainstay under her wings.

Julian (together with fellow host Ayla Mendero) will prove Cancio right again when he does a dance number in Tropang Potchi‘s pilot episode. The other hosts, like Jessu Trinidad and Miggy Jimenez, will show their talents in extemporaneous speaking and making magic, respectively.

The other hosts, Sabrina Man and Andrea Reyes also shine in the show‘s talent portion which highlights the so-called eight intelligences: Word smart, number/reasoning smart, picture smart, body smart, music smart, people smart, self smart and nature smart.

Tropang Potchi is a show for kids and by kids. 

“We really did not get any adult host because a recent study of Anak TV shows that kiddie televiewers can relate better to the show if its cast is composed of kids like them. This way, they become one big, happy barkada,“ direk Louie explains.

Figures why he loves going to the set week in and week out. The kids feed his soul as much as he feeds their hunger to grow and learn more about the world they‘re excited to explore, anytime, all the time.