Full-Time Moms pays tribute to mothers

Manila, Philippines - Right after the celebration of Labor Day and the Beatification of Pope John Paul II in Rome on May 1, next Sunday will be an important date for moms with Mother’s Day, May 8.

The second Sunday of May observance is most popular in the USA, with Canada, much of South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines following suit. However, there are others who prefer their own fixed dates like May 15 in Paraguay, May 26 in Poland, August 12 in Thailand, Dec. 16 in Iran, and Dec. 22 in Indonesia. Some like countries in the Middle East pick the first day of spring to celebrate; others like Albania and South Korea combine it with Parents Day; Luxembourg celebrates on the second Sunday in June, while Kenya opts for the last Sunday in June. Each has its own reason for the choice.

Whatever the date, the important thing is that countries all over the globe recognize the importance of giving tribute to mothers. The French novelist and playwright of the 19th century Honore de Balzac said: “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” How many times have we heard delinquent children say “Hindi niya ako matitiis” in seeking forgiveness from their moms?

Full-Time Moms hosts Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Christine Jacob-Sandejas with Claudine Barretto (center)

On Philippine television, possibly the most successful tribute to mothers can be found in the daily show Full-Time Moms (FTM) aired 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on the new GMA News TV which replaced the lifestyle channel Q11. FTM was happily among the few shows that survived the revamp that positioned the new station opposite ABS-CBN’s ANC over cable TV, which had a 14-year lead in running a news and public affairs channel.

Still the bosses at GMA are confident being on free TV, delivering the news in Filipino, and banking on their reputation as the only winner of the prestigious international Peabody Award for radio and television.

Writer Edgar Cruz, looking at the show, felt FTM was the right program to diffuse the macho energies of the new GMA News TV.

With this new challenge, FTM director Bibeth Orteza is typically challenged. Looking back, she states, “The show will be two years old on Oct. 2011. I came in straight from its predecessor, Moms, hosted by Lani Mercado, Sherilyn Reyes and Manilyn Reynes. When Q11 took me in to handle the replacement show, I liked the two new hosts, the writers and the producers, so it was easily a go.”

Bibeth found Christine Jacob-Sandejas and Suzi Entrata Abrera almost like sisters with a great deal of respect for each other. They are active in suggesting content and ideas, even at midnight.

She observes, “The format’s been so far flexible. Soon as we get advised to try new approaches to the show, we plunge deep into it at once. The producers also aren’t the types who give up easily. We get on each other’s nerves, but are able to work things out over a bottle of beer, or two, every now and then. My contribution to the show, I guess, is my pakikialam, coming up with suggestions, asking the writers to work on last minute revisions on the scripts. “

Christine and Suzi performing at the MOA Family Day

Inevitably, there are unforgettable episodes. For Bibeth, she counts as favorites the one where Joey de Leon with his entire family appeared; the one of Ali Sotto and Gina de Venecia talking about the loss of their children; Grace Poe Llamanzares discussing movie taglines of her dad Fernando Poe Jr.; and newly widowed Mayor Jun Jun Binay with a moving sample of stories he reads to his children at night.

“That we get guests of this caliber — an entire family, a respected TV host, a congresswoman, the MTRCB chair, the mayor of Makati — is I think an indication of the respect we’ve earned.”

Even while interviewing Suzi and Christine separately, we found out that they truly thought alike. For instance, they both picked the Middle Child Syndrome and the First Anniversary episodes as among their favorites. “It was such an honest episode, with the guests (Gab Valenciano, Geoff Eigenmann and Bodie Cruz) truly opening up to how it felt to be a middle child,” recalls Suzi.

It is obvious that all those involved in the show from Gigi Lara, VP of Alternative Programming, executive producer Mayee Fabregas, Bibeth, to Christine and Suzi are having a lot of fun in the show and working hard to introduce changes. The difficulties have been from adjusting to the time slots from early evening to morning to late afternoon, and adjusting to the budget. Mayee would love to have more shows in the provinces. She dreams of the day they can do shows for the OFWs, most of whom are moms.

Christine with comedian John Feir (left) and a Paete woodcarver

Meantime, they work at constantly reaching more viewers with Christine pointing to the Facebook Fan Page where viewers now can post comments, tips, requests, etc. Susie adds that mall shows, travel destinations, and lately the live studio audience has been contributing to a more energetic look in the show.

With the coming of Mother’s Day, the team is now busy preparing for a week of episodes leading to the occasion, which will feature a baby shower for soon-to-be celebrity moms Danica Sotto and Rhea Santos; children of famous moms namely Gloria Diaz’s Isabel Daza and Clarisse of Elma Muros; moms always playing yayas in shows, moms with teen hip-hoppers and fashionistas, and workshops for kids by celebrity moms.

(E-mail me at [email protected])