The Best of Philippine TV (July 2011-July 2012)

Manila, Philippines -  No one will deny that it is exciting times nowadays on Philippine Television. The competition between major players has heightened mostly because of the entry of the well-funded TV5 which has made its presence felt despite a weak signal, lack of well-trained personnel and virtually no homegrown talent pool. But few figured on the brains of an MVP, short for Manny V. Pangilinan.

The first time we had heard of MVP was in relation to basketball. The second time was through economist Prof. Niceto Poblador’s Changing the Way We Manage Change, where he discussed PLDT and how the phenomenon of convergence has brought this oldish establishment into practically the same category as Microsoft, Apple and Google.

Poblador wrote, “The convergence revolution in this country is being led not by upstart tech geeks in the mould of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Steve Case, but by a stodgy, buttoned down type by the name of Manny Pangilinan, chair of PLDT, and Management Man of the Year in 2005.”

Recently, all this talk of MVP buying GMA 7 has filled the media with speculations, especially since GMA wasn’t denying anything. Which means that a TV5-GMA 7 partnership should send shivers to the bossings of ABS-CBN. But it could also bring renewed vigor into the leading network to do better than it has already done.

On this note, we have been asked by our editor Ricky Lo to pick our personal Top 26 TV shows for the year 2011-2012 in observance of The Philippine STAR’s 26th year. Precisely because of what we’ve noted above, much of this would possibly soon change. We have also limited ourselves to free TV. As of very recently, even after its extension to Book 2, ABS-CBN’s Walang Hanggan at 30 percent is still the leading primetime TV program, based on Nielsen ratings in Mega Manila.

The official ratings of what people watch, however, are not what we ourselves watch and our top favorites possible wouldn’t even reach one percent of Nielsen ratings. Here goes, per network: 

From ABS-CBN

1. The Bottomline — Hosted by Boy Abunda (2009 to present), Saturdays at midnight, it interviews a personality whom Boy and his Bottomliners later subject to critical questioning.  

2. Kris TV — Hosted by Kris Aquino (June 27, 2011 to present), focuses on everyday subjects as cooking, fashion, health and fitness, with a recent segment where she and Bimby go exploring the countryside, conversing with the people. As lifestyle host, Kris is clearly still the best.      

3. 100 Days to Heaven — An inspirational series where Coney Reyes is brought back to earth to right many of her wrongs.

4. Goin’ Bulilit — Created by Bobot Mortiz with kids in comedic situations.

5. Toda Max — Comedy action with Robin Padilla, Vhong Navarro, Pokwang and Angel Locsin. It started airing Nov. 2011 to present.

6. Dahil Sa Pag-Ibig — With Piolo Pascual as a priest.

7. Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo — Produced with the OFWs in mind with solid viewership in the Middle East. Starring Jake Cuenca, Shaina Magdayao and Bangs Garcia. 

8. Walang Hanggan — With Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta, Coco Martin and Julia Montes, and a cast of thousands including Susan Roces, Helen Gamboa, Rita Avila, etc. Despite a meandering plot in Book 2, it is top favorite of both masa and the society bred. Our favorite remains Book 1.

9. Banana Split — Inspired by the Going Bananas series of Bobot Mortiz, Boyet de Leon, the late Johnny Delgado and Jay Ilagan. Still brings laughter from cast of Angelica Panganiban, Jason Gainza, John Prats, Pokwang, Pooh, Melai Cantiveros, Ryan Bang, Zanjoe Marudo, etc.

10. City Hunter — A Tagalized Korean action drama series starring Lee Min Ho (Boys Over Flowers), as Johnny Lee, a charming, appealing young man trained to kill to seek revenge for his father.

As a special addendum, May Bukas Pa features Santino (Zaijian Jaranilla) who talks to God whom he calls Bro. It aired for an entire year from 2009 until 2010, and shouldn’t really be on this list, but its impact remains till today.

From GMA 7

11. The Good Daughter — Shown February to June 1, 2012 with good acting from Kylie Padilla, Rocco Nacino, Raymond Bagatsing and Alicia Mayer.

12. Eat, Bulaga! — July 30, 1979 to present. Produced by Tony Tuviera’s TAPE, Inc. with original cast of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, with Jimmy Santos, Ruby Rodriguez, and additions of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola. It is the longest-running noontime variety program on air in the history of local television.

13. My Beloved — A dramatic romance aired Feb. 13 to June 8, 2012 about an angel of death (Dingdong Dantes) who falls in love with a human (Marian Rivera) and chooses love over everything else.

14. Broken Vow — A series with Bianca King, Luis Alandy, Gabby Eigenmann and Rochelle Pangilinan whose lives and loves are characterized by deception, obsession and broken promises. It aired for 19 weeks.

15. Startalk — A long-running showbiz-oriented television talk show that airs Saturday afternoons hosted by Butch Francisco, Joey de Leon, Ricky Lo and Lolit Solis.

16. Walang Tulugan — Previously known as Master Showman, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno’s Saturday midnight variety show is aired over GMA Pinoy TV with substantial viewing in California.

17. Bubble Gang — The longest-running gag show on Philippine TV, aired Friday evenings from Oct. 1995 to the present. Cast has been Ogie Alcasid and Michael V from time immemorial.

18. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (2004-present) — Reporting for GMA for 27 years, Soho has received possibly the most important awards in broadcasting ever. 

19. Unang Hirit (1999–present) — Hosts Arnold Clavio, Suzi Entrata-Abrera, Lyn Ching, Rhea Santos, Love Añover and Drew Arellano with puppet Arn-Arn are the best company with whom to start the day, with hard news from Mikaela Papa, Nathaniel Cruz and Oscar Oida from the field.

20. Wish Ko Lang (2002–present) — is the first wish-granting show on Philippine TV hosted by Vicky Morales Saturday afternoons after Startalk.

From TV5

21. Batibot — A children’s television show many parents of today grew up with since 1984. It has found a home on TV5, 8:30 a.m., Saturdays.

22. Talentadong Pinoy — The pioneering reality talent show hosted by Ryan Agoncillo and directed by Rich Ilustre, practically set the ball rolling for all the talent shows on other channels. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m.

23. Face to Face — Hosted by Amy Perez (now on maternity leave with Gelli de Belen taking over), the show launched in 2010 is the first talakserye that brings opposing parties before a live audience with the hope of resolving problems. It airs Monday to Friday at 4:30 p.m.

24. Journo — Hosted by TV5 news head Luchi Cruz-Valdes, it dissects every angle of compelling stories as she does best. It airs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Sundays at 11:30 and 4:30 p.m.

25. Bitag — Hosted by Ben Tulfo, (2002 to present), it follows a genuine crime-buster as he goes after criminals with the help of a police team to crush criminals in his wake. It airs Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays at 4 p.m.

26. Pinoy Explorer — It is said to be one of the reasons Aga Muhlach decided to join TV5. From Sept. 2010 to present, Aga has shed his glamorous presence, climbed mountains, slept under the stars and discovered places and people from Batanes to Mindanao. It airs Sundays at 6:30 p.m.

These are my choices influenced by the weird hours we are at home. Try them out sometime. They are great fun.

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