New shows that empower viewers

ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs has made the bold move of moving its current affairs programs from late night to afternoon in order to reach more viewers, empower Filipinos with information and deliver compassionate public service.

“We continue to uphold our obligation and commitment to serve our audience. We tell stories that inspire, empower and enable communities and individuals,” said Ging Reyes, head of ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs. 

The five new programs that constitute the formidable weekday afternoon programming line-up of ABS-CBN are Bistado anchored by Julius Babao, Mutya ng Masa with Doris Bigornia, My Puhunan with Karen Davila, Tapatan ni Tunying with Anthony Taberna and Hiwaga with Atom Araullo. 

Every Monday, Bistado exposes wrongdoings not only to help victims seek justice, but to empower viewers with information that will help protect them and their families.   

Julius assures that the show exercises fairness and investigates thoroughly the cases presented to them. 

“People who commit crime should be held accountable. They must face their comeuppance under the law,” he said. “We also want people to learn from the stories we air in our program and what they should know so they won’t become victims.” 

On Tuesdays, returning Kapamilya Doris spreads good vibes in her first solo TV program Mutya ng Masa, a title given to her by her producer when she was doing live field interviews for the late-night talk show Dong Puno Live.

In Mutya ng Masa, Doris visits various communities to bond and help ordinary Filipinos realize their simple dreams and bring joy to their lives. Doris felt excited when the program was offered to her, but at the same time unsure what people would wish. 

“I thought people would ask for big things like house and lot, but it turns out that people have wishes as simple as a makeover or a mobile phone that would help them make a living,” she said. 

According to Doris, it is the community members who determine who among them badly need help. 

“The notion that Filipinos are apathetic towards their fellowmen is not true. Even if people are experiencing difficulties, they selflessly tell us who is in a worse lot. They also want to help,” she said. 

From spreading good cheers, ABS-CBN inspires the Filipinos’ entrepreneurial spirit in My Puhunan. Every Wednesday, Karen tells the stories of successful businessmen and struggling entrepreneurs. She then brings them together for mentoring. 

“It’s the first time in a long time that I got excited over a program concept. My Puhunan shows that ordinary Filipinos can succeed and become rich,” she said. “Filipinos are not usually taught how to put up a business. We are usually taught to become employees.” 

On Thursdays, Anthony asks daring questions and demands direct answers from the most controversial newsmakers and personalities in Tapatan ni Tunying. In its first few weeks on air, Tunying has scored a number of  good interviews and even exclusives. He got Venus Raj sharing why she broke up with Andrei Felix, Karla Estrada revealing her son Daniel Padilla’s relationship status, how Eva Cariño accepted BB Gandanghari’s sexuality. 

Recently, he got a Skype interview with Mexican actress Thalia, who has expressed her interest to guest in any of Tunying’s shows after watching him in Punto por Punto in Umagang Kay Ganda last year.

“At the age of 42, she still looks like 24,” he said.

But it’s not all about showbiz in his program.

“It’s not true I am replacing Boy Abunda,” he jokingly said at a recent media roundtable for the launch of the new show. “TNT will also feature interviews with public officials, athletes and other prominent personalities. We want viewers to relax on a Thursday afternoon.”

Ending the weekday afternoon current affairs offerings is Atom’s Hiwaga, which explores supernatural beliefs of Filipinos.  

Armed with an undergraduate degree in applied physics, Atom takes a different approach in developing stories about topics such as love potions, usog, kulam, hypnotism, spirits, premonitions and the likes. 

“We need to understand how people have such beliefs, why some people are convinced that these things happen. It begs discussion. We try to entertain and at the same time demystify such phenomena,” he explained. 

With a variety of offerings, it is worth checking out ABS-CBN’s new current affairs afternoon block weekdays at 4:15 p.m.