We requested for technical support, trainings and seminars for talents, production staff, etc., to improve the ratings of Singgit. We involved Lou and Yuri (a host of Singgit who was retained for Oi!) in our brainstorming on how to improve Singgit's ratings. The brainstorming also included discussions on the possibility of creating a new show. In the end, management decided in favor of producing a new show with a new concept.
However, the Network did not have the luxury of time in between preparing for the launching of the new entertainment show, Oi!, and ending the old program, Singgit, that has been on air for around six years, as we worked on a tight schedule to launch Oi!.
With this decision, ETV's schedule for the supposed re-launch of Singgit on September 17 was postponed, and this was announced to the staff on September 11.
As opposed to the misconception that we already had talents and everything for the show early on, nothing was really definite until after we held the audition for the hosts of Oi! from September 24 to 25. The line-up of hosts was finalized by GMA's Entertainment TV Department (Manila) on September 26. The following day, September 27, we broke the news to the staff.
Lou was around during the audition on September 25 as we requested her presence to try whether she would blend well with the other candidates. After the audition, only two talents from Singgit were chosen to be among the hosts of Oi! (Yuri and Genesis)
Among the hosts of Singgit, Lou was most aware of our plans since she was involved in the planning stages of the new show and the fate of Singgit. Lou even said, "Singgit has too many hosts"… "It's too predictable and it's time for a change." Unfortunately, she no longer became part of the change and the support now given to Oi!
The Executive Producer called up the talents of Singgit on September 27 with my instruction not to break the news over the phone but to invite them to dinner on October 8 where the hosts shall be properly informed of the decision to cancel the show. That supposed meeting could not be scheduled from September 27 to 30 since we had to wait for Lou, who was still in Surigao then. We would have wanted it to be done prior to the announcement of the new show but then again, we considered the request of the staff to have it on Oct. 8 instead.
That meeting never materialized as the talents of Singgit did not give us the chance to gather everyone for that dinner to clarify the situation. Instead, they sought audience with the press to air out their grievances.
In fairness to the EP, she was given clearance to tell the production staff of the cancellation of Singgit on September 27. I was present during the meeting and I waited for the production staff to raise questions regarding the decision. No questions were asked and the more common comment made was, "If that's the decision, then so be it." The farewell dinner on October 8 was, in fact, suggested by two Singgit staff.
I sought the advises of the EP and the Regional Program Manager on how to best deal with the situation at hand and what was the best and most professional way of informing the people of the cancellation of the show in such limited time. It came as a shock how things turned out the way they did.
As to the comparison with how the station parted ways with talents of DYSS' drama programs (they apparently received separation pays, etc.), I am not aware of the contracts of those radio talents. What I know is that the talents of Singgit do not have existing contracts with the station and that they are paid on a per episode basis.
To date, three members of the production staff of Singgit have rejoined the Network and are now happy with the new team. We never told any of Singgit's production staff that they will never become part of the current team. We just need time to finalize the manpower requirements for the production team and eventually fill-up the vacancies. We have room for most of the Singgit staff but, except for a few who have rejoined us, most of them have verbalized their disappointment over the network and have declined the chance to become part of the team even before the offer came.
Prior to the publication of Lou's column last October 25, I was able to talk to Lou for four and a half hours to answer the issues that were about to be published on paper. As of this writing, our Regional TV head, Mr. Jimmy Alanis, is set to arrive in Cebu to help resolve these concerns.
I hope this clarifies the issues surrounding Lou's column.
Ann Marie Tan
TV Station Manager
GMA Network Cebu