Only ‘happy’ shows for TV5

CEBU, Philippines – In another effort to differentiate itself from the two other more established TV networks, TV5’s new thrust is do away with the soap opera genre and offer only ‘happy’ shows to viewers.

The Kapatid station has been rebranding as the Happy Network recently as an alternative to the traditional fare of telenovelas offered by ABS-CBN and GMA-7, said TV5 Head of Network Marketing Melvin Sixto Nubla during last Saturday’s Cebu press conference.

This first quarter of 2015, TV5 launched 10 new programs that start this year with lighter, more pleasing and positively entertaining shows.

One big treat to kids and the young at heart is the free-TV airing in the Philippines of the world-famous children’s program, “Hi-5.” Hosted by the five member musical group of Mary, Stevie, Dayen, Ainsley and Tanika, catch this Australian hit show from Monday to Friday at 9:30 a.m. TV5 is also preparing for “Hi-5 Philippines,” which will have a nationwide search for the first-ever Filipino Hi-5 hosts.

A new morning lifestyle show is “Happy Wife, Happy Life,” which brings together the life partners of some of the country’s most popular basketball stars –  Danica Sotto-Pingris, wife of hardcourt idol Marc Pingris; LJ Moreno-Alapag, wife of PBA Mighty Mouse Jimmy Alapag; RR Enriquez, partner of ace player JJ Helterbrand; and Jeck Maierhofer, wife of hardcourt favorite Rico Maierhofer. Airing from Monday to Friday, “Happy Wife, Happy Life” gives viewers a peek into the lives of these four hosts as they share the perks and challenges of being the partners of Pinoy PBA stars.

Now fast becoming known as the “advice center ng bayan” is a new morning show that tackles issues ranging from trivial to complex legal and life problems – “Solved na Solved.” Hosted by Gelli de Belen, lawyer Mel Sta. Maria and Arnell Ignacio, this show provides viewers insightful and helpful advice that educates them on their legal rights, as well as explain their options and the right process to making legal claims.

Making a big leap to TV this year from its popular Radyo5 program is “Healing Galing sa TV,” now extending its valuable health advice to viewers from Monday to Friday.  Naturaphatic medicine expert Dr. Edinell Calvario now teams up with Dr. Hayden Kho to share health tips and advice covering both alternative and Western medicine approaches.

Continuing the success of its first season where some of the most popular stories from the world’s largest community of readers and writers were given their week-long TV adaptations, “Wattpad Presents” launches four new titles that are sure to excite Wattpad readers. Airing on weeknight primetime are the new Wattpad Presents episodes of “Trip in Love or Fall in Love of Eula Caballero and Bret Jackson; “I’m in Love with a DOTA Player” of Shaira Mae and Mark Neumann; “Mistakenly Meant For You” of Isabelle de Leon and Carl Guevarra; and “House Full of Hunks” of Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Vin Abrenica, Charlie Sutcliffe, John Spainhour and Albie Casiño.

Family sitcom “2 ½ Daddies,” delivers a laugh-out-loud viewing experience every Saturday as Padilla siblings Robin, Rommel and BB Gandanghari star in their first comedy show together. Joining in the show’s riotous fun is timeless beauty Alice Dixson, whose versatility as an actress will definitely complement the unique rapport of the Padillas.

Late Saturday nights cater to the lovelorn through the love advice show “Call Me Papa Jack,” with no less than the country’s most popular male DJ and love guru Papa Jack at the helm. This weekly program will give an interactive and dynamic TV experience as Papa Jack extends his signature humor and candid commentary to love-struck and heartbroken guests and callers.

Sunday nights get wackier as Kapatid “Prime Hunk” Derek Ramsay and “Hunk Wannabe” Empoy Marquez join forces in the primetime sitcom “Mac &Chiz,” where Derek plays the role of the handsome, smart and wealthy bachelor Macario “Mac” Vasquez, who is also the famous heir to the successful chain of family restaurants called Kubyertos. Mac’s seemingly perfect life takes on a sudden twist when he is asked to look for his long-lost twin brother as his father’s dying wish. What happens when Mac finds out that his long-lost twin turns out to be someone like Chiz (Empoy), who is the total opposite of what he expected?

Giving way to a high-energy and adrenaline-pumping Sunday is “Move It: Clash of the Street Dances,” the first streetdance competition on Philippine TV. Hosted by Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Tom Taus, this exhilarating dance program presents solo and crew categories, with the solo category featuring 10 celebrity dancers while the crew/group category highlights 10 amateur dance crews who have been making names in the industry.

Completing TV5’s first quarter offerings is the country’s newest singing competition “Rising Stars,” where video selfies become people’s ticket to stardom. Undeniably Asia’s biggest karaoke community, the popular online app crosses over to mainstream media and takes the country by storm in its search for the best of the best singing talents in the Philippines. Hosted by Ogie Alcasid and Venus Raj, “Rising Stars” gives singing hopefuls all over the Philippines the chance to upload their video performances via the mobile app or join the series of regional contests held in different areas and key cities all across the country. “Rising Stars premieres on February 28 and will air every Saturday and Sunday.