Time to switch, time to change

I have always been a fan of GMA-7's teleseryes, ever since Richard Guttierez and Angel Locsin spread their wings to position the network on the highest pedestal of the TV ratings game. It was during that time when I started fantasizing about Dennis Trillo. In other words, I began to support GMA-7's primetime shows since its "Mulawin" days. At that time, the network was still climbing up the ladder to become the Philippines' best TV station.

Then there was "Darna," where I always made it a point to go home so I wouldn't miss a single episode. Turning into a couch potato, I'd applaud every time Alessandra de Rossi delivered her lines. And I was there when Angel showed the right curves in her costume, making FHM declare her as the country's Sexiest Woman last year. With the entry of Katrina Halili, my TV viewing experience was completed. I adored all three of them: Angel for her sweetness and both Alessandra and Katrina for their candidness.

But I have definitely changed recently. I'd be hypocrite if I'll say I never watch the primetime shows of ABS-CBN. If before I can afford to miss episodes of "Marina" and "Krystala," lately I've been there when Kristine Hermosa's character was exploited and maltreated in "Gulong ng Palad." And I was there when Piolo Pascual said that "The highest form of friendship is love" in "Sa Piling Mo." That was such a very unforgettable soap, what with the colorful speaking lines that will forever be etched in our minds. Remember the good priest played by Bembol Roco telling Adrian (Piolo) and Jennifer (Judy Ann), "May mga bagay na kahit anong pigil mangyayari. At may mga bagay na kahit anong pilit, hindi mangyayari"? The SPM fever is now waning yet these lines seem to remain so fresh. Surely, those lines would become timeless. In short, Kapamilya's primetime shows "Gulong ng Palad," SPM and even "Bituing Walang Ningning" have made an impact on televiewers. That is precisely because Filipinos' penchant for sob stories is still very much alive. They still hunger for shows that mirror their real-life stories.

The Filipinos we are talking here belong to the CDE market. These are the people who religiously follow soap dramas, even skipping dinner so as not to miss a scene of their favorite shows. Besides, gone are the days when protagonists would just stand like statues, letting villains maltreat them. Finally, people behind these winning soaps have embraced the call of the times. During these times of modern technology, the unspoken mantra is "walay dinaugdaug kon walay magpadaug-daug." So, in the last two years, we have witnessed the empowerment of movie and TV protagonists and we never failed to cheer them on as they fought back against their oppressors.

My point is that GMA-7 has been feeding us with so much fantasy stories that it's now beginning to turn into a routine. And when that happens, boredom and disinterest would set in. Among the 80 million-plus Filipinos, how many believe in magic anyway? How many are actually convinced that life's problems can be solved by merely waving a magic wand? The sad thing is that GMA fantasy stories are now committing the same mistakes ABS-CBN did with Claudine Barretto's "Marina." Many new characters are being introduced. When you bring new faces in an ongoing series that could only mean the project has been stretched. For me, it loses momentum because it does not end anymore on the target date.

What happened to "Marina" then? In its bid to overextend the show to accommodate more advertisements, the story suffered. Imagine a mermaid who became a firefly so as just to connect Marina to the character of Diether Ocampo, who was prince of an enchanted kingdom? That was a big turn off. And then came the ogres, the kapres and the witches. Oh so many characters, oh so crowded. Then they failed and "Mulawin" soared high. Then "Darna" followed, although it suffered a bit due to the same mistake. Still it holds the highest recorded TV rating of more than 50% in audience share. GMA-7 should have learned from that near-collapse of the "Darna" experiment. But no, they did it again in "Sugo" where GMA-Artist Center talents came in and went. Whoever was hot and controversial graced the show.

And now GMA-7 is still at it again in "Captain Barbell" and "Majika." In CB we got to see Ruffa Mae Quinto, that Taiwanese actor (or was it Korean?) and now there's Wendell Ramos. In "Majika," there's Mikee Cojuanco and Oyo Boy Sotto. People behind these productions still don't get it that diverting from the original finale runs the risk of losing the momentum. Unless the twist is presented well, like in the case of SPM, it will spin into the wrong direction and bang! The experimentation would fail! There are only two ways to remedy the problem-stick to the original cast and strengthen the characters, and secondly, twist the story with so much care. I suggest the former though.

The magic of the fantasy stories is slowly failing. Like a homemade revolver, it's now beginning to malfunction. And it's all because we have so much of it already, it's making the "make-believe" literally unbelievable. While I understand that it is their way of making things lighter what with the economic crisis burdening Filipinos, the formula is bordering between deception and truthfulness. In the first place, it's called fantasy-dream, illusion, figment, fabrication. I don't think there should be a need to bank on so-called "fantaseryes" because GMA-7's sitcoms are doing well, giving entertainment to the problematic and worrisome citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.

No need to talk about ratings here because they're only restricted to Mega Manila. In Cebu, research agencies such as AGB Nielsen are yet to come up with figures that truly reflect the sentiments of Cebuanos. Therefore what maybe true there may not be the same here. Besides Cebuanos are very different because we are skeptics, sometimes indifferent and obviously the hardest to please in everything-from entertainment to politics. Moreover, why should we believe in the ratings when market vendors in Carbon to the sales clerks in malls and even employees of the high-rise buildings at the Ayala Business Park are boisterously recapping scenes from ABS-CBN's soap dramas viewed the previous night? How many are talking about CB and "Majika" on the streets? Only the children, who are often admonished by parents to sleep early, if not banned from watching TV on weekdays.

Oh well, ABS-CBN has the superserye "Super Inggo" in its primetime block. But honestly I always look forward to it every night since its debut because the comical and animated Makisig Morales makes me laugh. He is only about eight or nine years old, but when he delivers his lines he sounds like 14 or 15. Good casting in there, never mind the mediocre special effects as compared to the excellent ones in "Majika" and CB.

ABS-CBN is slowly and surely recovering after it was drowned during its "Marina" days. The line-up of shows is perfect. And we're not even talking about the fabulous "Pinoy Dream Academy" yet, which is surely a hit with its global following. The premiere of "Crazy for You" on Monday is another welcome development. After all, it's a dramedy coated with "kilig moments." Yes, the arrival of "Bakekang" also on Monday is a great event for GMA-7. At least it also has heavy drama that will surely capture the CDE market that loves tearjerkers. But will "Atlantika" (Atlantic or Atlantis in English, the meaning of which is synonymous to a fantasy place) match the funny characterization of Makisig? Or is it going to be another "Majika" and CB?

In my humble opinion, I think it's about time to implement changes by switching back to the old but tested formula-that is the dramatic soap that majority Filipinos love to watch and embrace to the fullest.

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