It’s about time GMA 7 comes up with another regional show

October 8, 2007 is a day to look forward to if you are “regionalistic” like me. This is because on this day will be the pilot episode of GMA-7 Cebu’s morning show “Buena Mano.”

“Buena Mano” is some kind of a dream come true. I’ve always insisted in all Kapuso presscons in Cebu—with no less than GMA 7’s CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon in attendance—that it is high time for them to come up with more local shows like what the Kapamilya network is doing. To date, ABS-CBN Cebu has four: “Sabado Na Game Na,” which is said to be doing a reformat; “Maayong Buntag Kapamilya,” “TV Patrol Central Visayas,” and the newest Sunday magazine-type program “MagTV.” A Cebuanovela entitled “Saranghe” with Cueshe’s Jay Justiniani in a leading role will also soon air.

I remember Atty. Gozon’s reply to my constant question during those Cebu presscons about when they were going to come up with local shows was that it can’t be done yet due to a lack of advertising support.

Nevertheless, when I, along with other entertainment editors from VisMin dailies, had an audience with him in Manila last July, it was then that Atty. Gozon announced that they were coming up with a morning show at the regional level. And the next thing I knew, our friends at the GMA Complex in Nivel Hills was holding a series of auditions and reporters of “Balitang Bisdak” were also ordered to undergo on-cam tests as part of the selection of the hosts of “Buena Mano.”

Two weeks ago I learned that the hosts—Algen Abaquita, Cheryl Pelayo and Allan Dominggo—had their pictorial for the show that is to premiere on Monday. Other details followed like “Buena Mano” will reportedly not directly collide with MBK, hosted by Cathy Gabronino, Rico Lucena and Vilma Andales (this could be true as the teasers did not mention the timeslot), as it is said to be 30 minutes ahead of the competition’s 6:30 am timeslot. Another juicy tidbit I got is that the famous Chopeta of dySS will have a segment in “Buena Mano,” and I presume it’s going to be about entertainment news as this is what this famous radio personality has been doing for three years now, if I’m not mistaken. If this is the case then expect a very funny mix of punchlines and adlibs to wake you up!

To be honest, I’m not a hundred percent sure about all these details because no presscon, which will supposedly formally introduce the hosts to the members of E-Group (Entertainment Group, the newly formed beat organization of local showbiz writers in which I was appointed president), has been scheduled. I don’t know why. 

Anyway, just a backgrounder of the three hosts. Algen used to be with dyRF, and some years back, he moved to the Kapuso radio station dySS. He used to anchor the station’s noontime newscast. He eventually became a household name as “Mr. Imbestigador,” following up concerns that affect the common tao who is disappointed by the government’s bureaucracy. He used to co-host a public service program over CCTN-47. Now he’s back on the boobtube, and I think he is gonna handle the hard news.

Allan, on the other hand, is a masscom graduate of the University of San Jose Recoletos. He started a career in broadcasting at Bombo Radyo Cebu, moved on to Aksyon Radyo and finally “Balitang Bisdak” when the afternoon newscast was re-launched two years ago. He is refreshing on screen and does his standuppers with ease and confidence.

Meanwhile, my recollection of Cheryl was that of being a runner-up in the Miss Cebu pageant some years back. I know she is from the prestigious Silliman University, and is, in fact, a friend of my editor Nathalie Tomada and my good friend and officemate Joeberth Ocao. I find her very confident, spontaneous and graceful under pressure. We will get to know them more as we watch them everyday.

The main point why I’m writing about “Bueno Mano” is because I’m ecstatic that there is a brand-new show that would showcase Cebuano talent and capability. Hopefully, I’m right that they will collide with MBK so that I would be able to watch both shows, which just prove how people in the countryside are promising, bankable if not better than their Manila counterparts if only given the same break that talents in the capital are enjoying.

By the way, before I close this piece, let me just clarify certain things in answer to a question that bothered me some weeks ago. Tito Yuni Cahambing, senior cameraman of GMA-7 Cebu, and “Balitang Bisdak” news director Chelo Vallena confronted me with this question last month: “Nganong nibalibad man ka?” This was in reference to my supposed refusal to be one of the hosts of the show.

I really don’t know why such question was asked when I did not receive any offer to host (who am I to be offered in the first place when I’m not yet ripe for the picking?). Secondly, I did not audition so there is no way that my name should be linked to the show. Nevertheless, thank you Ms Chelo and Tito Yuni for asking—and for believing in me. It’s just that it’s not my time yet to conquer television. There is always a perfect time for each of us to shine in our respective endeavors—but only God knows when.

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The Wednesday episode of my radio show OkRyan (3-4pm Mondays to Fridays at dyLA909 khz) had me talking briefly to the 18-year-old Star Magic batch 13 member Princess Ryan.

She called up to appeal for help through text votes because she is among the grand finalists of ABS-CBN’s “U Can Dance” Season 2. Her relatives in Maasin City,

Southern Leyte, who happen to be avid listeners of my radio show, arranged for that brief phone interview, wherein I was able to hear Princess Ryan’s sweet girlish voice direct from the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon, City.

I learned that her father is Irish and her mother is a native of Maasin. She was born in one of the hospitals here and was raised and schooled till elementary in her mom’s place. The family then moved to Manila where she started modeling at a young age. She became a beauty contestant in a segment of the then noontime show, “Magandang Tanghali Bayan.”

Though she did not win, she caught the eye of noted star builder, director Johnny Manahan, who is better known as Mr. M, who signed her up. Her first show was the now-defunct “Bora” with The Hunks.

Now, aside from the dance contest, she is also among the hosts of ABC-5’s youth-oriented show, “Teens” every Saturday afternoon. Next month she is set to represent the country in the first-ever Miss Bikini Teens to be staged in China.

Princess said she is quite satisfied with what is happening to her showbiz career; she loves doing it “slowly but surely.” The good thing about her is that even if she has been based in Manila for six years now, she still speaks the Bisdak dialect. Let’s help this girl who is very proud of her roots by typing UCAN(space)PRINCESS, send to: 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun Cell subscribers and 231 for Smart and Talk&Text.

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Lastly, catch other Star Magic talents—Joross Gamboa and Valeen Montengero—later at 3pm at the Balamban Sports Complex and tonight at 8 at Gaisano Countrymall for a mini-show. This is the opening salvo of the month-long 14th anniversary celebration of the said store. Expect to see lots of Manila stars every weekend, and enjoy promos and discounts as well.