Highlights of the year that was in local entertainment

The year that was became the busiest for us covering the local entertainment, which has increasingly churned out newsworthy stories for us to write about. While overwhelming, cross-section patronage has yet to come by, as there’s still that stigma of being lesser in quality that local talents, locally-made programs and productions have to contend with, the local entertainment scene is holding its own. From among local entertainment’s stunners, shockers and scene-stealers last year, here’s my top 5:

1. Cebuano choirs finally proving their worth in overseas competitions would have to be the highest point for me in local entertainment. It was a testament to the world-class caliber of homegrown musicality. It was late last year when three chorale groups scored stunning victories in international tilts—the UV Chorale with its silver and bronze prizes at the Busan International Choral Competition in South Korea, beating heavily-favored entries from the US and Europe no less; and the Cebu Chamber Singers and the Mandaue Children’s Choir, both conducted by Dennis Gregory Sugarol, with their gold medals at the first-ever Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. These triumphs came despite challenges of funding and support, not to mention being neophytes—they were the first choirs in Cebu to do so—in the international arena. Anyhow, I wish Cebu will have its own choral festival what with the many university-based, church and children’s choirs here that also deserve to be showcased.   

2. The last time I checked the YouTube.com clip of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center’s dancing inmates, it has remarkably generated more than 10 million views since its original posting one day in July of last year. It has landed on Time Magazine’s 2007 list of Most Popular Viral Videos and has reportedly spawned dancing porters and also dancing inmates from other jails in the country.

3. 2007 saw the “Cebuanovela” being peddled as a byword as three Cebuano teleseryes were produced by ABS-CBN Cebu—Amor Chicko, Summer Sunshine and Saranghe. What I liked about these Cebuanovelas was that even if they weren’t as big-budgeted as the nationally-aired teledramas, they nonetheless showed daring and variety, especially in terms of location shots—from Bohol, Dumaguete, Hong Kong, to South Korea—and the different sets of actors tapped (including the Korean Choi Jin Wook who nearly deprived Jay Justiniani of the chance to end up with the lead actress Gryka Barrientos with the very close difference in viewers’ text votes). The reception from televiewers were also positive. How ABS-CBN Cebu will top what they’ve done last year will be something to watch out for this 2008. 

4. Will GMA follow suit and produce again Cebuano tv dramas? It might not be that far-fetched an idea, especially as GMA 7 Cebu has gone aggressive lately in local programming, introducing a new game show and morning show just as 2007 approached its close. Competition for the ratings supremacy aside, the best-est thing about these developments is that there are two more shows—Buena Mano and Eat Na Ta, the first regional program of GMA’s noontime show Eat Bulaga—that exploit local talents and feature regional-centric stories for a change.

5. As for the newsmakers among our local personalities, special mention goes to Raki Vega, who brought home honors from the World Championships of Performing Arts held in Hollywood sometime in July 2007 (making her presence felt fittingly so, just before we could start to wonder what she’s been up to in the entertainment capital)... And there was Jude Bacalso and his sudden exit from “Jud Morning” amidst issues of tv ratings and reported internal problems; it was quite a shocker to hear that the multi-talented talking head had quit.  But Jude will be back on the boob tube very soon this 2008... Lastly, Dionne Monsanto, who for the earlier part of the year, became tabloid fodder with her “controversial antics” as housemate in Pinoy Big Brother 2. Since I’ve always thought that PBB is hyperreality—artifactual or produced like many a reality tv show—yours truly didn’t take whatever “shocking” things she purportedly did inside the house against her. Well, Dionne’s still visible, doing tv guestings and starring in a movie this year. To her credit, Dionne has not let that spell of controversy get in the way of her dreams. 

As the favorite catchphrase of those in the business of entertainment goes, the show must go on—but here’s hoping that things will turn out more promising and exciting this 2008!