The Spotlight's On Cebu

Last week, I had dinner with our very own Raffi Quijano, along with GMA-7’s Yuri, this paper’s entertainment writer Vanessa Balbuena, and Jhunnie Moleta of Viva Artist Agency, who has been based in Cebu for almost a year now. It was from Moleta that I’ve learned that his boss, Vic del Rosario, had "ordered" him last January to aggressively look for talents here, and whom they can transform into big stars in the showbiz capital in Manila.

“Viva Artist Agency will be aggressive in Cebu. Iba na ngayon kasi, ‘pag sinabing Cebu, ibang level na,” Moleta told us over dinner at Teriyaki Boy at the Terraces in Ayala. According to Moleta, Cebuanos are very much respected in the showbiz capital, thanks to Cebuano talents presently making a name for themselves there. He particularly mentioned Kim Chui, and the recent import from Cebu, Diva Mantalaba. 

He said they want to discover a fresh face from Cebu because the prospects in Manila are “ngarag na eh,” meaning used up and overexposed already. And because they are bent on producing a star from Cebu once again, after Vina Morales many years ago, Viva Artist Agency (VAA) will lend full support to our very own Raffi Quijano, who has recently signed a three-year contract with VAA after her previous three-year contract with Viva Records expired.

Raffi will be relaunched, this time as an acoustic singer with a brand-new album entitled “Love X2” wherein she has a duet with former ABS-CBN Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Davey Langit. The album will be out in the market next month.

Moleta said they will make Raffi bigger name in the industry through provincial shows and projects in Manila. In fact, Raffi just wrapped up an acting workshop with the multi-talented Eugene Domingo.

With the “go signal” from del Rosario, Moleta is now on the lookout for possible talents in Cebu, either singer or actors. He is also looking for a Bisrock band to be signed up with the company’s record label.

GMA-7 as well

Aside from Viva, GMA Network also vowed to be more aggressive in making their presence felt in Cebu this year, starting with the relaunch Buena Mano Balita, the local early morning news program, last March 22.

From the original 30 minutes since its launching almost two years ago, Buena Mano now airs for an hour (from 7-8am) to cater to the Cebuanos' thirst for the freshest and latest news.

Today, March 27, is the season finale of its very interesting and promising investigative weekly program “The Visayan Agenda,” which has provided an in-depth reportage of the hottest socio-political issues in the Visayas.

GMA-7 regional sales head Oli Amoroso quickly assured, there will be a regular investigative program that will replace The Visayan Agenda right after the May 2010 elections. “Kailangan na ngayon ng program na intelihente talaga, na in-depth. We are keeping that time slot,” Amoroso explained.

And starting April 5, its flagship local news program Balitang Bisdak will return to its original 6pm time slot to go back-to-back with the national newscast 24 Oras. In a trade show for its local advertisers, it was explained that the move is based on research, and that 6pm is really the appropriate time for news. This is because by this hour, people are already home from work, and the first thing they would want to see is the news on what is happening around them.

Amoroso was quoted as saying, “All the morning local shows are winning,” referring to the viewership rating of Buena Mano, Balitang Bisdak and The Visayan Agenda. But as of this writing, GMA-7 management has not furnished me a copy of the local ratings, which they promised to give me. Amoroso mentioned average rating figures for their local shows, but I’ll rather not print them because I want to see the actual numbers.  

Anyhow, Amoroso also announced that they are coming up with another lifestyle show, also after election. “Localized talaga ang gusto ng viewers, may concept na, for approval na lang,” he said referring to the soon to be replacement of the defunct Sunday show Istayl Nato.

Interestingly, Amoroso revealed that should the concept be eventually approved, the replacement will air on weekdays.

GMA-7 station manager Ann Marie Tan meanwhile revealed to me that 24 Oras anchorperson Mel Tiangco will be in Cebu on the second week of April for a huge medical mission that will be spearheaded by the Kapuso Foundation.

Tan, likewise, confirmed Amoroso's teaser to me to expect an average of “2 to3 mall shows a month” in Cebu right after the Holy Week to further endear their talents to Cebuanos. First on the list is the new Sunday noontime show Party Pilipinas that is debuting on national television tomorrow, as replacement of SOP. In other words, the “nationwide party” will come to Cebu next month before it goes to other key cities in the country.

So, these are the activities lined up for GMA-7 Cebu. Expect stars to literally come and go out of Cebu starting next month. But as to the question if they would successfully capture the hearts of Cebuanos through these promotions and civic projects, the answer to that question remains to be seen. After all, I’m pretty sure ABS-CBN will not take all these sitting down.

What keeps me brimming with pride and joy is the fact that Manila is now giving utmost importance and attention to Cebu. Our moment has finally come. The network war has finally come to our shores and all we have to do is to reap its benefits. Bravo!

By the way, GMA-7 expressed confidence that they will bounce back very soon in the ratings game in Mega Manila. Their hold in the ratings has been under threat for a few weeks now because ABS-CBN’s Showtime and Wowowee are consistently occupying the top two slots in the daytime race, while Agua Bendita and Kung Tayoy Magkakalayo are, most of the time, in the top two slots in the primetime battle. So, let's wait and see.

React@ banatentertainment @hotmail.com