Tropang Potchi: Educational & entertaining

MANILA, Philippines - Educational, entertaining and values-oriented: These are the words that best describe GMA 7’s Saturday morning educational program for kids  Tropang Potchi, which will air its fourth season beginning today.

Tropang Potchi was created at a time when morning programming, apparently intended for kids, was dominated by foreign cartoon series and action-packed anime. While they have great appeal, most of the shows in this genre fall short in inculcating Filipino culture in their storylines.

“We’d like Tropang Potchi to entertain and inspire our viewers, the kids, and to show them the different things the world has to offer,” said Ian Roxas, the show’s program manager. “The episodes also feature issues that are common to kids, like misunderstandings between friends. The goal of the stories is to show them different ways to handle their issues. We hope the stories will show them that it’s within their power to do the right thing.”

It is this same goal that drives the program to boldly discuss timely issues like broken families and depression using the perspective of the very ones most affected by them — the children. 

“What makes me truly proud of Tropang Potchi is the fact that it is not just another kiddie show; it is something that parents need not be wary about if their children are watching it. And we [the production team] all feel blessed that somehow, we are able to use the power of television as an influential media to impart important lessons in life in the minds of our viewers without boring them,” said Tropang Potchi director Louie Ignacio.

It is hosted by mascot Potchi and GMA’s child stars Julian Trono, Sabrina Man, Miggy Jimenez, Liane Valentino, Bianca Umal and Isabel “Lenlen” Frial.