The sweat & strain of producing local children's shows

Barely three weeks ago, we featured children’s shows dependent on foreign material aired on cable TV, and wondered why there weren’t enough Filipino shows for children with an educational slant. Batibot, aired on TV5 from 2010, appears to be the only one surviving on grit and gumption, so to speak, and the generous wallet of Manny V. Pangilinan of TV5.

We searched the Internet and found that budget had a lot to do with it, and partnering with producers of children’s products would help a lot. One that has lasted since 2009 is Tropang Potchi, sponsored by Columbia International Food Products, aired on the GMA 7, 9 a.m. Saturdays. Sabi ni Potchi with stories featuring the Potchi mascot and lessons to learn is one interesting feature of the show.

Over at ABS-CBN is a transferee from GMA called Jollitown, produced by Jollibee, airing Sundays at 9 a.m., that makes no bones of being one big advertising plug for the company. Jollitown pumps up the excitement for kids with its travel-inspired stories. There are Jollibee and friends traveling through time; kids given lessons on teamwork, friendship, honesty, forgiveness, with each episode reviewed by a child psychologist to assure parents of a wholesome viewing experience for their children.

We are aware that in the past, there were more attempts at educational TV shows and one we were involved in principally in the role of rah rah girl was Chikiting Patrol, impassionedly produced by Nadea Sarte. From a 30-minute weekly telecast over ABS-CBN from 1988 to 1990 when it was adjudged Best Children’s TV Program by the Catholic Mass Media awards, it moved to GMA from 1990 to 2002 during which time we watched how each week would be a product of students, friends, Nadea’s children, the community of Marikina where she lived, pitching in their help. But one can only do so much. After an absence of two years, Chikiting Patrol moved to ABC 5 from 2004 to 2006, then eventually closed shop.

Jollibee and friends travel while teaching lessons in Jollitown

Easily the most famous of the children’s shows has been Batibot, which continued and Filipinized the advocacy of Sesame Street. Had it not been for the bullheaded nature of its producer-educator Fely de los Angeles, Batibot would never have lasted this long, through years from 1984 to 2002, then waiting for a break, and finally a new home at TV5. Batibot made Kuya Bodjie (Pascua) a household name he couldn’t ever shake off. It brought together the biggest and the best in music with a theme song from Louie Ocampo, Rene Villanueva, Mell Villanueva, the Kontra Gabi and Alamid.

Happy Land produced by GMA News & Public Affairs aired Saturday mornings for less than a year (2009 to 2010), completing 44 episodes. That was a pity since Happy Land combined animation with digital technology and live action photography, and attempted to teach pre-school children Language, the Alphabet, Math, Science in entertaining segments. Batang Bibbo, designed for Filipino children aged three to six, produced by GMA in cooperation with the makers of Bibbo Hotdog was shown Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. from Nov. 2008 to 2009, and aimed to develop in kids social skills and language development. It completed 55 episodes, was even awarded by Anak TV Seal, but even its commercial sponsorship couldn’t save it.

Sineskwela aired over ABS-CBN and TFC from 1994 to 2004 was a curriculum-based show that catered to public elementary students from Grade 2 to 6. Five episodes — one for each of the five grade levels — were shown every week. In November 2003, Sineskwela was awarded the Prix de Jeunesse (Youth Prize) at the 20th Television Science Programme Festival held in France. John Red directed the award-winning episodes, which focused on the Pasig River and its deterioration over time. In the cast of characters were Christine Bersola, Giselle Sanchez and Winnie Bersola. The show was re-aired in 2009. This was another brilliant venture gone to waste.

As we go to press, more current information of children’s educational television is coming in. Stay tuned. We will be back.

Curriculum-based show is much-awarded Sineskwela

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