It never fails to amaze how Chi Atienza-Valdepeñas is able to squeeze so much details into her three-minute segment on PTV4’s morning show Rise & Shine. I watched Chi’s feature on Ronnie Liang and in that limited time allotted to her, she managed to draw out from Ronnie via Zoom valuable details about his life and career and as a military-trained frontliner during this pandemic.
The new PTV show has recently taken over the timeslot of Chi’s show Bagong Pilipinas which she had temporarily discontinued due to the pandemic, same as her and dad Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza’s show Maynila on GMA.
“Last April, we temporarily stopped airing due to ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine),” said Chi. “In June, we tried to come back but due to the hardships we encountered, we decided to stop airing again and perhaps come back after the pandemic. Maynila has been on air for 22 years already and I have been producing it for six years now. When we aired last June, I started hosting the show with my dad until Aug. 8. We appreciate the support that GMA has given us through all these years.”
Last year, Chi started Bagong Pilipinas on PTV4.
“I was practically trained to do everything in that show,” shared Chi, “from remote coverages, live hosting, segment shoots, opinion-based commentary, newscasting... name it, I have been trained on it. I must say that PTV4 is the best training ground.”
Last March, Bagong Pilipinas had to suspend airing also due to the ECQ. Last April, the hosts and some of the production team decided to resume airing but all segments were done at home.
“I was trained to practically do everything at home by myself — from shooting, directing, writing and even in finding my guests. My segment then was entitled #bahaymuna. However, after the new management came in, GM Kat de Castro decided to end the show and relaunched a new show called Rise & Shine Pilipinas. My segment airs every Thursday anytime from 7 to 8 a.m.”
Chi’s segment is called The Good Juan.
“It’s a small segment but it’s a very big segment for me because it talks about inspirational stories and people who have actually gone against the flow during this pandemic. On our first episode, Ronnie Liang shared what made him decide to serve as a second lieutenant.”
All shoots are via Zoom and mostly shot at home.
“I want to thank my co-segment hosts Diane Medina (Talk Biz), Trixie Jafaar (Weather), Karla Paderna (Sarap Pinoy) and Fifi Alfonso (Chika on the road/traffic).”
Follow Chi on her IG chiatienzav and her FB chiatienzaValdepeñas.
(E-mail reactions at rickylophilstar@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)