Five points of view in one talk show

MANILA, Philippines — The landscape in the media industry has undoubtedly changed. While before, contract stars of TV networks cannot cross over to rival stations, geographical boundaries have been blurred just this pandemic.

There are no more competing shows and talents. Anyone can easily cross over to the next station as long as the bosses give the green light.

Hence, it is not surprising that Korina Sanchez, after launching her Korina Interviews on Net25 last September, will be seen in a soft news and lighthearted show, TikTalks, on TV5. This time, Korina will be joined by columnist and radio-TV host Pat-P Daza, singer-comedienne Kakai Bautista, LGBTQIA+ advocate G3 San Diego and stand-up comic and comedy writer Alex Calleja.

“Maraming mga nangyari,” Korina granted. “May mga bagay na nakakalungkot. Pero maraming bagay din na masaya. One of those positive developments in the change of that landscape, content creators are now having a grand time because there are so many platforms on a lot of avenues.”

“There are social media, streaming, networks. Nagbukas ang lahat ng ‘yan sa iba’t ibang mga ideas. I guess malikot din naman ang mga isip namin,” she said.

Korina is constantly in touch with her co-producer, Joji Dingcong, under Media Queens. “Joji and I are line producing the show,” she granted. “So, we agreed kailangan iba-iba ang representation ng isang tao. Dapat, limang babae kami. Iba-iba ang pinanggalingan sa buhay, iba-iba ang profession. We’ve always wanted to do something different. Since forte ko naman daldal, what is it that I haven’t done yet? I did radio. I do interview show na puro serious. Gusto ko naman makasama ang mga medyo sira. May konting maluwag. The way we talk when playing mahjong. How do real people talk?”

“In the end, after much consultation, we got Kakai, who is a comedienne but has a good head on her shoulders. Makulay din ang kanyang nakaraan. I really wanted a singer na bigla na lang kakanta ano man ang hugot na pinag-uusapan namin. Biglang mag-ko-concert mag-isa,” Korina said.

“Of course, we have a radio journalist who is Pat-P. Barkada ko talaga siya sa kainan. She doesn’t need to talk. She only needs to laugh. Her laughter is infectious. Siya ang Maritess sa aming lahat. She knows all the chismis, pero hinihimay naman namin to separate fact from fiction,” she continued. “G3 is the vocal and unabashed LGBTQIA+ representative. We want someone who thinks about her answers and gives opinions.”

Kakai found it unbelievable when she received a call from Korina nearly three months ago. “Siyempre, nanginig ako dahil si (Ma’am) Korina ‘yun. Parang hindi ako makapaniwala. Although nag-guest na ako sa show niya in the other station before, I still get star-struck pa rin ako sa kanya. So up to now, I’m really very happy and thankful.”

They didn’t have a fifth host, but Korina had another girl originally in mind. “Until Alex peeped into the door. Of course, I was already coordinating with other shows and other projects for Alex (Calleja). He’s really funny. His humor is for the real guy. I told my team I want Alex’s humor in the mix.”

Pat-P insisted they will talk about “current issues” in TikTalks, but still interesting topics. “I think we need to do research about people who want to have their nose job,” disclosed Pat-P. “Another topic we talked about is why Filipinos are so infatuated with anybody who is mapuputi. Those who need glutathione. Or double standard ba ang mga nangangaliwang mga lalake?”

The only thorn among the roses, Alex insisted he was included in the hosts to put balance among everybody. “If I’m not here, walang mangyayari sa show na ‘to,” he amusingly said. “Ako ang nagba-balanse sa show.”

G3 explained, “Our topics are what normal people often talk about. ‘Yung mga magkakaibigan kapag nagsama-sama sila.”

Korina found it sometimes unbelievable that the suggestions in their thread are out of this world. “Kung minsan, hindi ako makahinga sa nakikita ko,” she said. “Nangyayari ba talaga ‘yun? I will tell one of us, ‘Hoy, ang bastos mo.’”

The banter on set was often subjected to editing. “Okay ang mga sinasabi namin,” Alex admitted. “Si Pat-P lang ang magsisimula ng gulo. Usually, lahat ng mga na-e-edit out sa episodes, kay Pat-P galing ‘yun.”

Pat-P, however, defended herself. “Kung minsan kasi, nakakalimutan mo may mga cameras pala in front of you. So no-holds-barred. Bahala na ang editor. So, we look out after each other. But we try to make the discussion as raw and as real as possible.”

The hosts may not always agree on a certain topic. They always engage in a free-flowing discussion. “It’s five different opinions in one topic,” Pat-P said.

“Alam ko ang batas,” Korina said. “I know when we would get bashed on a certain topic. Otherwise, we would all end up in jail.”

TikTalks premieres on Dec. 3 and airs every Saturday night at 8 on One PH, simulcast on TV5 and Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM, with catch-up airing on One News every Sunday night at 7, starting Dec. 4.