Anthony Taberna ready to retire until AllTV’s hard-to-resist offer came

After nearly three years of not being seen on free TV, broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna will return to the medium, where he has made a name for himself. Thanks to the new network, AllTV, which has been launching programs and introducing personalities that will make up its roster of talents.

Anthony conceived the public affairs show, Kuha All, with the new management of Channel 2, now known as AllTV, owned by former Sen. Manny Villar’s family.

“Ang Kuha All ay isang uri ng public service program,” informed Anthony, who’s popularly called Ka Tunying. “If you will notice, hindi pa rin nawawala ang crimes all around us, napakaraming aksidente.”

“Ang mga tao ngayon, sinaniban na ng mga cameramen at reporters. Nakukunan na ng video ang lahat ng nangyayari around us. Pero hindi lang mga video na nagte-trend ang ipapakita natin. ‘Yun ding mga tao na nagte-trend sa social media. Ang layunin natin, matulungan sila,” he said.

In the pilot episode, Kuha All featured people who were crime victims. “Nakakapagturo din sila sa ibang tao kung paano makaka iwas sa krimen,” Anthony informed. “Meron din tayong Saya All dimension. ‘Yun ang public service dimension ng programa natin. Matutulungan natin ang tao na naging biktima ng krimen.”

Anthony cannot be thankful enough that he has been given a chance to return to mainstream television. “I’ve been on social media constantly, but iba talaga ang mainstream television,” he asserted.

“When I talked to the management of AllTV and I was given this opportunity, ang feeling ko ay the same when I first had my own show once upon a time. That was almost 20 years ago. Medyo young pa tayo noon. Parang hindi tayo tinatablan ng pagod.”

Anthony has been on TV for more than three decades. Today, however, he admits he has matured already. “My producers sa Kuha All, sobrang meticulous. Ang dami naming shoot days. Normally, ang isang public affairs show, kung once a week lang naman, once a week din a shoot. But here, sa Kuha All, they will shoot one episode in three days. Ang tindi.

“Isa lang naman ang objective namin. To present one product not just what the people want, but what the people need. Malaking bagay ang production team ko. Kasi parang nanganganay ulit ako.”

Kuha All aired its pilot episode on Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. The show aims to be a vehicle that can educate, entertain and serve viewers by discussing different issues and concerns captured on camera by people from all walks of life.

“I am more than grateful to start another chapter of my career with the AllTV family, because we share the same goal of delivering a different level of TV experience with our Pinoy audience,” Anthony said.

Being in the TV industry for more than half of his life, Anthony is still thrilled to share new stories of Filipinos that will not just keep the viewers informed, but will also enlighten them and make them feel they are part of the stories.

Aiming to present meaningful, human interest stories affecting Filipinos across the country, Kuha All will have three segments in each episode.

Kuha Rin highlights snippets of the latest and trending videos, while Kaya All will be the part of the show where the featured case study will be assisted through any means of support needed to resolve the issue being discussed.

The show ends with Anthony’s no-holds barred commentaries about the topic at hand through the segment, Kuha Mo.

“Exciting ang mga episodes not just the pilot, even the succeeding ones,” Anthony shared. “Nakita ko kung paano kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ang intervention. The public service component of this show, pambihira talaga. Hindi lang natin sila inilalapit sa mga government agencies, tayo mismo, kasama ang ating mga partners ang tumutulong sa kanila.”

Anthony insisted his Kuha All is not the kind of public service program where the subjects end up shouting, hair pulling and fighting in front of the camera.

“This is one program where viewers will be informed, educated, entertained, will have a feeling of fulfillment, especially when you become part of helping the subjects in our features,” Anthony said.

Doing TV shows can be “exhausting, stressful and time-consuming” for Anthony. He was ready to retire. “They gave me an offer I could not refuse,” he disclosed.

He will always be grateful to ABS-CBN, which gave him a platform on air in widely-followed and popular shows like Umagang Kay Ganda, XXX: Exklusibong, Explosibong, Expose and Dos Por Dos on DZMM.

“‘Yun ang mga klase ng programa that prepared us for the future,” Anthony maintained. “I will always be proud of those shows.”

Anthony credits his wife, manager and “ex-girlfriend” Rossel Velasco, for constantly helping him manage his schedule and appointments. “Very busy na ako talaga lately,” he said. “Ang dami ko talagang ginagawa ngayon. She manages everything when it comes to my schedule.”