THE KIDS ARE CUTE BUT THIS AIN’T NO KIDS’ SHOW

GMA-7 is currently running another kid-starred series called Munting Heredera. It reminds me of the classic story A Little Princess. But for this show, the story now got more twists than a pretzel, that if you didn’t catch it from the beginning you might get confused. There are three little girls who are vying for the Heredera crown. There is the fake one, the daughter of a club worker, who claims to be fathered by the rich guy. Then there’s another girl whose mother, who people thought was already dead but then resurfaced later, claims to be also fathered by the rich guy (what she didn’t know, is that the kid is not her real daughter). And then there’s the mother’s real daughter, both of whom don’t know they are related. While the first two kids and their mothers will square off for the Heredera rights, the last kid, Jennifer, has absolutely no idea that she has the rightful claim to the throne. I find it so engaging that I want to see how they will all find out that Jennifer is the sole Munting Heredera. Another plus factor is the very fast pacing. Problems are solved and the bad guys that caused them get their comeuppance within a week.

But mind you that this is not a kid’s show. Yes there are kids and they are cute and are very good in their roles but there are certain elements that were made for the adult viewers. Mark Anthony Fernandez, the rich guy, went to a club. His cousin drugged his drink and the next morning he woke up in bed with a bargirl. Do you want your kids to actually watch that? How about this one? Camille Prats suffers from amnesia, so Neil Ryan Sese with matching daughter in tow claimed to be her family and when the lie was revealed threatened to kill her. What parent would subject their kids to see that plot? Add the characters of Ynez Veneracion, Gabby Eigenmann and the bargirl Katrina Halili that continue to threaten good girl Jennifer with harm? And lest I forgot there were Jennifer’s abusive grandparents and Sharmaine Arnaiz who wants to shoot the little girl with a gun!

I like the show and will continue to watch it. But I don’t recommend it for kids. Perhaps the network knows it’s for a much mature audience hence the late timeslot.

Futbolilits: May Sipa ang Palabas na Ito

Raymart Santiago just woke up and forgot to shave

I saw the marathon showing of GMA 7’s new series Futbolilits last July 10 and I am quite impressed. The new show is inspired by the sudden football craze of the Filipinos, thanks to the Philippine Azkals. It is about two rival former football players who now coach rival junior football teams. There are also side stories such as the magic rubber shoes, Angelika dela Cruz’ penchant for black magic and the usual missing son plot (caused by a tsunami which I may say even with the limitations in our local special effects was done quite well). But really it’s all about the characters’ love for the sport. And I hope the show will not lose focus on it.

GMA-7 should be commended for creating kid-friendly programs for the pre-24 Oras timeslot. It started with Bantatay, where Raymond Santiago’s character died and his spirit enters their pet dog to continue watching over his family. This was followed by the underrated Magic Palayok, about a little girl and her magical cooking pot. And now comes Futbolilits. Santiago returns in this timeslot with Jennylyn Mercado, Paolo Contis and dela Cruz. Santiago, Contis and dela Cruz last shared the TV screen in Pilyang Kerubin, a show that could have been better if it wasn’t for the mangled up script.

ABS-CBN got a deeper pool when it comes to popular child stars and child talents but GMA-7 is slowly catching up. My money is on Yogo Singh who plays the maltreated Kikoy. He reminds me of a young Contis during his Ang TV days. His character is not the crybaby type but instead is funny and quick-witted which often gets him in trouble with his abusive aunt. Yogo plays his role perfectly and I do hope that people will take notice. Renz Valerio and Lenlen Frial are familiar faces in the timeslot as these kids also starred in Bantatay. They did well in that show and as expected are also good additions in the new show. Julian Trono is a fine young actor but I think he’s already too old to play the role of a 10-year old.

It should also be noted that most of these shows’ villains are not the hardcore, evil-hearted kill-anyone-types like Selena of Mula sa Puso and Gary of Mara Clara. The approach of their villainy is more comic than demonic, the types that you will hate but still laugh at because of their zany actions. Bantatay got Daisy and her family, the crazy and scheming relatives of the Razon family. On Palayok, Cherri Gil and Chynna Ortaleza plays the greedy sosyalerang Ledesma sisters who are out to make life difficult for Cookie. In Futbolilits, the bad guys are played by Contis as the cocky and arrogant Enrico Almodovar and his wife Belinda played by dela Cruz, who threatens to curse just about anyone. What I didn’t like was Gary Estrada’s character who drugs Gelli de Belen so she’ll continue to suffer from amnesia in Bantatay. That subplot is better suited for the late evening soaps.