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.