MikeLigalig.com

By Marinel R. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Kapatid network recently inked a co-production deal with the Philippine Children’s Television Foundation Inc. (PCTVF), which created the show in the ’80s to supplement the education of pre-school children and introduce them to local culture and heritage.

“Under the agreement, TV5 was granted broadcast and line production rights to air the show,” TV5 said in a statement sent to Inquirer Entertainment on Wednesday.

Bodjie Pascua, the show’s resident storyteller, is a theater and film actor. Sienna Olaso, who played everybody’s big sister, is now director for entertainment and marketing of the Araneta Coliseum.

“This is something that today’s youth needs,” said Olaso. “Socio-cultural values like pagmamano and the use of ‘po’ and ‘opo’ should be taught constantly.”

Olaso said the show’s production team is “very open” to using modern means of teaching. “Now, we can make use of animation. We want to adapt to the demands of today’s kids. I remember how extremely careful we were before because the attention span of kids were so short, paano pa kaya ngayon?”

Sadly, the show’s main muppets, Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing, will not be seen in the new season due to licensing issues between PCTVF and Sesame Workshop, which co-produced “Batibot” until 1989.

Pong is the baseball cap-wearing clumsy turtle, while Kiko is a brown monkey inspired by Oscar the Grouch in “Sesame Street.”

“Some characters like (the forgetful fortune-teller) Manang Bola will still be around. We will also introduce new ones,” said TV5 executive vice president and COO Bobby Barriero at a recent media gathering in Mandaluyong City. “The new season will make use of virtual sets and artworks made by kids as backdrop. The teaching method will be different but will still be as interesting as before.”

Other popular human characters were Ate Isay (Isay Alvarez-Seña), Kuya Mario (Junix Inocian), Kuya Pilo (Teofilo Pili), and Kuya Ching (Ching Arellano), the resident jeepney driver.

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