Timow’s Open Pit No. 2: PHTV@64: Of Living Legends & Legacies

October 23, 2017

 TODAY , October 23, 2017 marks the 64th anniversary of Philippine television and here on Timow’s Turf, we opened the second Open Pit on a matter related to the very significance of the number.

The number 64 is a perfect square number – in this case, a square of 8 (a number that is very auspicious in East Asia). In games, it’s the total number of squares of a board in chess and checkers. Baby Boomers have The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” and the Batang 90s have a Nintendo 64. In personal computers, some of them run on a 64-bit architecture.

On this article, we will discuss about our program’s living legends and legacies.

Legends and legacies distinguished

Living legends, as the name implies, leaves a safe harbor — a permanent etching – where ratings would not matter since the loyal following of their program is mature and stable.

'Magandang Gabi Bayan may have been gone for 12 years but its association to Halloween made it a treasure. (Noli de Castro)'

On the other hand, a broadcast legacy is something that no longer broadcasts but it’s a cornerstone that shapes both the country and the network and inspires future generations. One example is Magandang Gabi Bayan, which we always remember for the haunted stories in this fitting season of Halloween/Undas. Another is the original standalone version of Tawag ng Tanghalan during the television’s pioneer age, which, of course, becomes the current segment of now legendary It’s Showtime.

Nonetheless, both categories made an intergenerational impact of the country’s pop culture.

In this writing, we will define the living legends and legacies as a program that – currently or not — runs at least 8 years.

Current state of living legendary programs

It’s Showtime gang member Teddy Corpuz re-weds his real wife Tuesday as part of the traditional Magpasikat week.; Tukaan, the oldest sabong show, is now under the hands of TV5. Living cornerstone programs currently carried (per network)
 * This year, It’s Showtime turns 8 – enough to confer them the permanent fixture — and thus, seasonal segment Magpasikat from the gang is showcased. It’s Showtime used to be a late morning competition show in 2009 before becoming a noontime variety show in 2012.
 * Tukaan, the currently longest running cockfighting show was moved to TV5 since October 1 from IBC 13 after 19 years following the original network’s high power signal reception since March and recircuit privatization.
 * Damayan, the famous public service program on PTV 4 revived after seven (7) year hiatus as Damayan Ngayon since October 6.
 * Another program in Vasra, PTV Sports restored its standalone program after nine and a half months of being a segment of Ulat Bayan since last week; however, their running time is halved to 30 minutes. Debuted in 2006 as Teledyaryo Sports and founded by Snow Badua, the sports program was able to reach out questions and opinions from sports fans through e-mail, text and social media.
 * NOTE: Sports coverages are excluded.

ABS-CBN leads with 19 programs: Notes: GMA comes in second with 16 programs: PTV secures in third with 14: IBC 13, despite the moribund lineup, places on the fourth spot: RPN 9: NET 25 lands fourth with eight (8):
 * TV Patrol. The oldest surviving flagship tabloid newscast since 1987.
 * Ipaglaban Mo. Began in 1988 on IBC, it was transferred here in 1992 until 1999 and revived in 2014.
 * Maaalaala Mo Kaya (MMK). The longest running drama anthology.
 * ASAP. The oldest surviving Sunday musical variety program.
 * Wansapanataym. The fantasy-drama anthology originally aired in 1997.
 * Kape’t Pandasal. The shortest currently and continuously airing vignette since 2004.
 * Salamat Dok.
 * Goin’ Bulilit. The sketch comedy where the cast are kids, including Dagul.
 * S.O.C.O. (Scene of the Crime Operatives)
 * Bandila
 * Swak na Swak
 * Umagang Kay Ganda
 * The Healing Eucharist
 * Banana Sundae (originally as Banana Split)
 * Bottomline with Boy Abunda
 * Failon Ngayon
 * Rated K
 * Matanglawin
 * It’s Showtime
 * The World Tonight has reached at least 8 years in the main channel’s history. Being currently on ANC, it is excluded from this list.
 * Pinoy Big Brother is excluded from this list, as it does not currently air a new season. PBB has aired 13 assorted seasons since 2005 and it helped shaped the psyche of Filipino pop culture.
 * Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko. Continuous running public service program since 1975.
 * Eat Bulaga. Longest running noontime show whose majority of its life resides there.
 * Bubble Gang. Longest sketch comedy program.
 * Maynila. The sole youth-oriented drama anthology.
 * I-Witness
 * Saksi
 * Del Monte Kitchenomics. Longest vignette. Used to be part of Eat Bulaga.
 * Unang Hirit
 * Imbestigador
 * Wish Ko Lang
 * 24 Oras
 * Reporters’ Notebook
 * The 700 Club Asia
 * Magpakailanman
 * Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho
 * Born to Be Wild
 * Damayan. Its first run from this network was from 1975-2010, currently as Damayan Ngayon since October 6.
 * Paco Park Presents
 * PCSO Lotto Draw. The most recognizable and primary reason to watch this network.
 * PTV Sports. The second most recognizable show.
 * Oras ng Himala
 * Quiapo First Friday Mass
 * GSIS Members’ Hour
 * Mag-Agri Tayo
 * Yan Ang Marino
 * Auto Review
 * Jesus Miracle Crusade
 * Talitha Kum Healing Mass
 * SME GO
 * Lakbayin ang Magagandang Pilipinas
 * Iskul Bukol
 * T.O.D.A.S.
 * El Shaddai. The longest religious programming of the network since 1992.
 * PBA. The oldest surviving flagship sports program of the network from 1996 to 2003 and returned in 2011
 * Express Balita. The oldest flagship Filipino newscast since 1998.
 * Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
 * Family TV Mass. During the final months of 2014, it was aired on GMA.
 * Bitag
 * NewsWatch
 * Family Kuarta o Kahon. Its first run from this network was from 1975-2010, currently as Kwarta o Kahon since 2015.
 * Batibot
 * Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo
 * Kasangga Mo Ang Langit. Carried over multiple networks since 1998.
 * Student Canteen. Its first run from this network was from 1989-1990 and revived in January 7, 2017.
 * Ang Iglesia ni Cristo (and other derivative programming)
 * Convergence. The country’s premiere IT show.
 * MOMents
 * Landmarks. Their local travel program.
 * Tomorrow Today*
 * Drive It!*
 * Global 3000*
 * Bundesliga Kick Off*
 * Under partnership with DW-TV

UNTV ranks fifth with seven (7): Note: Light Network (7th place with 5) S+A tripled-tied on the 8th place, all are carryovers from Studio 23: GMA News TV shares the triple tie as all enlisted are the initial carryovers from QTV: SMNI 39 shares the triple tie as the following programs were broadcast under ACQ-KBN: TV5 does not have a program that currently broadcast for eight years but Tukaan, bequeathed by IBC 13 after 19 years on the air, transferred to this network since October. It’s nearest in-house program, Aksyon (prime), should need to air at least next year to qualify.
 * Ang Dating Daan (and related and derivative religious programming)
 * Ito Ang Balita. The longest newscast of this network.
 * The KNC Show. The current longest running children’s program.
 * Istorya
 * Make My Day with Larry Henares
 * Good Morning Kuya
 * Munting Pangarap
 * EZ Shop has reached at least 10 years (since 2003) in the main channel’s history. Being currently on IBC News Network, it is excluded from this list.
 * Oras ng Katotohanan. This program debut here first since 2001 and has reached for 10 years on IBC 13. Being currently on PTV and RPN 9, it is excluded from this list.
 * Tagamend. A half an hour informercial by Bro. Tagumpay Gonzales since 2001 and has reached for 10 years on IBC 13. Being currently on ZTV 33, it is excluded from this list.
 * Jesus the Healer. Also shared with GMA.
 * Diyos at Bayan
 * Midnight Prayer Helps
 * PJM Forum
 * This New Life. The sole foreign show carried on this channel that lasts more than 8 years.
 * Family Rosary Crusade
 * Friends Again
 * Asenso Pinoy. The entrepreneurial infotainment program that currently crosses four channels.
 * Balitanghali
 * Day Off
 * Ang Pinaka
 * Powerline
 * Sounds of Worship
 * Give Us This Day

Significant and impacted legacies

ABS-CBN made the lead with various legacies such as the sitcoms Home Along Da Riles and Oki Doki Doc. Aside from MGB earlier, Hoy Gising! was also a well-remembered program under the news and public affairs department. Batang 90s would remember the said decade to be their golden age of educational TV with Hiraya Manawari, Math-Tinik and Sineskwela. Of course, The Buzz was the place for celebrity scoop until the Internet supersedes as its dominant source.

GMA’s legacies include Emergency — whose spiritual successor is Alisto — Cheche Lazaro’s The Probe Team and its kid-friendly counterpart 5 and Up for investigative programming and of course, the no holds barred open debate show, Debate with Mare at Pare. Startalk, like The Buzz, made into the impacted legacies as well as with the similar fate.

On the third place was RPN 9, well-known programs that once aired include John en Marsha, Battle of the Brains and Business Class.

ABC 5’s significant legacies include The Big News, Wow Mali and Cooking with Sandy Daza.

PTV had Concert at the Park since the pioneer years until it was axed in 2017.

Other legacies that aired on multiple channels include Okey Ka Fairy Ko (which led to a more lasting Enteng Kabisote film series) and recently, Ating Alamin.

Parting words

Axing a living landmark – like the programs you watched — into a legacy is just like losing your friend and with a missing piece in their hearts. No matter how one wishes to move on, nostalgia would easily get in your way and yearn. Whatever happens to today will affect the curiosity of our posterity.

How about you? How do you define a legend or a legacy?