Aga Muhlach
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California—Aga Muhlach walks into Intramuros Restaurant without fanfare, only causing a mild stir because he chances upon three news photographers who happen to be standing at the lobby when he arrives. He is attired in faded jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt under a dark blue sports coat, a silver cross medallion hanging from his neck. He is promptly ushered into the bar area amid the flashing cameras, stopping and shaking hands and exchanging warm greetings and posing for photos for and even with anyone along his path that asks for it, pretty much as any celebrity can expect to do when he goes anywhere public. Somehow, though, he never looks like a celebrity posing for photos with his fans. Rather, he acts like a friend joining a bunch of friends for a group shot, or a cousin stopping for a family picture. Aga is so at ease and friendly with everybody that one can’t help but be instantly drawn in and almost feel like he is one of Aga’s buddies.
The occasion is billed as “an intimate media gathering with TV personality and award-winning actor, Aga Muhlach” but it is also one in a series of teaser events to the coming formal launch of the Bay Areas newest TV station, TV5, and of one of its first productions, “Pinoy Explorer”. Also presented to Bay Area media was Jeffrey Remigio, VP and Head of Operations for Pilipinas Global Network, who own and operate TV5. Their 2-channel offering will be known as Aksyon TV and Kapatid 5. The TV station is the latest in Filipino business tycoon, sportsman, and philanthropist, Manny V. Pangilinan’s growing list of enterprises.
It takes almost 10 minutes to negotiate the crowded path from the bar entrance to the far end of the long table prepared for the event. Aga first sits down at the head of the table and actually demurs when asked to move to the center, saying “Okay na dito. Dito na lang tayo.” (This is fine. Let’s just stay here.) After a bit of convincing, the organizers succeed in moving him to the seat specially reserved for him at the center of the table where everyone can have better conversation access to him. Through all this, and throughout the entire event from beginning to end, Aga’s regular guy demeanor never changes, making it difficult to see him as the super-celebrity that he is if not for his movie star looks. He is so, uh, normal. At one point in time, he says, “Gutom na ako.” (I’m hungry), sounding like a well-liked brother visiting his sister’s family.
After the sumptuous Filipino buffet and dessert of maja blanca and fruits, the intimate conversation begin in earnest. At first, the questions center on his movie roles followed by questions about his move from another station to Channel 5. But the eagerness starts to show in his voice when the questions turn to his new role as host of the reality show, “Pinoy Explorer”. He sounds genuinely excited to dive into this opportunity to, in his words, “be me on screen and not as a character in a role”.
The pilot episode of “Pinoy Explorer” will feature “Clash of the Dinosaurs” under a license agreement with BBC. The show’s format will feature Aga Muhlach as the host directly conversing with the viewers through the camera. Aga will travel to areas of the world that are mentioned in the BBC documentary to show the exact spot as, say, a dinosaur bone was found. TV5 has license agreements with BBC to air the British station’s other documentary shows.
The show will also feature a contest where viewers can win iPads or even a trip with Aga to whatever spot on earth he is featuring. Details of the contest will be announced later.
Mr. Remigio says, “Pinoy Explorer’ is an edutainment show — educating viewers through entertainment. It is targeted to the broad TV market (not just AB) and it will be in Filipino so that viewers will get to understand and appreciate the facts better.”
This is a concept that deserves to succeed. It is time that Filipinos get a dose of education from TV that has long been wanting. While the rewards to viewers and live audiences will not be instantaneous as, say, those from some hyperkinetic daytime shows, the long-term benefits will far outweigh the few dollars that are given away to do some silly dance or answer some gossipy questions.
As for the host, after just one encounter with him, one walks away convinced that Aga Muhlach is the perfect man for the role and this is the perfect role for Aga Muhlach. If the producers of the show were looking for a personality that will establish intelligent rapport with the viewing audience, they couldn’t have done much better. With “Pinoy Explorer” and Aga Muhlach, TV5 may just be on its way to scoring its first touchdown.