Midas touch in the City of Gold

“TROPA Unli” gang (from left, back row): Alwyn Uytingco, Wendell Ramos, Iwa Moto, Valeen Montenegro, Ritz Azul, Tuesday Vargas Gelli de Belen and Ogie Alcasid; (from left, front row) Edgar Allan Guzman and Empoy.

DUBAI—What a delight it was to fly to the United Arab Emirates again!

This time around, I was with the über- cool Pilipinas Global Network Limited  group and fun colleagues Isah Red and Peachy Guioguio.

We went to celebrate the recent milestone of TV5 International as it is now the second most-watched Pinoy channel in the Middle Eastern and North African regions. This all happened in just a few years after the renewal of its successful partnership with the Orbit Showtime Network (OSN), the number one Pay-TV platform in these regions. We were euphoric as soon as we arrived in Dubai; they had flown us via Emirates Business Class.

President and CEO Claro Carmelo Ramirez noted: “The Middle East is such a valuable market for  us because  lots of our kababayan are established there. We are very proud to be the strong No. 2  player in just a short period of time.”

UAE could very well mean Umaarangkada Ang Eksena  ng TV5 International.

As the network’s way of thanking and celebrating with the Pinoy viewers based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two grand shows topbilled by the cast  of the comedy show “Tropa Mo Ko Unli  (TMKU)” were held  at the Al Jaheli Theater in the Armed Forces Officers Club in Abu Dhabi on April 11 and at the Boracay Club in Asiana Hotel in Dubai on April 12 .

These were free-admission events for all OSN subscribers and those who signed up for subscriptions at the venue.

TMKU stars Ogie Alcasid,  Gelli de Belen, Tuesday Vargas, Alwyn Uytingco, Wendell Ramos, Ritz Azul, Valeen Montenegro, Edgar Allan Guzman, Empoy and their special guest, Iwa Moto, regaled the  crowd with song-and-dance numbers.

They brought the house down with TMKU segments done live: Skits (“The Sitcom Family”), spoofs (“Lysa Mae Toyo Show” and  “The Singing Biik”) and joke portion (“Corny Maybe”).

OGIE gets a big hug from excited admirer.

The audience went wild when the stars mingled with them and gamely posed for “selfies,” a la Ellen DeGeneres.

Those priceless Instagrammable moments, courtesy of TV5 International, seemed to serve as an antidote to their homesickness.

The wacky TMKU cast taped some segments in various landmarks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which will be aired in special summer episodes. (Part 2 airs May 3, 7:15 p.m.)

Ogie the trouper

Ogie is such a trouper. Even if he was tired after the show, he gamely jammed with the Pinoy stand-up comics (Raymond Malavega, Mikatok and Astro Reggie) at the Makati Comedy Bar (in Dubai) where the after-party was held.

I asked Ogie if he had time to shop. He said he got the chance to buy his birthday gift for wife Regine Velasquez, a Louis Vuitton bag.

He also  said  that he saw so much potential in the young stars in their comedy show. Their joie de vivre rubs off on each other.

According to  FVP head of  marketing, Pie Basiao, more events are lined up for the Middle East subscribers, not just in the UAE but also in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

After the success of the two shows, the next one must already be in the works.

The camaraderie among the TMKU cast is no put-on. They genuinely enjoy each other’s company, on and off the set. It’s evident even when they are no longer in front of the cameras.

OGIE gets a big hug from excited admirer.

Comedy is a tricky medium. It’s harder to make an audience laugh than to make them cry. Kudos to the TMKU team for taking comedy seriously and to TV5 International for their Midas touch in the City of Gold.

Personal

Thanks a mil to Chuck Silva (OSN Pinoy Product head) and Jeffrey Remigio for working wonders.    Shukran jazeelan to my Dubai angel Jonathan Gulmatico, my habibti Mila Castaneto for always going the extra mile for me.

Thanks also La Ghie, Oriel Padura, Raymond Malavega, Laila Iglesias, Jinggay Feliciano for an overdose of fun and to Direk Monty Parungao for the “big reveal” bonding.