Key date for new TV programs

SALVADOR. Her character’s “perfect” life is shattered when she loses her loved ones.

Don’t look now, but Jan. 19 is shaping up as a key date for local TV programming, with new shows debuting on ABS-CBN and TV5—all in one fell swoop!

Viewers will have a tough time choosing which new programs to favor—so, take an early peek—and pick!:

On TV5 at 10 a.m., “Healing Galing on TV” is cohosted by Hayden Kho and Edinel Calvario. At 10:30 a.m., “Happy Wife, Happy Life” is a magazine show featuring Danica Sotto, among others. And, at 11:30 a.m., “Solved na Solved” is cohosted by Gelli de Belen and Atty. Mel Sta. Maria.

On ABS-CBN, the debuting shows include a drama series launching the stellar career of Janella Salvador, the daughter of Juan Miguel Salvador and Jenine Desiderio, who was the resident ingenue on the long-running series, “Be Careful With My Heart.” On her new TV series, “OMG,” Janella plays a happy teen achiever whose “perfect” life is shattered when she loses her loved ones, prompting her to question God’s love and goodness.

Also set to involve viewers is the comeback vehicle for Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin, “Flor de Liza.” This time, the conflict that the series’ two child characters have to contend with is their belated discovery that they are both Marvin’s daughters—by different women!

All told, however, the most anticipated new TV production is TV5’s sitcom, “Two and a Half Daddys,” topbilling the Padilla siblings, Robin, Rommel—and Rustom (now BB Gandanghari). If written and directed well, it should be a blast—that could demolish the competition, even those produced by the biggies. If!

Better, more caring

With Pope Francis’ long-awaited four-day visit currently ongoing, it looks like most everybody’s trying to get in on the act.

Even stars and starlets can’t seem to help themselves—like the couple who recently posted a “report” from the Vatican about their exciting and thrilling “encounter” with Pope Francis.

—But, when the feature was actually played out in full on TV, it was a letdown. They were indeed at the Vatican—but only as two dots among the tens and even hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world who had gotten free access to the general papal audience!

Not a few people have noted with dismay that the hubbub over Pope Francis’ ongoing has been excessive. The fear is that too much shallow attention will be paid to the fripperies, and not enough to the substance and import of the pontiff’s visit, which is one of mercy and compassion.

After all the holy hoopla, we pray that, through divine “osmosis,” we shall have at least learned to become better and more caring people—that’s the bottom line!