‘Hi-5’ turns Filipino

HI-5 HAS scored 14 million YouTube hits in the country.

It was only a matter of time.

“Hi-5,” the hugely popular Australian children’s show, which imparts lessons through song and dance, will have a Filipino version soon.

TV5 and Hi-5 World conducted a search for five main cast members (plus five performers as understudy) to top-bill “Hi-5 Philippines.” (A short list of possible hosts has already been drawn up at presstime.)

If you ask TV5 and Hi-5 World executives, a Filipino version of “Hi-5” is a perfect match and, in a lot of ways, an inevitable expansion of the globally renowned brand.

Noel Lorenzana, TV5 president and CEO, told the Inquirer, “It’s a good fit. After all, the Philippines is world-famous for its singers and dancers. With this partnership, we will be able to showcase Filipino talent.”

Jaenani Chadagoban, general manager of Global Sales and Operations of Hi-5 World, agreed: “I am confident that finding the right performers will not be a problem. The Philippines boasts an amazing talent pool.”

Chadagoban pointed out that two previous “Hi-5” cast members were of Filipino descent. “Kathleen de Leon was in the original cast, while Fely Irvine is in the season that is currently airing (on TV5).” (“Hi-5” has been in production for the past 16 years.)

Lorenzana told the Inquirer that the network looked at singers and dancers, ages 16 to 24. “Apart from musical-theater skills, we want performers who are good with kids and can click together.”

“We want strong voices that can capture the hearts of fans,” said Chadagoban. “But they also have to gel as a group.”

TV5 is conducting the preliminary search, but the Australian production team, led by executive producer and creative head Julie Greene, will fly in for the final round of auditions, said Chadagoban.

The Philippines is a natural choice for a local version of “Hi-5.”

“We are excited about this new project,” she said. “Among Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines ranks No. 1 in terms of YouTube hits and likes on Facebook. It’s crazy. We scored 14 million YouTube hits in the Philippines.”

Sold-out shows

Hi-5 has built quite a following among Pinoys. “The group visits Manila for concerts every year,” she said. “Last year, we had a sold-out show at the Resorts World Manila. This year (Feb. 28 and March 1), Hi-5 performed at Meralco Theater.”

The move from cable to free TV likewise signified the show’s desire to reach out to a broader market. “We used to air only on Disney Junior, but now more Filipino kids, who may not have cable, can watch it on TV5,” she explained.

The typical Hi-5 fan is 1 to 8 years old, she remarked. “But now, we are coming up with a new animation show ‘Hi-5 Superfly,’ to cater to children ages 6 to 12,” she said.

Current cast members Stevie Nicholson, Dayen Zheng, Mary Lascaris, Ainsley Melham and Tanika Anderson provide the voices for the cartoon show.

Lorenzana feels it’s vital to have “fun yet educational” children’s programs like “Hi-5” on TV5. “Kids promote family-viewing in Filipino households. We also want to start them young. We are courting the kids … to be loyal to us until they grow up. We are investing in the future,” he said.

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