LOLA BASYANG, or Boots Anson-Rodrigo, read to 30 schoolchildren on the Philippine Military Academy grounds last Sunday. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TV5
BAGUIO CITY—TV5, which launched two new shows titled “LolaBasyang.com” and “#ParangNormalActivity” in July, are already gearing up for the kid-friendly programs’ second season.
This was according to producer-director Perci Intalan, who led the delegates of the Kapatid network that arrived here for a media gathering on Aug. 1. Also present were the cast members of “#ParangNormalActivity,” Ella Cruz, Shaun Salvador, Andre Garcia and Ryle Paolo Santiago, as well as Boots Anson-Rodridgo, who plays the title role in “LolaBasyang.com.”
“Talks have already started for the next season,” Intalan said. “We will know for sure in two weeks. What is definite is that we’re ready for the two shows’ succeeding episodes.”
An episode of “#ParangNormalActivity” was shot here during the weekend. It featured the old haunted house on the corner of Gibraltar Road and San Felipe Street, Intalan said.
“Even while we were planning the show, we already hoped to shoot outside Manila. Baguio is No. 1 on our list,” Intalan related.
Intalan added: “We like Baguio obviously because of the cool weather. Work here is more relaxed and people don’t get tired easily. We hope to shoot in other areas in the region, places that will suit this show and ‘LolaBasyang.com.’”
“LolaBasyang.com” had already taped its seventh episode, but Intalan said there were more stories to tell. “There are so many tales that can be extracted from the writings of Severino Reyes (creator of
‘Lola Basyang’). There are subplots that we can expand. Some of his works were written as anthologies.”
Intalan is optimistic that the program’s young viewers will have a deeper appreciation for reading and story-telling because of the show. He hoped to tie up the show with different schools and universities in order to promote reading. “Our marketing team is working on it. It would be ideal if ‘Lola Basyang’ would be recognized as an official educational aid for teachers and students.”
Another goal is to reintroduce Lola Basyang the character to children, said Intalan.
The program, in coordination with the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, arranged for host Rodrigo to read to 30 schoolchildren on the Philippine Military Academy grounds on Aug. 2.
CAST of “#ParangNormal Activity” (from left): Shaun Salvador, Ella Cruz, Andre Garcia and Ryle Paolo Santiago
Filipino values
“The initial aim is to reach out to the audience, to entertain them. As the show develops a fan base, we would start educating them about Lola Basyang and the Filipino values she embodies.”
Intalan said what viewers now see in “#ParangNormalActivity” is only the tip of the iceberg. “It’s a barkada show, plus one. It features a group of teens and their misadventures as they try to discover if there’s any truth to certain horror stories.”
Intalan added: “We hope to create an entertaining show that young viewers will want to watch. We’re conscious about how it is presented. We want it wholesome, fun and light. We feel that it’s more important for viewers to get to know the characters first and to relate to them. Only then can they understand and appreciate the characters.”
At the press conference, Intalan was asked how his production team, The Idea First Company, planned to protect the areas where they would hold tapings. Intalan recalled his visit to Batanes, where his psychological thriller “Dementia” was filmed.
“We were very conscious of our surroundings; that’s why we brought our own supplies. We also tapped local caterers, and other people from the province to contribute to the local economy. This applies to other places, too, be it Baguio or Laguna.”
Intalan said that in any location, the utility and production design teams were always the last to leave. “We owe it to the tourists to keep these places clean. We make sure to leave the place the way we found it.”
“LolaBasyang.com” and “#ParangNormalActivity” airs Saturday, at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively on TV5.
(mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)