No need for hectic ‘highlighting’

Cassy (left) and Mavy Legaspi

The first telecast of the Legaspi family’s travel show on Sunday on GMA 7 turned out to be an underwhelming viewing experience, despite the earnest and even hectic efforts of Zoren, Carmina and their “tween twins,” Mavy and Cassy, to entertain viewers.

We were happy that the show chose the truly scenic and exotic Batanes group of islands for its buena mano romp. But, its coverage was generally just par for the by-now-frequently-trodden course, as far as TV travel shows go.

The telecast promised audacious adventures galore, but came up with much less than that.

Zoren went on a fishing expedition—but the fish weren’t biting. The twins made a big deal of jumping into the sea from a precipice, but it turned out to be just a modest leap.

Yes, promises made on TV are meant to be broken, but the gullible viewer was disappointed all the same.

The show also made a big to-do of the Legaspi family’s “fun” lifestyle and interrelationships as private people, with “joker daddy” Zoren setting the slap-happy pace.

But, on-cam for the travel program’s cameras, the family’s fun and frolics sometimes came off as less than hilarious and heartwarming.

As for Zoren’s jokes, they were frisky and eager to please—but he shouldn’t quit his day job just yet.

On the positive side, what did effectively come through at times was the nuclear show biz family members’ obvious love for one another. It didn’t need any “pushing” or hectic “highlighting” to impress and convince viewers of their mutual affection, devotion and rapport.

In the future, we hope that the people behind the show trust this implicit love to shine through on its own, with fewer intentional high-jinks to compromise the natural emotion.

If the Legaspis’ road trip limits itself to Batanes, we further hope that its location hunters can get off the standard, beaten itinerary for weekend tourists, and showcase lesser-known sights, encounters and cultural and personal experiences.

That way, it can be of real, unique service to venturesome viewers who want to discover what makes the country’s northernmost group of isles really tick.

Since “Road Trip” is a family travel show, it could also be aptly more beneficial and productive if the Legaspis are made to interact with another family in Batanes, and spend the day with them, “mirroring” what they do, the food they cook and eat, their work schedule and other group activities, etc.

That way, viewers can see the “show biz” family in a different and more personal light—and the Batanes residents’ unique way of life and “roots” could be more insightfully depicted—and “shared.”