GMA News and Public Affairs celebrates national hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday today with a number of TV specials.
On GMA 7, SNBO presents “Piging,” a one-hour documentary on dishes the national hero loved and those that were featured in his novel “Noli Me Tangere.” It is hosted by Cesar Montano and features historians, Rizal biographers and the hero’s descendants and close friends. It airs 10:30 p.m.
On GMA News TV Channel 11, three specials begin with “Mga Kuwentong Pambata ni Rizal,” which gives viewers a glimpse into Rizal’s childhood, the stories he loved as a child and the stories he wrote for children as an adult. It airs 7 p.m.
Following is the docudrama “Pluma (Rizal: Ang Dakilang Manunulat)” at 7:45 p.m. Narrated by Howie Severino and starring Rocco Nacino as Rizal, it is a historic piece that traces the evolution of the hero’s writings.
The 1998 epic film “Jose Rizal” directed by Marilou Diaz-Abaya and starring Cesar Montano, follows at 9:15 p.m.
The network also has a “Hero Ko Si Rizal” campaign, which features four vignettes that draws parallelism between our national hero and today’s Filipino. It presents Rizal as a student, an artist, a purveyor of truth and a lover and champion of women.
‘Glee’ hopefuls
From the team behind the hit musical drama “Glee” comes a new reality competition that follows 12 young, talented performers as they compete for the chance of winning a seven-episode guest-starring role on the third season of “Glee.” “The Glee Project” is aired Mondays via satellite at 4 p.m., with a prime-time replay at 8 p.m. on Jack TV and ETC.
On Mondays at 7 p.m. on ETC, Kardashian sisters Kourtney and Khloe move into a new city, building a new business and exploring what the Miami social scene has to offer. Created by Ryan Seacrest, “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami” is the first spin-off of the popular reality program “Keeping Up with The Kardashians.”
In the latest season of “Pretty Little Liars,” all eyes are on the liars as they look to explain the disappearance of Ian. Believing that they saw him fall to his death from the church tower, no matter what Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer explain to the police and their parents, nobody believes, even when they’re telling the truth. The series airs on ETC on Fridays at 8 p.m.
Two grooms, one bride
Who will Mary choose, the man who was betrothed to marry her or the man who pretends to be her husband?
Because of financial constraints, Mary has to stop school and work to earn money. But her dad thought of a faster way to pay their debts by betrothing her to Justin, the son of her dad’s good, wealthy friend.
When Mary learned about this, she begged Michael, a young rocker who cares about nothing else but his music, to pretend to be her husband.
Starring Moon Geun Young and Jang Geun Suk, “Marry Me Mary,” the newest afternoon Koreanovela, premieres tomorrow after “Frijolito” on ABS-CBN.
Human trafficking
Actress and antisex trafficking activist Demi Moore has partnered with the CNN Freedom Project “Nepal’s Stolen Children: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary,” which premieres worldwide on June 26 at 8 p.m. on CNN International.
As a special contributor to the CNN Freedom Project, Moore heads to Nepal to join up with 2010 CNN Hero of the Year Anuradha Koirala and her organization, Maiti Nepal, which has rescued more than 12,000 stolen Nepalese girls and young women from sex trafficking since its founding in 1993.
Moore, a passionate advocate for victims of human trafficking and through DNA, the organization she cofounded with husband Ashton Kutcher, meets with Nepal’s Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to discuss his country’s cultural and criminal problems caused by widespread sex trafficking.
“Nepal’s Stolen Children” replays July 2 at 9 p.m. and July 3 at 4 a.m., 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Talent camp
GMA 7 and Promil Pre-School search the country’s next big child stars in “Promil Pre-School I-Shine Talent Camp TV2 airing Sundays right after “Showbiz Central” on GMA 7, with a simultaneous telecast on GMA News TV.
The weekly kiddie reality talent camp showcases 12 talented kids who will be given the chance to hone their talents in singing, dancing, acting, modeling and arts and crafts through different workshops.
By the end of the search, the child with the most number of stars will win the grand prize of P200,000, a contract with GMA Artist Center and the title Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp TV’s Grand Shining Child Star.
Hosts celebrity mom and actress Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and Kapuso actor and former child star Paolo Contis will be present to monitor and guide the i-Shiners throughout this entire journey, with child star Jillian Ward as the show’s kiddie correspondent.
Movement and songs
Nickelodeon’s newest series, “The Fresh Beat Band,” follows best friends Marina, Kiki, Twist and Shout who address problems preschoolers encounter everyday.
Set in a music school, it teaches kids how to appreciate music and how to express their feelings and emotions through movement, songs and instrumental music.
It airs Mondays to Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. starting June 20.
Log on to nick-asia.com.