Icing on the cake

Jessica Soho

Not too many people know that Jessica Soho and I have long been textmates. I am her fan and friend, as well. Watching “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” (KMJS) is my fave Sunday habit. I text Jessica my feedback after every episode of her engaging show, which she relays to her staff. For someone of her stature to value my opinion means a great deal to me.

Just like healthcare workers, Jessica is also a front-liner in the battle versus Covid-19. She and her colleagues in GMA 7’s “24 Oras” tirelessly report about the pandemic. Even on her birthday (March 27), Jessica was busy working. Knowing her, she would rather keep a low profile than be written about. But I can’t help it.

While most TV shows are airing reruns due to the health emergency, the well-respected broadcast journalist still manages to come up with new episodes of KMJS. The most recent one featured a thorough mix of Covid-19-related stories.

As I told Jessica in my text message, “Your episode had the right combination of light and heavy Covid-19-related topics. Bull’s-eye sa puso.”

As always, she refused to take the credit. Part of her reply to me goes, “My staff works really, really hard and are super-creative. They do most of the work and, like I usually tell them, these days I’m just the icing on their cake. Content is theirs. Sila ang substance ng programa.”With a mentor like Ms Soho, the KMJS staff won’t ever come up with an episode that’s just “so-so.”

Funny video

To combat the bad trip brought about by Covid-19, we all need some “laugh trip” once in a while. Amid the pandemic, one of the funniest videos I received was from my good friend, Aga Muhlach. It’s a spoof of our idol Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” MJ’s other hit “Heal the World” could very well be the 2020 global anthem.

Aga Muhlach

Overtaken by events

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN was the raging issue. But that controversy has now been eclipsed by updates on the pandemic. The coronavirus has monopolized news features.

As my gay friend puts it, “Kinuha na ng Covid-19 lahat ng airtime. Wala nang natira para sa ibang balita.” Then, he added in jest, “Akalain mo, Covid-19 lang pala ang makakapigil kay Cardo (Coco Martin) ng ‘Ang Probinsiyano’?”Considering the relief efforts (“Pantawid Pag-ibig”) of the Kapamilya network in the time of corona, it more than deserves to remain on the air. If only the network could change its slogan to “Franchise (in lieu of ‘family’) is Forever.” INQ