GMA 7 set to launch 100 shows this year despite challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic

“Voltes V” poster

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and all the production restrictions that come with it, GMA 7 executive Lilybeth Rasonable is “happy and feels very blessed” that the network has managed to adapt to the ever-changing protocols and continue airing and churning out new programs.

“Aside from being able to provide news and entertainment to viewers both here and abroad, we feel fortunate to still be able to provide jobs and work for many. COVID-19, of course, worries all of us. There’s always the risk of getting it, especially outside, when we go to work,” Rasonable, senior vice president for entertainment, told the Inquirer in an email interview.

Most anticipated

By the end of the year, the network will have launched some 100 shows, both original and syndicated, on GMA’s main channel and its secondary channel, GTV.

“Legal Wives”

Among the most anticipated in its primetime block are the cultural drama “Legal Wives,” starring Dennis Trillo, Bianca Umali, Alice Dixson and Andrea Torres; the drama soap “The World Between Us” starring Alden Richards and Jasmine Curtis-Smith; the “out-of-the-box” series “Love. Die. Repeat.,” starring Jennylyn Mercado; and “Voltes V: Legacy,” a live action version of the iconic Japanese anime of the same title.

The afternoon block will have the remake of Ishmael Bernal’s “Nagbabagang Luha,” with Glaiza de Castro, Rayver Cruz, Mike Tan and Gina Alajar; Rita Daniel and Ken Chan’s “Ang Dalawang Ikaw”; and the legal drama “Artikulo 247,” featuring Rhian Ramos, Mark Herras, Jackie Rice and Rocco Nacino.

The network also has an extensive lineup of other soaps, mini-series and anthologies, including “The Witness,” “Maria Clara,” “Zoom-serye,” “GMA Inspires” and the miniseries “Alternate” starring Dingdong Dantes.

“Lolong”

Locked-in taping bubbles

Under GMA Public Affairs are “Sireno,” “Mask,” “Plastic Pandemic” and the action-adventure series “Lolong,” starring Ruru Madrid and Shaira Diaz. GMA Heart of Asia, which provides Filipino-dubbed Asian dramas, will bring the critically acclaimed “The Penthouse,” among others.

For Rasonable, the biggest production challenge amid this pandemic is providing a safe working environment, which involves “new normal” strategies, like locked-in taping bubbles, defined scheduling, regular testings and strict adherence to protocols.

“We created health and safety protocols, which we continue to enhance as the situation evolves. We adjust production systems, storylines, formats—everything that has to do with producing a show,” she said. “We had to create a production ‘new normal,’ which requires a lot of sacrifice from everyone—from actors to writers, to the staff, to the technical crew, etc.”

“The Penthouse”

Aside from dramas and series, GMA 7 also has in store numerous game, magazine and variety shows:

There’s the comedy show “The Untold Story of Philip Tampipi” and the local adaptation of the Korean game show “Running Man”; the game show “‘Lam ‘Na,” which dissects viral news and debunks fake news; and the reality singing competition “The Clash,” which will be back for its fourth season.

Over on GTV, the main offerings include the weekly show “Flex,” featuring Mavy Legaspi, Lexi Gonzales, Joaquin Domagoso, and Althea Ablan; and the romance-mystery miniseries “Love You Stranger,” which will be headlined by real life couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos.

Sports fans, on the other hand, can expect comprehensive coverage of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 96.

But if there’s something good to be gleaned from the recent challenges in show biz, it’s the way they brought out the creativity and ingenuity of the writers, directors, producers and actors involved in the process.

“With all the tedious preproduction time and work that’s required to do locked-in tapings and advance productions, I believe that productions have become much more efficient and high-yielding, which is definitely a positive outcome,” said Rasonable, who’s hopeful that administration of vaccines in the coming months can give them “more confidence” to do their jobs.

“It’s our hope that the COVID-19 situation in our country will eventually improve, so that we can expect more productions in the months to come,” she added.

Lilybeth Rasonable