Angel Aquino joins ‘Batang Quiapo’; choosy young actor snubs veteran reporter

Angel Aquino. Image from Instagram

Model-turned actress Angel Aquino is excited to join the all-star cast of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” starring Coco Martin, who also helms the top-rating series as director.

In a media interview on the sidelines of the launch of Heart Failure Network program by the Philippine Heart Association, of which Aquino was a celebrity guest as a health advocate, she announced her recent career move which will reunite her with her “Ang Probinsyano” co-star.

It’s an open secret that Martin (billed as director Rodel Nacianceno) doesn’t follow a script in his drama series, and Aquino finds it exciting to work with him because he makes every character exciting for his show’s cast, which often features the same actors he has worked with in the past.

“It’s true. Back in ‘Probinsyano,’ we didn’t have a script. So, lahat kaming actors nandoon kasi hindi niya [Coco] alam kung sino ang kakailanganin niya sa ‘min,” said Aquino, who portrayed the role of a female general in the first hit series.

This time, Aquno will portray the role of a social climber n “Batang Quiapo,” and she is excited to play up her character.

“Everything comes as a surprise and that’s why we love working with him because it always keeps us on our toes and it really challenges our mental, physical, and emotional capacity,” she said.

Choosy young actor

If veterans like Aquino, who is a joy to interview — and any reporter can come close to her to ask questions — who is this young actor who chooses his interviewer?

Reportedly, after a recent mediacon for the young actor, this not-so-young but definitely quite a veteran showbiz newshen, called his attention for a one-on-one interview. But the actor didn’t bother to see her eye-to-eye or give her any signal that he’s okay for the interview. However, when another showbiz media rep called on him, the actor readily approached him.

This homegrown talent, a former child actor, is definitely good and well-rounded. He dances well. He could carry a tune. And he definitely acts better among actors of his generation. He currently stars in a youth drama action series.

According to insiders, it was impossible to miss the lady reporter who currently anchors an online showbiz talk show. The mediacon was an intimate event with only the actor, his mother, his handler, and a select group of media reps attending.

A regular fixture in entertainment events, the newshen felt bad that the actor, who’s being groomed to be a drama prince, would only allow interviews by press people he personally know while playing “dedma” to others.

It seems that the actor, and perhaps his handler, too, still has a lot of learning to do in the PR department. Well, it’s never too late.

Filipino TV-viewing habit is here to stay

Do people still watch TV in this time of the digital era?

In this age of information, digital technologies are widely used and continue to change people, business, and culture — the society as a whole.

According to a 2021 study made by the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, 79 percent of Filipinos often get their news from random feeds on the social network. But then, television was a second source at 66 percent, followed by YouTube at 57 percent and other news websites at 54 percent.

Moreover, given the cellphones and modern gadgets, the television unit remains to be a fixture in many Filipino homes. A 2022 survey showed about 75 percent of Filipino households owned a television. Another research conducted by Kantar Media, published in August 2022, indicated that 21.7 million households in the Philippines own television sets with 92.9 million individuals watching TV.

Indeed, the TV viewing habit is still here to stay among many Filipinos since the television was introduced in the country in October 1953 upon the first commercial broadcast made by Alto Broadcasting System (now ABS-CBN), making the Philippines the first Southeast Asian country and the second in Asia to do so.
So why do people watch TV? Well, there’s a unique joy in settling down in front of the television, a simple pleasure often underestimated. For one, it’s a chance to escape the demands of the day, to immerse oneself in a different world entirely.

The gripping narrative of a well-crafted drama, the “kilig” factor of the beloved tandem, the laugh-out-loud antics of a beloved sitcom, or the informative depth of a compelling documentary, in many cases, more than make up one’s day.

But more often than not, the outside world fades away as one becomes captivated by the screen before him. This feeling of absorption, of being transported, is a powerful and deeply relaxing experience for many TV viewers.

No doubt about it, today is a new era in TV viewing.

The digital age has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of TV programming globally — with the viewers empowered with unprecedented choice, allowing them to access a diverse array of content anytime, anywhere. Moreover, they are no longer tethered to rigid schedules and limited channel selections.

The Philippine television landscape is no exemption. It has undergone a dramatic transformation, as well.  No longer solely defined by traditional free-to-air channels, the industry is now a vibrant mix of broadcast networks, cable providers, and burgeoning online streaming platforms.

Then there’s more. The name of the game is collaboration. And this happens when the country’s giant networks and fiercest rivals, ABS-CBN 2 and GMA-7, decided to become friends and work together.

Aside from the variety show, “It’s Showtime”, still taking GMA’s noontime slot, from April 2024 to the present, another television milestone is about to unfold: the “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition”. Set to air over the Kapuso Network, both GMA and ABS-CBN talents are set to enter the “Bahay ni Kuya”.

Indeed, changes are sweeping the broadcast industry as more collaborations and inter-company productions are remaking the entertainment landscape in the country including partnerships with Viu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other streaming sites.

Of course, these collaborations stand to benefit the various stakeholders in the television industry and make business afloat. Incidentally, the PMPC Star Awards, Inc., known for fabulously staging the Star Awards annually is gearing up for the 38th Star Awards for Television on March 23, 2025. At stake are over 50 awards from different categories aimed at commending the stakeholders of the local television industry.

PMPC, a group showbiz veteran and cinematic art advocates, disclosed that the body sees the need to increase the categories from the usual 30+ to 50 due to the “happy, positive changes” in the industry brought about by digitalization.