Nostalgic trips on Jeepney TV

CRUZ. Then and now.

A new TV channel that I find myself switching to from time to time is Jeepney TV on SkyCable 69. The channel screens old local shows and films, some of which are definitely worth watching the second time around.

At the top of the list of of productions I’ve enjoyed watching is “Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata,” a spicy satirical sitcom that poked fun at the weird of zany characters on the Philippine political scene.

It’s instructive to note that many of the problems and excesses that the program satirized decades ago are still very much alive and kicking. —So much for “progress!”

Another time, I caught an old drama series starring John Lloyd Cruz, who was much younger and slimmer then. I realized that the actor looked much better when he was still an “establishing” actor, and should thus try to get back into fighting and acting trim as soon as possible! He’s a much more popular and acclaimed actor these days, but his relative “healthiness” gets in the way of the believability of his current “tormented” portrayals.

We also caught the rescreening of an old movie featuring a slim Sharon Cuneta. She looked really sleek and svelte—very different indeed from her current “expanded” projection.

I know that Sharon hates being nagged about her weight gain, but the fact that she has a reunion movie with her ex-hubby lined up makes me  wish that she really makes it a point to lose her extra poundage.

Gabby Concepcion has more or less kept his looks and figure through the years, so imagine how Sharon would fare in her scenes with him if she didn’t do her darnedest to level up—or down?

Just last week, I was able to watch “Tatak Pilipino” on Jeepney TV. The old magazine show cohosted by Jim Paredes and Gel Santos Relos was still viewable, so I stayed tuned to it longer than we had planned as it tackled topics like circumcision and Pinoys’ “addiction” to basketball. Segment hosts included Smokey Manaloto and Snooky Serna.

Finally, I was able to watch a telecast of Martin Nievera’s late-night talk show, and he looked like he was in his element. Why doesn’t he host another talk-magazine show next season? —That goes double for Edu Manzano!