TODAY, October 23, 2017 marks the 64th anniversary of Philippine television and here on Timow’s Turf, we opened the second Open Pit on a matter related to the very significance of the number.
The number 64 is a perfect square number – in this case, a square of 8 (a number that is very auspicious in East Asia). In games, it’s the total number of squares of a board in chess and checkers. Baby Boomers have The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” and the Batang 90s have a Nintendo 64. In personal computers, some of them run on a 64-bit architecture.
On this article, we will discuss about our program’s living legends and legacies.
Legends and legacies distinguished
Living legends, as the name implies, leaves a safe harbor — a permanent etching – where ratings would not matter since the loyal following of their program is mature and stable.
Magandang Gabi Bayan may have been gone for 12 years but its association to Halloween made it a treasure.
On the other hand, a broadcast legacy is something that no longer broadcasts but it’s a cornerstone that shapes both the country and the network and inspires future generations. One example is Magandang Gabi Bayan, which we always remember for the haunted stories in this fitting season of Halloween/Undas. Another is the original standalone version of Tawag ng Tanghalan during the television’s pioneer age, which, of course, becomes the current segment of now legendary It’s Showtime.
Nonetheless, both categories made an intergenerational impact of the country’s pop culture.
In this writing, we will define the living legends and legacies as a program that – currently or not — runs at least 8 years.
Current state of living legendary programs
As of this month, four currently airing legendary programs have given recognition from the Turf.
It’s Showtime gang member Teddy Corpuz re-weds his real wife Tuesday as part of the traditional Magpasikat week.
Tukaan, the oldest sabong show, is now under the hands of TV5.
This year, It’s Showtime turns 8 – enough to confer them the permanent fixture — and thus, seasonal segment Magpasikat from the gang is showcased. It’s Showtime used to be a late morning competition show in 2009 before becoming a noontime variety show in 2012.
Tukaan, the currently longest running cockfighting show was moved to TV5 since October 1 from IBC 13 after 19 years following the original network’s low power signal reception since March and impending privatization.
Damayan, the famous public service program on PTV 4 revived after seven (7) year hiatus as “Damayan Ngayon” since October 6.
Another program in Vasra, PTV Sports restored its standalone program after nine and a half months of being a segment of PTV News since last week; however, their running time is halved to 30 minutes. Debuted in 2006 as Teledyaryo Sports and founded by Snow Badua, the sports program was able to reach out questions and opinions from sports fans through e-mail, text and social media.
Living cornerstone programs currently carried (per network)
NOTE: Sports coverages are excluded.
ABS-CBN leads with 19 programs:
TV Patrol. The oldest surviving flagship tabloid newscast since 1987.
Ipaglaban Mo. Began in 1988 on IBC, it was transferred here in 1992 until 1999 and revived in 2014.
Maaalaala Mo Kaya (MMK). The longest running drama anthology.
ASAP. The oldest surviving Sunday musical variety program.
Wansapanataym. The fantasy-drama anthology originally aired in 1997.
Kape’t Pandasal. The shortest currently and continuously airing vignette since 2004.
Salamat Dok.
Goin’ Bulilit. The sketch comedy where the cast are kids, including Dagul.
S.O.C.O. (Scene of the Crime Operatives)
Bandila
Swak na Swak
Umagang Kay Ganda
The Healing Eucharist
Banana Sundae (originally as Banana Split)
Bottomline with Boy Abunda
Failon Ngayon
Rated K
Matanglawin
It’s Showtime
Notes:
The World Tonight has reached at least 8 years in the main channel’s history. Being currently on ANC, it is excluded from this list.
Pinoy Big Brother is excluded from this list, as it does not currently air a new season. PBB has aired 13 assorted seasons since 2005 and it helped shaped the psyche of Filipino pop culture.
GMA comes in second with 16 programs:
Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko. Continuous running public service program since 1975.
Eat Bulaga. Longest running noontime show whose majority of its life resides there.
Bubble Gang. Longest sketch comedy program.
Maynila. The sole youth-oriented drama anthology.
I-Witness
Saksi
Del Monte Kitchenomics. Longest vignette. Used to be part of Eat Bulaga.
Unang Hirit
Imbestigador
Wish Ko Lang
24 Oras
Reporters’ Notebook
The 700 Club Asia
Magpakailanman
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho
Born to Be Wild
PTV secures in third with 14:
Damayan. Its first run from this network was from 1975-2010, currently as Damayan Ngayon since October 6.
PCSO Lotto Draw. The most recognizable and primary reason to watch this network.
PTV Sports. The second most recognizable show.
Oras ng Himala
Quiapo First Friday Mass
GSIS Members’ Hour
Kasangga Mo Ang Langit. Carried over multiple networks since 1998.
Mag-Agri Tayo
Yan Ang Marino
Auto Review
Jesus Miracle Crusade
Talitha Kum Healing Mass
SME GO
Lakbayin ang Magagandang Pilipinas
NET25 lands fourth with eight (8):
Ang Iglesia ni Cristo (and other derivative programming)
Convergence. The country’s premiere IT show.
MOMents
Landmarks. Their local travel program.
Tomorrow Today*
Drive It!*
Global 3000*
Bundesliga Kick Off*
* Under partnership with DW-TV
UNTV ranks fifth with seven (7):
Ang Dating Daan (and related and derivative religious programming)
Ito Ang Balita. The longest newscast of this network.
The KNC Show. The current longest running children’s program.
Istorya
Make My Day with Larry Henares
Good Morning Kuya
Munting Pangarap
IBC 13, despite the moribund lineup, places on the sixth spot:
El Shaddai. The longest religious programming of the network since 1992.
EZ Shop. The lion’s share of their programming grid.
Oras ng Katotohanan. Despite carrying simultaneously with PTV, this program debut here first since 2001.
Family TV Mass. During the final months of 2014, it was aired on GMA.
Tagamend. A half an hour informercial by Bro. Tagumpay Gonzales since 2001.
STV: Ang Sabong TV ng Bayan. Currently the oldest cockfighting program in the network since October 1.
Light Network (7th place with 5)
Jesus the Healer. Also shared with GMA.
Diyos at Bayan
Midnight Prayer Helps
PJM Forum
This New Life. The sole foreign show carried on this channel that lasts more than 8 years.
S+A tripled-tied on the 8th place, all are carryovers from Studio 23:
Family Rosary Crusade
Friends Again
Asenso Pinoy. The entrepreneurial infotainment program that currently crosses four channels.
GMA News TV shares the triple tie as all enlisted are the initial carryovers from QTV:
Balitanghali
Day Off
Ang Pinaka
SMNI 39 shares the triple tie as the following programs were broadcast under ACQ-KBN:
Powerline
Sounds of Worship
Give Us This Day
TV5 does not have a program that currently broadcast for eight years but Tukaan, bequeathed by IBC 13 after 19 years on the air, transferred to this network since October. It’s nearest in-house program, Aksyon (prime), should need to air at least next year to qualify.
Significant and impacted legacies
ABS-CBN made the lead with various legacies such as the sitcoms Home along Da Riles and Oki Doki Doc. Aside from MGB earlier, Hoy Gising! was also a well-remembered program under the news and public affairs department. Batang 90s would remember the said decade to be their golden age of educational TV with Hiraya Manawari, Math-Tinik and Sineskwela. Of course, The Buzz was the place for celebrity scoop until the Internet supersedes as its dominant source.
GMA’s legacies include Emergency — whose spiritual successor is Alisto — Cheche Lazaro’s The Probe Team and its kid-friendly counterpart 5 And Up for investigative programming and of course, the no holds barred open debate show, Debate with Mare at Pare. Startalk, like The Buzz, made into the impacted legacies as well as with the similar fate.
On the third place was RPN 9, well-known programs that once aired include NewsWatch, John En Marsha, Battle of the Brains, Business Class and Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo.
ABC 5’s significant legacies include The Big News, Wow Mali and Cooking with Sandy Daza.
PTV had Concert at the Park and Paco Park Presents since their pioneer years until it was axed in 2012.
IBC 13 only had Iskul Bukol as an intergenerational legacy of the now has-been network.
Other legacies that aired on multiple channels include Student Canteen, Okey Ka Fairy Ko (which led to a more lasting Enteng Kabisote film series), Batibot, Family Kuarta o Kahon and recently, Ating Alamin.
Parting words
Axing a living landmark – like the programs you watched — into a legacy is just like losing your friend and with a missing piece in their hearts. No matter how one wishes to move on, nostalgia would easily get in your way and yearn. Whatever happens to today will affect the curiosity of our posterity.
How about you? How do you define a legend or a legacy?
In the Open Pit, you can raise any subject other than written here through the comments section. If a comment is said to be an article request, the author will exercise discernment to accept or to decline such requests.
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Photos courtesy of giztrendzone.com, pitgames.tv and ABS-CBN
"Do you still need me? Do you still watch me? Now I'm 64." ~PHTV TODAY, October 23, 2017 marks the 64th anniversary of Philippine television and here on Timow’s Turf…
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