ABS-CBN’s Old Logo Still Exists in Sgt. Esguerra Despite New Updates

The classic ABS-CBN logo remains affixed in the Sgt. Esguerra side of the Broadcasting Center despite unveiling an updated logo this year.

Even though ABS-CBN has unveiled a fresh update into their corporate logo, the network’s classic logo continues to make its presence felt. In fact, the Sgt. Esguerra side of the Broadcasting Center still has the old logo near the entrance and on the facade.

The classic ABS-CBN logo, used from 1967-72 and again from 1986-99, first featured the now-iconic symbol featuring three rings to symbolize Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and an intersecting line to act as a transmitter antenna. Both ABS and CBN were separated by the boxed symbol on each side.

In 2000, the ABS-CBN logo was modernized, now with ABS and CBN joined together at the bottom and in an updated font. But while the new logo found its way inside the newsroom, the ELJ Communications Center, and the various studios used in its entertainment programs, the classic logo was not replaced outside the Sgt. Esguerra side of the Broadcasting Center, and despite receiving another update to the logo that modified the letters A, B, C, and N in 2013, the old insignia remains.

In contrast, GMA immediately replaced its ‘Rainbow Network’ logo with the ‘Kapuso’ logo in 2002, and its official unveiling outside the GMA Network Center was even shot live via the variety show ‘SOP’. The only existing remnants of the ‘Rainbow Network’ logo remained at the staircase near the lobby on the Timog Avenue side.

There is no doubt that ABS-CBN is the top broadcast network in the country today, based on its highly-rated programs and recent updates to their equipment. But for the Kapamilya network, escaping the past remains a tough act, and its old logo at Sgt. Esguerra Avenue continues to stand as a reminder of the network’s early struggles following Martial Law and its eventual revival as ‘The Star Network’. Sooner than later they need to replace the ‘Star Network’ logo with the current logo, but for now, let the old logo stand.

ABS-CBN Hits Big Again with the ‘Tulong Na’ Shirts

ABS-CBN’s ‘Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na’ shirts were initially conceived for charitable causes, but its immediate popularity led to two successful concerts on November 16 and December 10.

When Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck the country a month ago, it left a trail of dead bodies, fallen trees and damaged structures. After the typhoon’s impact became all too gruesome for the human mind, the international community started donating sums of money and relief items for the victims of Haiyan. And ABS-CBN was among those who came to the rescue.

Days after Haiyan left the country, ABS-CBN launched their charity shirt bearing a fish-like symbol and the phrase ‘Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na’. The shirts became available at the ABS-CBN Store in the network’s Quezon City headquarters last November 12, and was later sold online through Shopinas.com and at Ayala Malls in the country. It was also sold during various ABS-CBN-sponsored events such as mall shows.

The ‘Tulong Na’ shirt became an immediate hit thanks to its cheap price (P250) and strong message, not to mention additional publicity thanks to 30-second ads, a telethon, and television programs featuring ABS-CBN personalities. And last November 16, the Kapamilya network held a benefit concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the shirt being given for free to ticket buyers.

The said concert from November 16 was such a success that another concert was held at the same venue last December 10, again with the ‘Tulong Na’ shirt distributed along with the tickets. ABS-CBN typically holds a Christmas concert at this time of the year, but on this night, the concert was about raising hope and prosperity to the victims of the typhoon. The concert entitled ‘Kwento ng Pasko: Pag-asa at Pagbangon’ will be aired in a two-part special this weekend on ABS-CBN.

In many ways, the popularity of the ‘Tulong Na’ shirts capped off a successful year for ABS-CBN. With top-rated programs outplaying the opposition almost every day, and with more potentially successful programs in the works, the Kapamilya network is definitely poised for bigger things this 2014.

Kapamilya Blockbusters, FPJ Return to ABS-CBN; Other Notes

Last Monday, ABS-CBN revamped its ‘Kapamilya Gold’ afternoon lineup by reintroducing the movie block ‘Kapamilya Blockbusters’. The said program has been aired in both the morning and afternoon slots primarily to fill in programming slots on a temporary basis. ‘Kapamilya Blockbusters’ replaced the recently concluded ‘Juan de la Cruz‘ spinoff ‘My Little Juan’ in its timeslot, and airs after ‘Showtime’ and before ‘Dugong Buhay’.

The first film aired on the weekday return of ‘Kapamilya Blockbusters’ is ‘The Adventures of Pureza: Queen of the Riles‘, starring Melai Cantiveros. The program will focus more on Star Cinema‘s recent film releases, with occasional foreign films added for good measure. While ‘Kapamilya Blockbusters’ will only be used as a temporary fill-in while an upcoming afternoon teleserye is being planned, it will give viewers an opportunity to watch films they’ve never seen before in cinemas.

Before ‘Kapamilya Blockbusters’ moved back to its weekday slot, it aired during Sunday mornings, with its timeslot only preempted by ‘Pinoy Pride’ boxing matches and NBA games. However, with the expected return of ‘Kapamilya Blockbusters’ to the weekday slot, ABS-CBN announced that ‘FPJ: Da King on ABS-CBN’ will make its return. As the name suggests, it features classic films from Fernando Poe, Jr.‘s library of archives, which the Kapamilya network has exclusive rights. In addition, ‘FPJ: Da King’ will also air on Studio 23, Cinema One and Jeepney TV.

The ‘FPJ: Da King’ block will also be a fill-in program, after which it will again be replaced by NBA games and Pinoy Pride matches on ABS-CBN soon. However, don’t expect the FPJ films to be axed soon, as there will be a possibility of moving the program to another timeslot once the NBA season begins.

On another note, the hit teleserye ‘Muling Buksan ang Puso’, starring Julia Montes and Enrique Gil, will officially conclude in three weeks. The teleserye has enjoyed consistently high viewership numbers despite pitting against equally strong GMA teleseryes ‘Mundo Mo’y Akin’ and ‘My Husband’s Lover’. The series finale is expected to air on October 4. Meanwhile, ABS-CBN started to air teasers for the upcoming teleserye ‘Galema: Anak ni Zuma’, starring Andi Eigenmann, which is expected to replace ‘Muling Buksan ang Puso’ in its timeslot.

GMA’s Weekend Nightmares Continue

I have been saying this over and over again: GMA’s weekend programming lineup is the most uncertain of them all. In a prior article, I wrote about how GMA failed to outdraw ABS-CBN on Sundays with shows such as Party Pilipinas, TeenGen, Showbiz Central and HOT TV, all of which were cancelled due to declining viewership figures, and I have also written about how cluttered their programming schedules are on weekends. And now GMA is trying shake things up again in hopes of reversing their weekend fortunes.

GMA’s main slate of Saturday programs are fully loaded from Eat Bulaga to Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman. So why did they add another public service program to the mix? As announced in the teaser below, the upcoming public service program will be entitled ‘Bingit’, which is basically a program featuring stories of survival and inspiration. The said program’s timeslot remains uncertain, though I think the program will be placed either near Wish Ko Lang, or Tunay na Buhay. The problem with the addition of this program is that it will bump other GMA programs in its stead, so the only way they can fix that is to remove the all-martial arts block ‘Kapuso Movie Night’ off the lineup in order to accompany the new program. Worse, Alisto failed in its Saturday timeslot, so what more will ‘Bingit’ bring against either ‘SOCO: Scene of the Crime Operatives’ or ‘Failon Ngayon’?

As previously mentioned, GMA’s Sunday lineup is a total wreck, so much so that they have four movie blocks aired on Sundays (Kapuso Movie Festival, Kapuso Blockbusters, Sunday Night Box Office). The Kapuso Blockbusters segment basically filled the programming vacated by TeenGen and HOT TV. However, the network finally decided to fill in the blanks and replace one of the Kapuso Blockbusters with a Sunday suspense series called ‘Dormitoryo’, which is basically their answer to ABS-CBN’s teen-oriented comedy program ‘Luv U‘. Ok, so they’re trying to revive ‘Oka Tokat’ on a Sunday, but is this the right move? Not so, unless they gain a needed fanbase.

Once again GMA is pulling out all the stops in hopes of improving their viewership on weekends. Unfortunately, with the continuous addition of what I think are mediocre products, GMA’s fortunes regarding their ratings will only get worse.

Meanwhile, the list of other upcoming programs by the Kapuso network can be viewed below.

Feeling Nostalgic About Jeepney TV

Jeepney TV, launched in October 2012, gave audiences a look at classic programs produced by the ABS-CBN network. (Logo courtesy of Creative Programs, Inc.)

Last October saw the launch of Jeepney TV. The ABS-CBN-produced network features classic programming from the archives of ABS-CBN, consisting of sitcoms, teleseryes, game shows, variety shows and even news programs. Currently it is one  of two such archival channels on Philippine TV, and I had a chance to check it out.

Jeepney TV is aired on SkyCable channel 9, just a click from ABS-CBN itself. It is a 24/7 cable channel, which means that even night owls can catch up. Because it is produced by ABS-CBN, only the classic programs from the Kapamilya network are being aired here. This does not include programs that once aired on ABS-CBN that moved to other networks (e.g. Eat! Bulaga).

Over a half-year into its operation, Jeepney TV was able to satisfy the cravings of both old and young viewers by airing the network’s most popular and well-acclaimed programs. For younger audiences who were not able to recognize current Star Magic artists in their youth, this network provides an opportunity to watch how current ABS-CBN stars looked back in the day.

There is a reason why ABS-CBN decided to launch Jeepney TV: to lessen the amount of reruns aired on the main network. It is ok to have reruns, but for some reason it only bores the audience who watches it. And for some reason I never liked first week reruns of new teleseryes. Why would they have to watch a weekend re-run of a newly-launched teleserye  recapping its first week? Because they missed it, is that the purpose? Teleseryes in their first week will give you an idea on how a story starts, but most audiences would think that they are more interested in its ending rather than its beginning. Which is why I would rather watch one as it ends rather than it begins, because it only adds further interest.

As for sitcoms, news and public affairs programs, and variety/game shows, they were never aired for a rerun at all, which is unfair. So instead of putting those reruns on the main network, why not put them together on a cable channel for a specific audience? That is how Jeepney TV came to fruition, and once the ride began in October 2012, audiences were treated to a smorgasbord of old-school programs that ABS-CBN offered. And that is how Jeepney TV rode nostalgic television to another level.