Newly-Redubbed Voltes V to Air on GMA Astig Authority This Week As Part of 40th Anniversary

The legend returns: ‘Voltes V’ will air anew on GMA starting tomorrow, featuring a new Filipino dub. (Screenshot courtesy of Toei, Nippon Sunrise, Telesuccess Productions and GMA Network)

‘Voltes V’ is back.

As part of the anime’s 40th anniversary, GMA announced that a redubbed version of ‘Voltes V’ will be aired starting tomorrow morning on the network’s Astig Authority block. The fresh new Filipino dub of ‘Voltes V’ will feature the following Kapuso stars:

• Derrick Monasterio (as Steve Armstrong)
• Jak Roberto (as Mark Gordon)
• Hiro Peralta (as Big Bert Armstrong)
• Bea Binene  (as Jamie Robinson)
• Ken Chan (as Prince Zardos)

The voices of Little John Armstrong, Dr. Ned Armstrong, Mary Armstrong, Dr. Smith, Commander Robinson, Dr. Hook, Draco, Zandra, Zuhl and other characters will also be dubbed by various voice actors. However, it is unknown if GMA will give credit to these voice actors for their roles in the redubbed ‘Voltes V’.

‘Voltes V’, a brainchild of Tadao Nagahama (also the man behind ‘Daimos’), was first aired on GMA in 1978. However, it was soon banned by then-President Ferdinand Marcos (along with the aforementioned ‘Daimos’ and other robot anime) for being ‘too violent’.

It was only after the People Power Revolution that ‘Voltes V’ triumphantly returned on air through various TV channels (most notably ABS-CBN and IBC-13). In 1999, ‘Voltes V’ was brought back by GMA in both English and Filipino dubs (along with the four unaired episodes known as ‘Voltes V: The Liberation’), and instantly became popular with a new generation of viewers.

The renewed popularity of ‘Voltes V’ also inspired the ‘Bubble Gang’ segment ‘Ang Dating Doon’ (a parody of the religious program ‘Ang Dating Daan’) to adopt the anime’s opening song as its theme. The skit even brought a toy version of the robot on numerous occasions.

In 2005, ABS-CBN’s Hero channel aired a new Filipino dub of ‘Voltes V’ (known as ‘Voltes V Evolution’), starring the likes of Jett Pangan and Sandara Park. However, the new dub was poorly received.

The 2017 dub of ‘Voltes V’ may be a celebration for the anime’s 40th anniversary, but it remains to be seen if the redub will be worth watching. Considering that ‘Magandang Buhay’ has had some winning moments in recent episodes, this will be a tough task for the returning series to overcome.

Still, for those too young to remember the battle between the Boazanians and the Earth’s special forces, ‘Voltes V’ will be a new experience for all of them. Win or lose, this new dub should give them a fresh perspective on how good overcomes evil, and how bloodlines were revealed.

A Fifth Opponent for Doble Kara

 

Add ‘Sinungaling Mong Puso’ to the list of victims that ABS-CBN’s ‘Doble Kara’ left in its wake.

For the past 74 episodes (running from July 18 to October 27), ‘Sinungaling Mong Puso’ tried its best to rattle the confidence of the no. 1 afternoon drama in the country. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, as ‘Doble Kara’ continued its dominance in the national ratings.

To make matters worse, ‘Sinungaling Mong Puso’ failed to receive adequate promotion from GMA’s entertainment group. This has become a constant pattern for the network’s Afternoon Prime block, even as its Telebabad counterparts began to redeem themselves.

It was a humiliating fact that cast a spell on the series’ two lead stars in Rhian Ramos and Rafael Rosell. Although the two tried their best to present their more mature and sensual roles for ‘Sinungaling Mong Puso’, it was not enough, as GMA simply gave up promoting the show for whatever reason.

‘Sinungaling Mong Puso”s finale will take place later today. On a related note, GMA announced its replacement.

Starting this Monday at 3:20 p.m., it will be the reunited tandem of Joyce Ching and Kristoffer Martin who will try to best Julia Montes. Their newest series, ‘Hahamakin ang Lahat’, will be a more mature project for the duo.

‘Hahamakin ang Lahat’, according to GMA Network, will ‘revolve around the repeating fates of a mother and her child who both had to bear the agony of not being able to be with the man they truly love because of the struggles and conflicts they encounter in winning the approval of their family’. The series will center around a Chinese Filipina named Rachel (Joyce) and her love interest Junjun (Kristoffer).

The supporting cast will include Eula Valdes, Ariel Rivera, Snooky Serna, Thea Tolentino, Chinggay Alonso, Marc Abaya, Jett Pangan, Marina Benipayo, Renz Valerio, Mona Louise Rey and Bruno Gabriel. It will be directed by Don Michael Perez.

Going up against a still-strong ‘Doble Kara’ will be a tough challenge for ‘Hahamakin ang Lahat’, considering the former’s high ratings. GMA’s inability to sell its afternoon dramas will also be a major focus, and if they want ‘Hahamakin ang Lahat’ to be successful, they must give ample promotion time to the series in order to pump some life into it.

A new challenger awaits ‘Doble Kara’. Now ‘Hahamakin ang Lahat’ must go all out to give the former all they can handle, otherwise another victim comes ‘Doble Kara”s way.