The digital world of GMA (a short essay)
Someone sells GMA’s extensive library from the past.
On March the 1st, 1950, an American war correspondent by the name of Bob Stewart purchased its transmitters to the Calvo Building in Escolta, the ancient center of finance and consuming stores. Then, the Republic Broadcasting System was formed, and DZBB went on the air. As my old friend Jessica Soho suggests, by 1957, they moved down to its current home in Quezon City, because the historical Escolta is abandoned here.
On October 29th, 1961, Uncle Bob opened its television station on what we know the frequency today as channel 7. He also carries its rights from American TV shows, airing over primetime content. Some of the Filipino produced local ones to cater all of ours, cuz _mahabang panahong manood tayo ng serials, diba?_ (it’s too long to watch some serials, huh?)
By the time martial law placed into the nation, Uncle Bob lost his ownership, until someone steals the show. They include Gilberto Duavit, former official at the Malacañang; another is Felipe Gozon, attorney of Bob Stewart; and Menardo Jimenez, an accountant to assure his owner.
On December the 1st, 1975, GMA broadcast its first episode of “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko,” an iconic public service program that’s been changing for 45 years. Eddie Ilarde is the founder of the foundation. Broadcaster Orly Mercado assured as its presenter. Remember Cielito del Mundo? Well, she was so gorgeous.
I love to see and how Student Canteen, broadcast by ABS-CBN until martial law, went on the air on GMA. I watched “Limang Dekada”, a documentary on GMA News Service, and I feel nostalgic. By 1978, there’s only one man to revolutionize the Philippine entertainment industry. GMA also signed its contract to German Moreno, or “Kuya Germs” as we know him and honor today.
Kuya Germs started his career as janitor at a local theater. By the time when he entered as comedian, he performed a lot of experience. Somehow, in the 60s, in the scene of the movie “Dance O Rama”, produced by Vera Perez’s Sampaguita Pictures, he appears on the scene as Susan Roces is dancing with someone, you know. Kuya Germs entered GMA and started a weekly variety show, entitled “The GMA Supershow”, lasting until SOP in August 1997.
At the end of 1979, GMA added the iconic slogan, “Where you belong”. It first appeared in mid-1979. “Where you belong” refers to the jingle produced by TM Productions. Remember Helen Vela? Well, long before “Maalaala mo kaya” and “Magpakailanman,” we already all know that “Lovingly yours, Helen” was the longest running drama program until 1996. There must be replaced by
They changed its name to “GMA Network, Inc.” at the end of 1995, 2 days after the iconic “Eat Bulaga!” went on the air for the third time ever on network television — the first variety show to be aired three times in a row since the show began its telecast over RPN on channel 9.
The GMA opened its current headquarters in Timog Avenue in EDSA. The 50th anniversary show were held in June 2000, as the network celebrated its golden anniversary. At the end of the specials, it also adds a melody of shows, composed by veteran music composer Tats Faustino. The ending part has Kuya Germs’ iconic line, “Walang tulugan” (referring to the weekly talk show that wasn’t until 2005, when his line turned into a television show), and the “Thank you song” from SOP.
But after 7 decades, the millenials want television to strengthen the medium in the forms of media, like radio, television and the press. Some to the Korean dramas were dubbed in Filipino. Some of the Hollywood movies are dubbed in Filipino, cuz it’s like a trash and so tagalized. They saw the advent of social media, growing the youth people over the fans of rising talents such as Miguel Tanfelix, Alden Richards, and so much more.
With the large audience of 85 million as of late 2020, many are enjoying in 52 stations, ten times larger than MBC, with more radio stations including DZRH and the rest of FM stations. The question for the reason is: “Why GMA is not a KBP member”. INQ7.net (predecessor of GMA News Online) suggested that “Kapuso Network” withdrew from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, or the KBP, for allegedly exposing movie actress Rossana Roces, or Osang for short.
In March 2004, 24 Oras went on the air in its first edition, replacing Front Page.
In the entertainment world, many rising talents have been contributed to the film and television industry. Back then, we have one of the legends from Viva Films, one of the biggest film production company in the Philippines.
Eat Bulaga has been a tradition in Philippine television since July 1979. The main co-host are joining forces to continue a tradition. How segments helped the show grow the audience reach, you know how? Remember the iconic Sis? Well, I was a child and I saw the de Belen sisters (and Carmina Villaroel, too) everyday.
Personally, many are talking about trending videos. _Paano magamit ang balita sa wikang tagalog?_ (How to report using only Tagalog language.) Remember, there are more than 8 major dialects in the Filipino language, including Bisaya, Bikolano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Ilokano, Kapampangan and Chavacano (or Español Zamboangueno). Do you watch “Stand for truth?” No, I locked up the “!” (or the exclamation mark) and the “?” (or the question mark).
May your bless will. Here’s what to do. As the public says, the word “trending” is a style of culture. Note that the term is spoken by writing, communicating and speaking. In such words, “nagtrending”, “trending” and some other variants are just the same as you’re speaking taglish.
Average Filipinos posted some trends appearing in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the many other social networking sites. How about you, who wants your choice when GMA is a good choice of the Philippine entertainment industry?