Kapamilya mas winner ka; ABS-CBN Cebu variety-game show turns 10 years old

CEBU, Philippines —  Turning ten years old since its airing on October 27, 2007, the ABS-CBN regional network’s morning game show “Kapamilya Mas Winner Ka!” (KMWK) has come a long way after succeeding the popular “Sabado Na Game Na.”

Across the Visayas and Mindanao area, “KMWK” broadcasts in select areas over Cebu, Bacolod and Davao.

Ten years ago, the game show element had been a hit, so the regional network decided to shift from variety to game.

“That was the era of ‘1 vs. 100,’” begins KMWK’s executive producer Tiffany G. Montaña. “We felt Cebuanos needed the avenue and the opportunity, so they can have the chance to join a game show without going to Manila.”

To celebrate their tenth year milestone, the program brought their show outside the studio and closer to the people through an anniversary taping at Gaisano Mactan Island Mall in Lapu-Lapu City.

“This is the third time that we brought KMWK outside the studio, which is not easy. It entails so much preparation and is really costly. However, we are always excited to go out and bring KMWK closer to our followers— the Kamawakers,” Tiffany adds.

For Tiffany, KMWK lasted this long because of the unique experience that each player, studio audience, and televiewer basks in. Other than giving out useful cash prizes, KMWK also values the story and input of the Kamawakers.

“We listen to their stories, we give them the opportunity to share how they have won their battles. We have opened our stage as a home for untapped talents. On the creative side, I believe we were never afraid to take risks just to offer something new. The program has been through many things in the past ten years, yet we are still here. Whatever we have done over the years has only been possible because of the talent, commitment and creativity of everyone on and off screen,” Tiffany continues.

With six hosts and two lead dancers, KMWK is a lot to handle. Tiffany says their hosts have their own forte and offer different personalities and strengths.

“It is hard having these set of hosts but the key is getting to know them more even beyond the show. Ask them, give them the opportunity to express their thoughts and build that collaborative rapport. Hosts are not just vessels of the creatives. They are part of the process itself. We guide them but we give room for them to play around, share their thoughts and put their own personality in what they do,” Tiffany quips.

For Tiffany, Roy Empleo and Christine Fernandez’s hosting skills are already proven. The executive producer commends the duo’s skill in handling skits and segments. And both hosts agree that this skill is what they bring to the KMWK table.

When he’s not busy with KMWK, Roy, who dreams of winning the first Oscar for the country, runs Remplex Productions—an events company that organizes corporate events and eventually produce theatrical works and reel productions, while Christine, a successful eye doctor, hopes to see through her three optical clinics.

Roy’s favorite segment is every time the talents of every Kamawaker is showcased, while Christine likes it when she gets to speak with the Kamawakers and listen to their stories.

Tell us about your fondest KMWK memory.

Roy: Perhaps one of them was just in our recent month-long anniversary episodes when in a flashback I saw how KMWK evolved since its inception. I recalled the struggles that I have gone through as I adjusted from being a newbie in the business.

Christine: What will probably stand out was the very first taping of KMWK Oct 27, 2007. All the big bosses from Manila were there. You don’t know what to expect and what they are expecting from you. But I guess it turned out pretty great knowing that after 10 years, the program is still running. It truly was a game changer for the regional league in terms of starting something new.

How different is KMWK from other hostings?

Roy: KMWK is now a variety-game show although we originally started as a straight-forward game show. Being the game master, there are certain required skills that I need to be focused on: mastery of the mechanics, quick decision-making, empathetic and fun-filled to the players during the game segments. And being a game show host is different from being a pageant or event host. Although I always keep in my mind and in my heart that still, I am an instrument of fun and joy in every hosting gig.

Christine: Unlike other hosting gigs or programs I’ve handled, this program is multi-purpose. You don’t just entertain your audience and make your clients happy. But you get to help (i.e., Project Lapis) and touch people’s lives the same way they have touched ours through the contestant’s unique stories.

How have you grown with KMWK?

Roy: When I joined KMWK, I was already teaching and had theatrical works on the side. So, there wasn’t much adjustment on my part. However, a bigger chunk of the process was how I always put myself in the position that I collaborate with my co-hosts and the staff. So I never allowed fame or even the position of being a KMWK host go to my head. I always try to be humble in every work that I do, and in every accomplishment that I garner. Even if I have been in the business for the past 11 years, I still consider myself a work in progress, still eager to learn and relearn.

Christine: I have grown by lowering. By that I mean, I have learned to lower down and humble down. Through the people we encounter in the program, you get to realize how blessed you are. And that at times when you thought the problems you are facing are the worst, think about the players who joined hoping they can go home with prize money to buy a roof for their houses or buy medicine for their ill child just because they have nowhere else to go. By being part of the KMWK team, you know that you also have a contribution in every assistance you give to each player.

What’s your dream for KMWK?

Roy: I always aspire for greater things and one of those dreams I have for our show is its ability to draw more solid viewership in the Visayas region. Thus, we do hope that more sponsors will trust our program to share more blessings to our Kapamilyas. Also, I really hope that our technical equipment will really compete in the world stage. And when that day comes, surely, KMWK will soar higher.

Christine: More years of not just fun during tapings but more years of helping our Kamawakers and making them happy through the simple things that we do in our program. Whether it is financial assistance or just a simple hour of fun and laughter by watching our show, we want to be there for them.

What sets KMWK apart from other shows?

Roy: KMWK has always been labelled as a game show with a heart. If we ever gather all our players since the start, I am sure they’ll be able to share how KMWK has touched their lives and somehow helped them in their needs. KMWK has also reaped numerous local and national awards, such as the Anak TV Seal and the recent Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards for being the Best Entertainment Show. This game show may be a local program, but I am proud to declare that our service has surely affected millions of lives for the past 10 years.

Christine: Collectively, we know our goal. Each member of the team (technical, hosts, staff) is aware that we play a vital role in the program. No need to pull strings because we know what we can contribute is a unique part of the success of KMWK.

Looking back to the day when Christine mentioned the big bosses, Roy, who was new at the time had been told that if he didn’t step up his game, he’d be replaced. Now a successful events producer, Roy thinks it’s a massive compliment when he’s referred to as a pioneering TV host.

As game master, Roy feels a lot of pressure especially when he was starting out but has learned enough to thrive in unexpected and taxing situations.

“For as long as I am capable of sharing my God-given talents and people still find my presence endearing to make them feel happy every time I host, this makes me stay and continue on with my work. Though I never considered myself as indispensible, I am thankful that up until now, God has still given me this opportunity to serve fully for every Kamawaker,” Roy says when asked why he decided to stay after so many years with the show.

For Christine, what made her stay was “definitely be the team. Some people have come and go. It’s not at all a perfect program because we’ve had misunderstandings too.”

Two beauties also grace the KMWK stage and were able to transform into better versions of themselves through the program. For Tiffany, Miss Mandaue 2012 Nicole Tuazon is the darling of the masses, with the sort of magic that players can easily relate to. Miss Cebu 2011 Mia Ali Faridoon, on the other hand, strikes the balance: sweet, witty and can be straightforward if necessary. Mia and Nicole both find the “Bag-ong Bida” talent segment as one of their favorites, saying that they love how the talents of each Kamawaker is showcased.

Tell us about your fondest KMWK memory.

Mia: We meet a lot of players, guests and participants on each episode and we’ve crossed more than 500 already. When we share the stage with them, the experience is always interesting but my fondest would be the things that are constant. The time we spend backstage with the co-hosts and staff, preparing for the show and all, is what I would consider my fondest because it’s where the bond and initial connection were made. It’s easy to enjoy the taping when you enjoy the company. The run-throughs we do with our lines and production numbers have helped us grow in this industry.

Nicole: It would be that one break time where we made a lip-synced music video. It showed that even off-camera, we all retain the revelry and remain good friends.

How different is KMWK from other hostings?

Mia: We get to know our players and participants. Sure there is a flow that we have to follow but when the camera is rolling and you’re interviewing the player, anything can happen. They could crack the wildest joke, open up their vulnerabilities or simply just chat with you and that experience makes it raw and real.

Nicole: KMWK is more of family than work to me. Although the games are the same, the stories of the contestants make them more memorable. From love stories, to family, to barkada – different real life stories that are very inspiring to us.

How have you grown with KMWK?

Mia: I guess I’ve grown out of my shell. I used to be shy and wouldn’t dare to loosen up outside my circle. I’ve discovered another side of me that helps me connect better with other people.

Nicole: Through the interactions from different people, the various stories that have touched my life and have given me inspiration. From a family of more than 10 members who share a small amount of food and still manage to be happy. Their stories inspire me to better myself each day.

What sets KMWK apart from other shows?

Mia: We air on a Saturday morning which welcomes our viewer’s weekend morning. It’s a laidback show where players are in it to have fun. We’re fortunate that while doing so, we get to know stories shared by our Kapamilyas. KMWK is an experience that players live while in the show. We get to enter this dimension where we get to just enjoy the game and each other’s company and for a while leave life’s everyday hustle.

Nicole: It’s not purely a game show. It is also a way for people to bring out their talents and a way for the televiewers to witness and be inspired from the different stories of the players.

Mia, who is a marketing professional for Jollibee Foods Corporation in the Visayas, gets to travel quite often for work. Right after winning Miss Cebu, the beauty queen mentioned that she wanted to be a member of the media industry as a sports, news, or business reporter. However, her fortunes have taken her elsewhere as a TV host.

“I remember being excited to venture into media after college. But life gave me a different path which was a blessing and of which I have no regrets in taking. My interest in news and being updated in current events were not seized because I didn’t take up that path. It actually is a blessing that I am able to learn a new skill, improve on it and at the same time keep my old interests,” Mia quips.

As for Nicole, she never really thought she’d end up on stage with the limelight. Aside from working full time in a Japanese IT company and pursuing a master’s degree in management engineering, the top ECE graduate who won the Miss Mandaue 2012 title has been hosting since.

“I realize how blessed I truly am. I started very stiff yet I grew from my experiences and it has helped me become who I am today,” Nicole says.

Despite being a household name in VisMin with 504 episodes under its belts, the people behind KMWK keep challenging themselves. This dedication recently won them the Best Television Entertainment award from the Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards, as well as an Anak TV Seal for being a child-friendly program.

“We are grateful for the recognitions given to the program. It is a bonus for us. Having these awards is a responsibility. This serves as a reminder for us to strive even more for excellence, to provide quality programs that will entertain, educate and uplift the spirit of our Kapamilya,” Tiffany says.

What else? That is the question they ask themselves every single time. From a straightforward game show into a variety-game show with charity programs, KMWK has transformed into a relevant source of entertainment, joy, and purpose for Cebuanos.

Cebuanos can look forward to more homegrown talents through KMWK Bag-ong Bida, and a tougher competition in Singing Bebe Boy with the looming grand finals on November 18. A special set of segments is set to hit the KMWK stage for the upcoming Christmas season as well.

“I believe the challenge now is how to keep the program interesting to the audience. It’s a challenge that we welcome because it will help us to be more creative in creating new games and segments that will highlight the strength, creativity and talent of our fellow Cebuanos,” Tiffany adds. (FREEMAN)