Lovi Poe takes on challenging role in GMA News TV's groundbreaking series 'TITSER'

Following the critical and ratings success of its original series on good governance BAYAN KO, GMA News TV launches a groundbreaking new series entitled TITSER, which discusses issues in Philippine education.

TITSER will be the first television project of character actress Lovi Poe upon signing a new, three-year exclusive contract with GMA. She plays the lead Michelle in the series – a high school valedictorian from a poor barrio school who dreams of becoming a teacher, but whose only option after graduation is to work as a maid. Her best friend Rosa is the class salutatorian who ends up a single mother. Fate, tragedy and the sheer dedication of Michelle and Rosa to finish their schooling lead to unexpected twists in this compelling series.

TITSER tells the stories of these girls as it tackles problems in education: Lack of books and chairs and classrooms, corruption in the procurement process, the high dropout rate and the fact that majority of the Philippine population has only reached a high school level - or less - of education.

TITSER is written by Bayan Ko creator Nessa Valdellon and directed by Dr. Alvin Yapan, who also heads the Filipino Department at the Ateneo de Manila University. The series was inspired by Sandra Aguinaldo’s I-Witness documentary Iskul Ko No. 1 – about an award-winning elementary schoolteacher who put herself through college by working as a househelper.

GMA News TV is producing this series in the hope that viewers start to take a serious look at our education problems and perhaps begin sending more impoverished children all the way through college.

The ten part original drama series TITSER will air Sunday nights at 7:15 PM from August 4 to October 6, only on GMA News TV.

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Forty-four look-alikes of the most popular local and international stars will face off and top each other in the grandest gala of “Kalokalikes” called “Kalokalike Level Up” in ABS-CBN’s top-rating noontime show “It’s Showtime” which started on Monday, May 20.

Watch as the celebrity wannabes unleash their wild personality and charisma for “Kalokalike Level Up,” the look-alike contest’s semi-finals round that will be held over the course of two weeks from May 20 until May 31. Each day, a group of Kalokalikes will battle it out to try to get a coveted spot in the grand finals that will be held on June 1.

Industry veterans will sit as judges to scrutinize each of the 44 Kalokalikes from which only one will emerge as the Ultimate Kalokalike who will bring home P300,000. The first runner-up and second runner-up will receive P200,000 and P100,000, respectively.

The noontime show’s “Kalokalike” segment has been widely talked about since it was launched in January this year due to some of its sensational contestants Coco Martin, Kim Chiu, Joey De Leon, and Daniel Padilla. “Kalokalike” has also become a regular trending topic on social networking sites when it comes on in the program.

“Kalokalike Level Up” is just one among the many surprises and new segments “It’s Showtime,” the country’s number one noontime show, has in store for its loyal madlang people.

Stay tuned to “It’s Showtime,” hosted by Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford, Karylle, Kuya Kim Atienza, Teddy Corpuz, Jugs Jugueta, Jhong Hilario, Ryan Bang, Coleen Garcia, at Eric ‘Eruption’ Tai, at 12:30 PM and on Saturdays at 12NN on ABS-CBN. For updates on the program, follow @ItsShowtimena on Twitter or like   www.facebook.com/itsShowtimena. To watch previous “Kalokalike” episodes, visit showtime.abs-cbn.com.

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Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF), the theater company that successfully mounted two original productions – “Joe: A Filipino Rock’sical” and the Palanca Award-winning straight play “Ang Bangkay” – last year was given its five 2012 BroadwayWorld.com (BWW) Philippines Awards on Thursday night, May 16 at Tanghalang Pasigueno.

The framed certificates were awarded during the group’s special performance of “Joe.”

PSF, also known as The Stagers, earned five awards at the BroadwayWorld.com’s popular theater fans’ choice poll: Best Filipino Musical- “Joe” Best Book and Lyrics for a Filipino Musical – Vince Tanada for “Joe”; Best Lighting Design for a Musical or Play – Art Gabrentina for “Joe”; Best Filipino Play – “Ang Bangkay”; and Best Featured Actress in a Play – Cyndi Liper for “Ang Bangkay.”

“I am honored to be recognized twice by BroadwayWorld.com,” says Tanada, PSF’s founder and artistic director.

“Despite the influx of foreign acts and foreign touring productions in the country, I’m grateful that Filipinos still find a way to recognize original production like ours.

“I believe in the unlimited talent of the Filipinos. The Stagers will always advocate for excellent home-grown, all-original Filipino shows,” adds Tanada in his acceptance speech.

First-time winner Liper, who starred in PSF’s “Cory and EDSA: A Filipino Musical” two years ago, says, “Thank you for seeing all our efforts, not just mine. The role that I had for ‘Ang Bangkay’ challenged me and pushed me further to surpass every effort I put into every role that was given to me.”

PSF is set to open to new musicals this year. Opening in July is “Bonifacio: Isang Sarzuwela,” the group’s tribute to Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio’s 150th birth anniversary. Opening in September is “Pedro Calungsod: A Filipino Musical,” which is based on the life and martyrdom of the Philippines’ second Catholic saint.