Billy on his TV5 shows: ‘We’re not here to compete’

More students across the country will be able to attend classes via television and the internet as SKY partners with the government in strengthening the Department of Education’s distance education program amid the pandemic.

SKY signed memorandum of agreements (MOA) with key DepEd Divisions in regional areas, giving schools in Baguio, Laoag, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos, and Zamboanga access to DepEd TV shows on cable.

Under the agreement, SKY will give DepEd TV a dedicated channel, which will air lessons per week, covering the most essential learning competencies prescribed by the government.

In a separate MOA with DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and the Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, SKY has committed to providing 32 DepEd priority schools nationwide a SKY Fiber connection, giving them access to DepEd classes online.

DepEd aims to present lecture classes, courtesy of carefully selected broadcaster-teachers in the country. Teachers underwent a series of trainings on how to deliver interactive class episodes for students. Helping DepEd in training the educators are a number of renowned broadcasters of major local networks, among which are ABS-CBN’s Karen Davila, Kim Atienza, Jaque Manabat, Abner Mercado, and Korina Sanchez.

“We are here in support of the vision set out by the secretary that education must continue,” SKYcable president and COO Antonio Ventosa said during the signing ceremony.

Ventosa also thanked DepEd for the opportunity, saying, “SKYcable is here to support the project, provide access to as many homes and students as possible via cable and our WiFi facilities. We’re here to partner with you.”

SKY has been an advocate of education since 1996 with the creation of the SKY Foundation, which later on evolved into the Knowledge Channel Foundation. It gave public elementary schools access to videos acquired from the United States, Canada, and Europe, and soon produced more materials based on the K-12 curriculum of DepEd. Through this, SKY continues to reach households nationwide as it airs the lessons on SKYcable Channel 5.

Knowledge Channel responded to the call of the government to support distance learning amid the pandemic as it launched the “School at Home” campaign.

On August 24, Knowledge Channel started airing week 1 lessons in Filipino, Math, Science, English, and Araling Panlipunan for the First Quarter from Kinder to Grade 10 and the Alternative Learning System, allowing children to start learning ahead of the opening of classes. As the school year began last Oct. 5, Knowledge Channel has been airing the same video lessons for week 1 of the First Quarter.

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The “returning” TV5 is really making its presence felt as it launches more new shows. We can expect exciting programs coming from the Kapatid Network in the days to come as it seeks to provide more entertainment fare. Among these new shows are “Lunch Out Loud” and “Masked Singer Pilipinas.”

“Lunch Out Loud” is the newest noontime variety show full of fun games and surprises, giving more chances of winning to viewers even at home. It started airing Monday with its line-up of comedians and host such as Billy Crawford, Bayani Agbayani, Alex Gonzaga, Wacky Kiray, K Brosas, KC Montero, and Macoy Dubs.

Billy is also hosting “Masked Singer Pilipinas” set to premiere this Saturday, Oct. 24, on TV5’s primetime block. Based on the hit South Korean show, “King of Mask Singer,” which has been adopted in the US, this show will put you in awe of show-stopping performances of celebrity contestants concealed in masks and costumes. Every week, celebrity judges Cristine Reyes, Kim Molina, Matteo Guidicelli and Aga Muhlach will give their ratings that could eliminate and unmask one of the highly confidential masked celebrity singers.

“I am just thankful with the new shows that I am doing,” said Billy. “I feel blessed. With ‘Lunch Out Loud,’ it will be a different kind of show. Masaya ito. We have lots of segments. Anyone can play and win from home. Gusto lang namin makatulong sa panahon ng pandemya.”

They are up against two formidable shows in the noontime block but Billy says they are not here to compete.

“We just want to share love and inspire people. May nauna man sa amin, mas maganda na we are united in giving entertainment to our audience.”