TV5 teases news, sports and entertainment offerings for 2023

At the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent last Wednesday, Nov. 23, I attended the first live, face-to-face trade launch hosted by TV5 after more than two years of the COVID pandemic. Aptly entitled 5th Dimension, the event gave TV5’s partners and stakeholders a glimpse of the network’s news, sports, and entertainment offerings for TV and radio in 2023.

I was surprised and delighted to see hundreds of ad agency movers and shakers, network executives, athletes and TV personalities that night. When Dino Laurena, Media5’s chief operating officer, went onstage to deliver the welcoming remarks, he confirmed there were over 700 attendees, not to mention the many more who were attending online. It was wonderful to see people in a festive mood, chatting, taking photos, drinking, catching up and just having a good time once again. I can only surmise that after more than two years of being cooped up, we are all aching to return to normalcy.

Dino Laurena, Media5’s chief operating offi cer, is joined by stars of the Kapatid network’s current and upcoming shows.

I attended the affair as a member of the Brightlight Productions team with my boss, Albee Benitez, mayor of Bacolod City, and Bayani Agbayani, Wacky Kiray and JD of Tropang Lol (Mondays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.). Korina Sanchez, whose show Rated Korina (Saturdays, 5 to 6 p.m.) is also produced by Brightlight, graced the event as well.

It was nice to see familiar faces throughout the evening. The first friend I bumped into was Jeff Remigio, a former colleague at ABS-CBN who is now head of acquisitions for TV5. Then there was my schoolmate from grade school, Sienna Olaso, who happens to be Cignal TV’s hard-working first vice-president and head of Channels & Content Management. It was Sienna who introduced me to the president and CEO of Mediaquest, the whip-smart and able Jane Basas. I also had a quick chat with Robert Galang, Cignal TV and TV5 president and CEO, who was looking very dapper in a dark suit. There was also Bobby Barreiro, chief partnership officer of ABS-CBN. He lost some weight but is looking younger and fitter despite his salt and pepper hair.

The show was hosted by the lovely Gretchen Ho and Alex Calleja, who brought the house down with his quick wit. Gretchen, on the other hand, was a knockout in her sequined evening gown, with a slit that ran all the way up to her thighs, exposing her toned legs.

Jane Basas, president and CEO of Mediaquest, addresses the audience at the trade launch.

One by one, the Kapatid network’s executives came onstage to bare their programs. First up was Raul dela Cruz, general manager of National Broadcasting Corp., the office in-charge of all radio stations. He shared that from seven radio stations, they now have 25 all over the Philippines. Radyo5’s top talents are Ted Failon, DJ Chacha, Cheryl Cosim, Lourd De Veyra, Cristine Bersola and Laila Chikadora.

Up next was Luchi Cruz-Valdez, the force behind the TV5 news team. Her esteemed and credible anchors are Julius Babao and Cheryl Cosim, Ed Lingao and Maeanne Los Baños, Lourd de Veyra, MJ Marfori and Gretchen.

Next were the Sports Programs. TV5 is home to the PBA, NBA, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas, the UAAP, Premier Volleyball League and the Philippine E-Sports Organization. That night, the UAAP Cheerdance grand champion, the FEU cheering squad, showed-off its winning moves to the crowd’s delight.

Distinguished sports heads and athletes then went onstage, beginning with PBA Commissioner Willy Marcial, UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag, Philippine E-Sports Organization executive director Marlon Marcelo, and Sports Vision president Ricky Palou. Among the PBA hotshots I spotted were Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra, Beau Belga of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Chris Newsome of Meralco Bolts, Calvin Abueva of Magnolia Hotshots and LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra.

For me, the highlight of the show was when the ASAP stars, led by Zsa Zsa Padilla, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Reiven Umali and JM Yosures, sang Joyful Joyful to usher in the Yuletide Season and introduce some of the exciting ABS-CBN series in the lineup, including Iron Heart starring Richard Gutierrez, Sue Ramirez and Jake Cuenca. Another intriguing new offering for 2023 is Dirty Linen starring Zanjoe Marudo, Janine Gutierrez, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Angel Aquino, Janice de Belen, John Arcilla, Joel Torre, JC Santos, Christian Bables and Jennica Garcia.

Amazing raffle prizes were given away throughout the evening, including 50-inch smart TV sets, Omega Swatch watches, Samsung flip phones, and vacation packages. The grandest prize of them all was a brand new MG5 Morris Garages subcompact sedan.

Congratulations to TV5 for a very festive and successful trade launch! The future is looking very dazzling indeed!