Upcoming GMA-7 Shows + Tour Inside The Kapuso Network

GMA-7 will unveil several new top notch programs starting this month  May of 2011! This ground breaking month long TV event is the Kapuso Channel's way of thanking it's loyal viewer because according to them, they're already the #1 broadcast station not just in Mega Manila but in the entire country, according to the latest AGB Nielsen ratings. Their new TV line-up excites me for sure.

This includes Secret Garden, the Koreanovela that will replace The Baker King, the exclusive television coverage for the Manny Pacquiao - Shane Mosley boxing fight, the new drama series Munting Heredera with stars like Gloria Romero and Camille Pratts.

They will also bring the TV adaptation for the movie, Blusang Itim topbilled by Kylie Padilla, Frank Magalona, Winwyn Marquez and Carl Guevarra. Another movie classic, Andres De Saya will have a TV version too, this time starred by Cesar Montano and Iza Calzado.

On May 30, Sisid will be launched on the Dramarama block, topbilled by Jackie Rice. For Asianovela lovers, the Tagalized Korean series, Playful Kiss will also launched this May 2011. A new kiddie show entitled, My Chubby World will also be unveiled this month.

On all of the shows, the epicserye, Amaya topbilled by GMA7's biggest star Marian Rivera, is the show I'm really looking forward too. The show is the most ambitious project of GMA-7 in terms of budget and scope. The series is backed by two historians so it will have an actual look & feel of a perfect epic series. Marian Rivera didn't auditioned for the role, "We picked her." said Wilma Galvante, the Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV, when I had a chance to asked her. "Of course, for our biggest TV project you have to get the biggest star and that's Marian Rivera." she answered.

Other upcoming  Kapuso shows are GROUND ZERO: Sa Gitna ng Nagbabagang Mundo, a GMA News and Public Affairs special that will air tonight on SNBO. Another GMA News and Public Affairs special that will air soon is Sabadabadog, an educational show for children hosted by Tonipet Gaba together with four other mascots.

I've always been wanted to tour inside the GMA-7 Network but I don't have the chance. So when I got the invite to visit it, along with other bloggers, I said yes without batting an eyelash :) I've already met some people  from GMA-7 in a summer bazaar held few weeks ago, but this time they let us in in their 'home'.

My first stop is the Barangay LS 97.1 radio booth, with DJ Papa Kiko and DJ Papa Bear currently manning it. They currently doing the 'Barangay LS Talk to Papa' segment when we dropped by. Barangay LS is actually the rebranded 97.1 Campus Radio, the contemporary/Top 40 radio station we knew before.

One of the bloggers, Leira is given a chance to be interviewed live on the air. I insisted her to greet my blog online, which she did, yay! I want to greet online online but I'm too shy. But there will be always next time right? :)

Our second stop is the Studio 6, the second most largest studio at GMA Network. There are total of seven studios in the TV network. The set-up you can see above is for the Master Showman hosted by German Moreno. All along I'm thinking they are still using the studio at Broadway Centrum.

The next studio visit is at the Studio 7, the biggest studio at the network. This is also the home of the Sunday variety show, Party Pilipinas but the set-up you see above is for the late newcast, Saksi.

After the visit at the radio booth and the studio visits, we went up to the 17th floor where a restaurant is situated. It reminds me of the ABS-CBN building because they also have a restaurant at the highest floor :)

This is where we met the ever shy but bubbly Angela Javier Cruz, the Head for Entertainment Publicity of GMA Network. This is the only decent picture of her that I got since she's a camera shy. He had to move away if she sense some camera is pointing at her :) We had a little merienda at the place and an impromptu questions and answered portion after. I asked too many questions regarding GMA-7 in which she concluded that I'm a Kapuso because I know a lot of facts about them, I watch all networks actually :)

Regarding Encantadia, she said that it's not shelved and it will still pushed through, "Maybe, after Amaya." On the lack of anime shows on the afternoon block of GMA-7, "The afternoon dramas got an overwhelming response kase eh, and parents don't really like the fact that there children is watching cartoons on afternoon" I also asked her if they believe in TNS/Kantar Media TV ratings which is used by ABS-CBN, "We chose to subscribe to AGB Nielsen because it's trusted and subscribed by many eh." she said.

This is the view from the 17th floor, remember an episode of Party Pilipinas shot in rooftop? that's the place.

Above images are the things you can see when you enter the TV Group Floor, this is the office of Entertainment TV, Program Management, Network Communications, Network Operations and GMA Artist Center.

We also met Wilma Galvante, the Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV of GMA Network. She really looks strict just like I imagine when I see her in TV or in pictures, but she always smile from time to time. We are about to asked some questions about her and the network but she's more interested on blogging and keep on asking on asking about it. She said that she really like to start her own blog soon.

Above photos are Darna and Encantadia memorabilia at the ground floor of the GMA Network Center. I really have fun at the tour! I wish next time I could visit any of their live shows, can't wait!