Throwback Sunday: My love affair with T.G.I.S. and Gimik

The cast of Gimik and T.G.I.S.

 Show business is a world of its own. The glitter and glamour makes you forget reality once you step into the red carpet where all the lights shine brightly, it’s as if you are stepping into a different dimension.

Ganito ang naramdaman ko nu’ng baguhan akong reporter more than two decades ago pero masaya akong binabalik-balikan ang mga araw namin sa showbiz dahil kahit madalas ngarag kami sa deadlines, showbiz personalities then were very open and accommodating and even studios for tapings were lenient for press people to visit the artistas that time.

Rico is super sikat during his time

Mid-90s ako nu’ng pumasok sa showbiz bilang movie reporter sa 


StarNews  movie magazine.

 That same time youth oriented shows were launched and a new batch of stars was introduced.

Masuwerte ako dahil we were trained and sent to field work to interview artistas sa mga tapings, shootings and in the luxury of their home where we can relax while they warmly welcome us with cooked meals and chika-chika. Ganoon ka- personalized ang relasyon noon ng mga artista at movie reporters.

STARS AND TAPINGS. Then and Now We were taping tambays in the mid-90’s until 2010. As far as I can remember, it was around this time that studios became strict already and followed different network guidelines. On location, tapings were scheduled at hindi na puwedeng basta-basta na lang lumusot na walang pasabi unlike before na mismong artista ang nag-iinvite. Now, it’s different. Talent management was professionalized and everything had to be done formally and kailangan may advance notice sa mga handler/manager ng mga artists.

Sabi nga ng isang kasamahan namin sa panulat, masarap balikan ang mga panahong simple pa noon ang showbiz. Na nakakasama pa natin ang mga artista na walang kiyems, ngayon kasi iba na.

Angelu and Rico are the teen superstars  of the mid-90's

HOW STARS ARE TODAY.  In fairness, hindi naman lahat ng artista sa ngayong panahon eh dedma. Okay naman sila, they are very civil, respectful and courteous sa mga press. Pero wala na ‘yung personal na relasyon sa kanila. I’m speaking from experience, hindi ko alam sa iba kung hanggang ngayon na -establish nila ‘yung gaya ng relasyon ng mga artista sa reporters nu’ng 80’s and 90’s. But of course, as long as they are courteous, okay lang.

Iba na rin kasi ang mga stars at kabataan ngayon, di ba? Millenial na ang isip at kilos.

 MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT WORK. Oh, kung iisa-isahin ko, marami. I’ll just write down a few na minsan eh, ‘pag naalala ko napapangiti ako dahil mababait sa akin ang mga taong nakasama ko sa aking showbiz journey.

The T.G.I.S stars

Well, unforgettable ‘yung mga biglaang out of town invites by the late great talent manager Douglas Quijano. Ang mga late night tapings sa ABS-CBN studios na tatlong shows ang aming pinupunahan para mag-interbyu, pictorial at makipag-chikahan. After that, we’d eat meryenda with Star Magic talents- Bojo Molina, Jericho Rosales and Rico Yan at kuwentuhang kaswal lang. Nakakatuwa ring balikan ang ngarag days ‘pag pupunta kami sa tapings ng TGIS para interbyuhin sina Bobby Andrews, Onemig Bondoc, Michael Flores at Red Strenberg tapos lilipat sa isang location para puntahan ang mga bida ng GIMIK na sina Rico, Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal at Marvin Agustin.

 When reporters would gather in Palibhasa Lalake studio during tapings and we’d have dinner after tapings, it became a Thursday habit until the show’s last day of taping sometime in 1999.

The Gimik original cast

Of course, showbiz parties were then well-attended. Kung sino ang ka-close ng reporter na artista, siguradong present sa mga okasyon at parties ng celebrant. These are just a few of the many wonderful memories I have as a showbiz reporter that to this day makes me smile even if a lot has already changed. Oh, the good old days!