Expats’ Guide: Philippine TV
Filipinos love watching TV programs. And when we say love, it means glued to the TV while their favorite show is on. Whatever important task there is, Filipinos will have to save it for later. Watching TV programs has always been a part of the Filipino culture, as the entertainment industry plays a large role in the society.
Just like USA’s Hollywood, PH has an industry so-called “Showbiz.” And as showbiz is made up of many things, TV programs led by popular celebrities is a big hit among them especially during primetime (6:00pm to 10:00pm). To let you have a clue on how Philippine TV works, here are some major programs that Filipinos love to watch out for.
Photo via ABS-CBN
1. Heavy drama aka Telenovela
Drama takes a huge part of Philippine TV program. When you say primetime, it actually means a barrage of intense acting. It’s full of crying – men, women, kids, maybe even pets. It’s filled with dramatic sequences; face-slapping, hair-pulling, blood-shedding and all. Typical storylines include rich-man-meets-poor-girl, family wars, and such. Also, heavy drama is where love teams are formulated which make avid watchers turn to fans.
Photos via (1) bworldonline.com and (2) youtube.com
2. Pageants/ boxing matches
It’s like the whole world stops when Manny Pacquiao is in the boxing ring again and it’s serious. Usually, zero crime rate ensues in the metro as everyone’s watching the live satellite broadcast of Pacquiao’s boxing match. Since it’s usually done during Sunday, it suddenly becomes a great weekend bonding for families and boxing enthusiasts alike to watch the people’s champ fight. Same goes for beauty pageants such as Ms. Universe, where you’ll see viral videos of Filipino reactions online upon watching the contest. (Yes, it’s all Filipino pride.)
Photos via (1) pinoyonlinetv.net and (2) youtube.com
3. News
You see it in the morning, you see it during lunch break, you see it as soon as you go home, and you see it before you sleep. Broadcast news is definitely a part of daily TV programming, whatever channel you’re on. Newscasts are usually comprised of daily news, breaking news, weather forecasts, sports/showbiz news, and citizen journalism. Filipinos like to read/watch news to know what’s happening to the world and to their country.
Photo via (1) Eat Bulaga’s Twitter page and (2) entertainment.abs-cbn.com
4. Noontime/ Variety shows
Noontime variety shows are the kind of shows you grow up with in the Philippines. No matter how many TV trends come, noontime shows will still take the center stage once the clock strikes 12 noon. Various segments such as talent portions, cause-oriented challenges, and seasonal competitions are what you can usually in noontime shows. These longest-running shows usually give a huge amount of cash prize for lucky winners just by watching the said program. Shows like this have launched many well-known celebrities that are still on TV nowadays.
Photos via (1) amerca.pink and (2) logos.wikia.com
5. Sitcoms
Sitcoms (Situational Comedy) are one of the many reasons why it’s #MoreFunInThePhilippines. These are comedy programs that are normally branded as slapstick. Sitcoms have long been part of the Philippine TV history as many comedians became famous through these nightly comedies. Albeit humorless to some, these shows make a good way to end one’s night with laughter.
Do you watch these kinds of shows? Comment your favorite Filipino show below!
