MATAPOS magsimulang mapanood ang top-rating and long-running noontime program ng ABS-CBN, ang “It’s Showtime” sa sister station ng GMA, ang GTV simula nung July 1, 2023, ito ang nagbukas ng pintuan ng Kapuso Network sa mga Kapamilya and vice versa. But after nine months, mas malaking pintuan ang binuksan ng GMA para sa Kapamilya’s noontime show dahil simula sa araw na ito ng Sabado, April 6 ay mapapanood na ang “It’s Showtime” sa GMA na dating okupado ng kalaban nilang programa, ang “Eat Bulaga” at “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” ng TAPE, Inc.

Although ang TVJ Productions na ang producer ng “Eat Bulaga” ngayon in co-production with MediaQuest and TV5, ang nasabing programa pa rin na pinangungunahan nina Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto at Joey de Leon ang katapat ng “It’s Showtime” na tinatampukan naman nina Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Ogie Alcasid, Kim Chiu, Karylle, Amy Perez, et al.

Since mas malaki ang reach ng GMA over TV5, dito ngayon magkakasubukan ang dalawang noontime programs in terms of ratings lalupa’t magsasanib-puwersa rin ang mga stars ang talents ng dalawang giant networks, ang ABS-CBN at GMA na makukuhang guests ng “It’s Showtime” habang ang “Eat Bulaga” ay aasa na lamang sa mga non-GMA and ABS-CBN talents, mas magiging challenge ito sa part ng “Eat Bulaga” ng TVJ.

Come July 30, 2024, the longest-running noontime show na “Eat Bulaga” will be celebrating its 45th anniversary although hindi na ito produced ng TAPE, Inc. Ang programa ay nagsimulang umere nung July 30, 1979 sa RPN9 hanggang sa ito’y malipat ng ABS-CBN then GMA kung saan nagtagal ang programa. Nasa GMA pa rin sana ang “Eat Bulaga” nina Tito, Vic & Joey kung hindi lamang nanghimasok ang bagong pamunuan ng TAPE, Inc. But it was destined to happen at walang mag-aakala na ang “It’s Showtime” ng ABS-CBN ay mapapanood na ngayon sa bakuran ng GMA.

Malaking leverage naman sa GMA ang “It’s Showtime” dahil magkakaroon ng additional exposure ang mga stars and talents ng Kapuso network na noo’y imposibleng mag-guest sa nasabing programa.

Tiyak namang bongga ang pagsisimula ng “It’s Showtime” on GMA simula sa araw na ito na tiyak ding paghahandaan ng “Eat Bulaga” on TV5.

Sarah at Matteo di pinagkaguluhan sa Japan

NAGIGING paboritong destination ang Japan ng mga celebrities especially on long holidays tulad nung nakaraang Holy Week. Nakasabay namin sa check-in counter ang celebrity couple na sina Matteo Guidicelli at Sarah Geronimo nung March 28 and stayed in Japan until April 2, ang mag-asawang Zoren Legaspi at Carmina Villarroel kasama ang kanilang twins na sina Mavy at Cassy, ang mag-asawang Luis Manzano at Jessy Mendiola with their cute daughter na si Rosie (or Baby Peanut), Direk Joey Javier Reyes, Maricar de Mesa at iba pa. Bukod kasi sa napakagandang weather ang springtime at panahon ng sakura (cherry blossoms), napakaraming magagandang tanawin sa Japan, masasarap na pagkain, malinis, polite at honest ang mga tao.

Outside the Philippines, number 1 sa amin ang Japan.

Samantala, may bahay si Sarah and her parents in Tokyo pero sa hotel sila nag-stay ni Matteo. In Japan, bukod sa pamamasyal, nakuha nilang mag-shopping nang malaya nang hindi sila pinagkakaguluhan.

Marlene hindi nagbabago sa kabila ng tagumpay

MARLENE Pena Lim or Marlene de la Pena (in the Philippines) is known in Japan as Marlene (pronounced as Marin), the popular Filipino jazz singer na naging malaking star in Japan in the early 1980’s to the 1990’s.

It was in 1979 when she was signed up ng EMI (Japan) but two years later ay kinontrata siya ng CBS-Sony where she recorded most of her successful albums (about 20) since 1981 where she would record at least two albums a year including the “Summer Nights” album which she recorded in Los Angeles, California, USA with the popular Seawind Band, the American jazz fusion band from HawaiI which reached #28 sa Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in the 90’s.

She also recorded the album “Looking for Love” in L.A. in 1984.

With over 30 albums to her credit, Marlene remains the highest Filipina jazz artist in Japan. She has appeared in various radio and TV programs, did some TV commercials and print advertisements at nakagawa rin siya ng dalawang pelikula, ang “Nantonaku” in 2007 at “Karanukan” in 2017. Bukod sa Toshiba-EMI at CBS-Sony, she also did albums under different record labels which include RCA, BMG, GT, Sony and her own label, Em Em Gee. She also recorded one album under Viva Records.

Nung 2015, si Marlene ang naging subject ng isang TV-film documentary na pinamagatang “Mundo ni Juan sa Japan”.

Marlene was in her teens nang maging paborito siyang singer ng yumaong veteran broadcast journalist na si Johnny de Leon na siyang namamahala noon ng mga live programs on radio with studio live audience on week-ends. Bago pa man tumulak patungong Japan si Marlene where she became a major star, isang traumatic experience ang kanyang pinagdaanan nang siya’y pagsasaksakin ng 30 beses sa loob ng isang restaurant in Binondo ng isang Filipino guy na nagpanggap na isang promoter (in Japan). Sa kabila ng kanyang mga sugat at maraming dugo, nakatakbo si Marlene pababa ng restaurant para makahingi ng tulong and she was rushed to the hospital kung saan nag-50-50 ang kanyang lagay but was able to survive. Nang gumaling si Marlene, isang legit promoter ang lumapit sa kanyang parents at siya’y tuluyang nakaalis pa-Japan in 1978 where a better future was waiting for her.

Although pabalik-balik ng Japan at Pilipinas si Marlene, she decided to make Japan her new home at doon siya naka-base hanggang ngayon.

Marlene was able to provide a comfortable life sa kanyang pamilya (her parents and younger siblings) back in the Philippines until some of them migrated to Canada.

Marlene has been my friend even before she left for Japan. We would meet up whenever she’s in Manila at ganundin when I’m in Tokyo, Japan. She’s even a godmother to my daughter Aila (on her wedding). She even named her daughter after my daughter, Aila who is now 17 years old while her eldest son, Marlon is 19.

Ang nakakatuwa pa kay Marlene ay ang pananatili nitong grounded up to this day at never namin itong kinakitaan ng pagbabago even when she was at the peak of her career in Japan.

Marlene was formerly married to an American serviceman, the late James Schiver with whom she has two children – Marlon and Aila. She is now in a relationship with a Japanese dentist Bryan Watanabe. Bryan holds 5 international licenses as dentist. He was formerly based in San Diego, California, USA for 30 years and 10 years in China. He also held his own clinic in Dubai and Myanmar. Ang dalawa ay nagkakilala while playing golf in Japan. Bryan didn’t know that Marlene was a known celebrity in Japan since he lived in other countries most of his years. When he first watched Marlene’s show, he was mesmerized and fell in love with her immediately. Only then did he realize that she was famous.

Bryan has three grown up children from his previous relationship and are all based in the U.S.

Hanggang ngayon ay in-demand pa rin si Marlene bilang jazz star performer in Japan.

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