While Metro Manila and the entire island of Luzon are under enhanced community quarantine to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ABS-CBN Foundation today delighted audiences after it re-aired the network’s well-loved educational television (ETV) shows, Sine’skwela, Bayani, Hiraya Manawari.
The island-wide lockdown that took effect on March 16, 2020, also shutdown offices and malls, suspended public transportation and cut short the academic year. TV productions were also put on hold as broadcast stations reduced programming to live news and public affairs programs.
Networks started re-airing its best shows including old teleseryes and episodes. But netizens wanted TV programs suitable for young ages.
“We heard you, Kapamilya!” ABS-CBN Foundation said on Twitter on March 27 as it announced the comeback of much-loved ETV programs in the 1990s.
“Due to the insistent demand of our dear netizens, eto na!
“Every Saturday starting March 28, mapapanood na ulit ang inyong well-loved and multi-awarded Educational Television (ETV) shows sa free TV! (ABS-CBN Channel).
Here are the three educational TV programs with the Saturday and Sunday timeslots:
1. Sine’skwela (8:30 – 9:30 AM)
2. Bayani (9:00 – 9:30 AM)
3. Hiraya Manawari (9:30 – 10:00 AM)
The child-friendly programs were previously aired during the 1990s and became available on Knowledge Channel and online through The Filipino Channel (TFC). Now that these shows are back on the air, they will be nostalgic refreshers for Batang 90s who are now millennials and will serve as both school guides and entertainment for Generation Z and younger students.
“Sine’skwela” features scientific concepts presented into animation and colorful interactions among the cast/children, while “Bayani” tells the stories of Filipino heroes and historical figures in a time travel adventure.
“Hiraya Manawari”, on the other hand, is a fantasy series based on Filipino myths and legends and focusing on teaching life lessons.
The three “alternative school-on-air” were all produced by the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (now ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation) in cooperation with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (now Department of Education).
Philippine TV networks and artists have been joining forces to continue to provide entertainment for the public while the enhanced community quarantine is on-going.
Recently, GMA Kapuso stars, ABS-CBN Kapamilya singers, and musical theater artists came together to record “We Heal As One,” a fresh take on 2019 Southeast Asian Games theme song “We Win As One” to inspire Filipinos to take care and look out for one another while facing the global health crisis.
Singer-comedian Vice Ganda also released his new single “Corona Ba-Bye Na!” to help people deal with sadness, fear, and boredom during the community quarantine.
National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and the country’s top singers, as well as the indie folk-pop Filipino band Ben&Ben, launched their respective Facebook Live online concerts and raised millions of pesos that will be used to aid frontliners and help the urban poor in Manila affected by the COVID-19 community quarantine.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to ABS-CBN for re-airing ETV shows for children in the quarantine areas!
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