DTV stands for Digital Television, which the Philippines will soon have, with ABS-CBN’s initiative of introducing the DTV digibox. DTV is a standard that uses digital signals (as opposed to analog) to broadcast free content.

To use DTV, consumers have to purchase the DTV Digibox, which needs to be connected to their television set. Along with the launch, ABS-CBN is planning to add 5 premium channels for free-to-air TV with DTV: 2 for kids (Disney? Cartoon Network?), 2 for parents (news/sports/soaps?), and 1 for young adults (MTV or Channel V, maybe?).

All existing channels being broadcasted by ABS-CBN (Channel 2, Studio 23, GEM TV, NBN) will also be broadcasting in digital. So that would give you a total 9 digital channels once DTV gets approved by the NTC.

This is great news, in my opinion. Our Asian cousins Japan, China and South Korea are all using digital TV. So are the United States, Australia and Spain. I am pointing this out because majority of the soaps/dramas we love to watch come from these countries. And their soaps/dramas have quite the international following – and I believe that this is because their shows, when uploaded online, are very clear and enjoyable to watch, so bored people from all over the world can easily get addicted.

On the other hand, Philippines shows, even those that are fun to watch, look very amateurish when uploaded on the Net. They’re grainy, full of static, dark, the sounds aren’t good. When I watch an uploaded Filipino movie or drama, I always feel that strain to get a clearer picture. Which totally distracts me from the plot or characters of the show.

With DTV, I am hoping we get better clarity and easier uploads to the Internet. I’m sure this may raise issues of piracy in the long-term, just like what the entertainment industry in South Korea / US is experiencing, but in my opinion the availability of Internet downloads is quite important to these shows. They get free publicity, and they can even market their products internationally. I know a lot of Asian countries buy a lot of the products marketed by the South Korean dramas. And that’s in part to the active international community of Korean drama lovers.

Plus, it’s additional publicity to the country as a whole. Who here hasn’t wanted to visit South Korea, Taiwan or Japan after getting addicted to one of their shows? Admit it, you’ve thought about it. In fact, in the Philippines, there are travel tours dedicated to JPpp/KPop culture. There are exercise routines in Fitness First designed around JPop/KPop music. This digital TV industry is a win-win! And I for one am definitely glad the Philippines is jumping ship.

Also known as You’re Handsome or 미남이시네요 / Minami Shineyo, the Korean drama You’re Beautiful is a fangirl must-see. The plot is predictable, but there is no shortage of cuteness or laugh-out-loud moments in this dramedy, so I give it my two thumbs up! I laughed and cried all the way, perhaps even spurred on by the theme songs both beautiful and heartbreaking.

Don’t be fooled by the poster. This isn’t a fantasy-themed drama. It’s about a nun (Go Minyu) who is forced to impersonate her twin brother (Go Minam) in a boyband (A. N. Jell) because the brother is recovering from surgery. She looks and sings exactly like her brother, but her demeanor is very girlish and innocent, which makes the other boys wary and suspicious of her. The leader of the A. N. Jell (Tae Kyung) finds her out, but she begs him to keep her secret. Throughout the course of her stay, she causes lots of trouble for Tae Kyung but at the same time starts to crush on him…

Well, I won’t spoil the rest of the story for you, but you can probably tell how it’s going to end. It’s a very light and fun drama, and I watched in on Youtube for two days straight. LOL. And I still rewatch it over and over because I think Tae Kyung (Jang Geun Suk) is too cute, haha. But he should really get some meat on his frame! Still, I love the show because it made me laugh. Really!

Here are some stills to get you excited!

And here we have a couple photos of the gorgeous Jang Geun Seuk, err I mean, Tae Kyung.

And a cutesy image of the cast of Minami Shineyo. A, Tae Kyung, you kill me with those angry eyes. LOL.

I hear from the online gravepine that ABS-CBN has bought the rights to You’re Beautiful. Will we be seeing Jang Geun Seuk in Manila to promote this drama then? Ooooh, I hope, I hope!!! Hahaha!

Instead of the usual Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays greetings this year, I got mostly cryptic messages such as “Bro, Ikaw ang Star”. Huh? Who’s Bro? Turns out it’s in reference to a newly created Filipino Christmas song created by ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ Kapamilya Network.

The video below stars more than 300 ABS-CBN personalities, including artists, TV anchors, hosts and others. The lyrics for “Bro, Ikaw Ang Star ng Pasko” were written by ABS-CBN Creative Communication Management Head, Robert Labayen, while its music was composed by Marcus and Amber Davis.

Watch the “Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” video below.

And here are the lyrics.

Bro Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko Lyrics
(ABS-CBN Kapamilya artists)

Kung kailan pinakamadilim
Ang mga tala ay mas nagniningning
Gaano man kakapal ang ulap
Sa likod nito ay may liwanag

Ang liwanag na ito
Nasa ‘ting lahat
Mas sinag ang bawat pusong bukas
Sa init ng mga yakap
Maghihilom ang lahat ng sugat

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Tayo ang ilaw sa madilim na daan
Pagkakapit bisig ngayon higpitan
Dumaan man sa malakas na alon
Lahat tayo’s makakaahon

Ang liwanag na ito
Nasa ‘ting lahat
Mas sinag ang bawat pusong bukas
Sa init ng mga yakap
Maghihilom ang lahat ng sugat

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Kikislap ang pag-asa
Kahit kanino man
Dahil ikaw Bro, dahil ikaw Bro
Dahil ikaw Bro
Ang star ng pasko

Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw
Walang iba kundi ikaw
Salamat sa liwanag mo
Muling magkakakulay ang pasko

Dahil ikaw Bro, dahil ikaw Bro
Dahil ikaw Bro
Ang star ng pasko!

Congratulations to Sharms and Charisse from the Ateneo de Manila University for winning the ANC Square Off Debate Championships. They get to go to Thailand this month for the Worlds Debate.

Ahhh, how close we came to achieving that prize! Henry Segovia and Al-Zhoheir Hajim of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University fought off teams from UP Manila, UP Diliman and others to reach the final round only to bow down to the Philippines’ champion debaters. Not bad, I say, for a team dubbed “provincial” by Metro Manila debaters.

To Al and Henry, congratulations! By landing the runners-up title, you have shown the Philippines, on live television, that the Ateneo de Zamboanga University is a formidable player in debate and public speaking. Thank you for taking us this far. My wish is for you guys to be able to pass down to the other Ateneo Debate Union members all the skills and lessons you’ve gained these past four years – may this event not be the highlight of our history, but simply the beginning of our glory.

Haha. I sound like a politician. Going back to Flishi-mode, the ANC finals was a fun evening!

I dolled up for the event – eye shadow, lipstick and all. Hehe. It’s my first time to dabble in makeup, by the way. It’s the Manila effect – everyone else looks so glamorous I feel drab and simple in comparison. Hence the experimentation. Hehehehe. (Get me bling for Christmas!)

Besides, I was to be on live TV! It could be saved forever in Youtub for all I know! Gotta get ready for my close-up! Hehehehe.

I got there at 7am, a whole hour early. I got to join the debaters in the ABS CBN Executive Lounge, and then later on in the dressing room.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look – the cameraman on his way to capture the debaters’ interviews.

There were 5 adjudicators for the match, whereas during the previous rounds there were only 3. It is common to have many adjudicators in final matches – this match was chaired by Atty. Joan de Venecia. She was a debater in college, in fact she once came to Zamboanga to chair the 5th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championships, where I debated with my partner Jeff. Wow, that was a long time ago.

After the Championships were announced, we went out for dinner and dessert.

Joining us were Ruth, a former ADU moderator who is currently on study leave here in Manila as I am; Joey, a former ADU debater who is working as a recruiter for eTelecare; and other Ateneo alumni working in Manila.

Anyways. I’ve uploaded photos of the event at my dotPhoto site. Here are the links:

Square Off: Dressing Room

Square Off: The Battle

Square Off: The Afterparty