Last 26 March, I and theBlocker went to the TV5 Trade Launch held last 25 March at the World Trade Center. It was a grandiose event marked by a Buffet, an Open Bar (in fact, I tried a Martini) and an atmosphere well worth the wait.
The Kapangilinan..oh, wait, It should be called as the Kapatid network, really pulled out the stops and everything that could go as planned did. The spectacle was directed by ace TV Director Bert De Leon and will be airing on TV5 maybe on the 4th of April 2010 at the 5Max slot.
It should be noted that ZEN Otaku Honbu is the ONLY Anime organization that was INVITED to be in the TV5 Relaunch, Bet your "classy" and "trusted" Anime news organization *ehemAAPehem* will not cover this event! We thank our gracious friends from TV5, Sir Myk Cruz and Sir Adrian Arsenal for inviting ZOH on this event.
Anyway, We went to the event area at 6pm, and we found out this...
- TV5 Testing ISDB-T...The Death Knell for DVB-T
Yeah, The Death Knell for DVB-T is TV5's choice of Digital Terrestrial Standard, ISDB-T. We talked with one of the representatives from the NTC (who looked like a Japanese guy, for some extent) and explained to us why ISDB-T is better than DVB-T, Of course, the conversation is off-the-record, but the only thing I can write here is that ABS-CBN has tested ISDB-T on their frequency since last month and the Kapusos will catch up on April.
Anyway, As early as 7pm, there were already so many stars who have lined up to be in the event. Among the stars and personalities that we earlier saw were Daiana Menezes of "My Darling Aswang", Jove Francisco and Erwin Tulfo, Other personalities included the Parents of One of TV5's Biggest stars, Ruffa Gutierrez, who were Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez, Direk Audie Gemora and Miguel Faustmann, who will also be in the Vic Sotto sitcom airing on April.
We were treated with a sumptuous Italian feast with a free-flowing bar (at first, I have some inhibitions but later on, I took the pleasure of trying a Martini after the event, It was fantastic but the effect wore off, as I'll explain later.) And at about 7pm, The audience was treated with a pre-show from the Resorts World Manila dancers.
And then, the main show arrived. We were treated to a presentation shown on two 1:44.1 Widescreens (which resembles like Cinerama, the Three-projector widescreen system of the 60's) and on fabulous moving LED screens.
- The Intelligent LED Display of the launch
The first program genre to be previewed for the audience (which was composed of PLDT/Smart VIP's, Advertisers, Media Planners, Entertainment and the Business press and of course, the ONLY Anime Press accredited, Zen Otaku Honbu) was the TV5 Kids Lineup, which included Nick on TV5, Oggy and The Cockroaches, Ben10 and the dramatic return of Batibot which wowed the mostly twenty to sixtysomething audience.
And then, the AniMEGA Presentation, which wowed me and almost made me cry (Believe me, I thought I was going to cry) because of the explosive lineup and the explosive revelations like Clannad, Yatterman, and the unbelievable filching of InuYasha from ABS-CBN's coffers. I looked like an idiot and clapped myself out but I don't really care. The audience was silent while the AniMEGA presentation was presented but I was the one hooting especially for TV5's biggest Anime Event. AniMEGA Siege, which will be held on the 15th of May, 2010 at the sprawling SMX Convention Center. I'm hoping the VIP's to come to this Anime Event.
Anyway, after the AVP, a Production number followed, and it's not just any other production number, It was a cosplay inspired production number with Alodia, Ashley and Kuya Ryan's team who performed for the bigwigs including Mr. MVP and Mr. Espinosa.
After the AVP, I quickly went to the left side of the stage during the Gusto Ko Noon presentation to meet with the Cosplayers, They were pretty surprised when they saw me, but I didn't mind. And also, after the News5 Presentation, I quickly tugged theBlocker to take some pics with the LAME and get an ambush with Alodia.
Okay, for the rest of the other programs that were launched, click here
Anyway, right after the event, I was in high spirits and I was really ready to go into ambush mode with Mr. MVP himself, so I joined the motley crew of reporters and exclusively ambushed him for Zen Otaku Honbu. I was not sure of the questions I asked (though it was recorded with theBlocker's MP3 player) but I managed to ask him about if he hopes that the youth will support the network's own programming, and he said " I hope so"
- Me Ambushing for the Big Man Himself.
And then, came the capper..
I still cannot believe I took a picture with Mr. MVP himself, I mean I got pictures from Sen. Mar Roxas to ABS-CBN's Mam Cory Vidanes but still. I can't believe the Shock factor that I got when I took the pictures from the Man Himself!
And then, as my buddy theBlocker told me, I'm on a roll, with pictures from Annabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez, to Martin Andanar and Ms. Luchi Cruz Valdes, who was surprised when I told her that we were from an anime news organization. She said that her child is a die-hard otaku and wishes to get in touch with us, so we gave her our official link and our site.
We also talked with the President and CEO of TV5, Mr. Ray Espinosa, and he was also gracious in joining us for pictures and get an off the record chat. With all that in my veins, I quickly took a Martini and downed it, but the itch didn't go away and the alcohol never took it in me.
And then, we thanked the two people responsible for bringing us in the Event, Mr. Myk Cruz and Mr. Adrian Arsenal, for believing in Zen Otaku Honbu and believing that WE are the only respected, trusted and ACCREDITED Anime Media Organization (Beh, buti nga sa Kanila)
Although beat and tired, and the only giveaways we got was the Press kit, the T-shirt, an Ecobag, the ISDB-T Booklet and the ISDB-T DVD (we tried for the Car or the Camera, but we also didn't win). We felt it was eternal. The TV5 Revamp Launch made me felt completely fulfilled as an Anime Journalist, and as an Anime Correspondent, and for Zen Otaku Honbu as THE TRUE HOME OF THE EXCLUSIVES, BEING SECOND TO NONE!
And That's The Way it is.
-HeAdIn'-OuT!-
