August 12, 1999
2:30 P.M.

Peewee decides to ask her Dad's secretary to schedule an ABS-CBN tour. According to the touring section, tours are closed for the months of August and September. Peewee tries her luck and calls again. This is how we got to schedule a tour so fast!

Peewee: Excuse me, but I'd like to inquire on the student tours in the ABS-CBN studio? Man: Ungh, anon'g school ka galing? Peewee: U.P. Diliman ho, Broadcommunication sa Mass Comm. ho!

Man: Ha? Sigurado kang college ka na, para kang seven years old! (laughs and put Peewee on speaker phone). Puwede bang next week nalang o two weeks from now? (You could here people laughing in the background... mean!)

Peewee: Ha eh, kailangan na ho talaga eh, lima lang naman kami eh!

Man: (Amused) Sige na nga, lima lang ha? 1:00 PM, Saturday, please bring 85 pesos!

Peewee: Thank you!

Because of Peewee's charming voice, the studio tour man assented to a tour, even though they were "supposedly fully-booked" already for the whole month. We all decided to meet at the College of Mass Communication at 10:00 AM. James suggested that we wear something similar. We all wore red ( so that we would look good in the pictures!)

August 14, 1999
10:00 AM

Cecille and Jennifer came in early. Peewee and James followed shortly after. Dana and Kathy were unable to make it to our meeting. They would not be with us as we visited ABS-CBN.

This is the ABS-CBN adventure group! We had to call ourselves a name other than an "Adventure Group", so our friend Froilan suggested the name "The Reds" (for obvious reasons! We got a lot of comments because of our attire). Jennifer, Cecille, Peewee and James, ALL IN RED! All of us are currently problemizing our transpo!

Cecille: Haay naku, pano ba 'yan wala si Dana!

Jennifer: Bakit ba lahat tayo nakapula?

Peewee: Hmmm...papasa kay kami sa project na 'to?

James: Ang hiirap talaga maging nag-iisang guwapo!

The adventure group smiling! (Napaka-genuine ng smiles kahit gutom na gutom na!)

Our ever faithful and talented camera man took this neck-breaking shot of the ABS-CBN logo!

We arrived at the Audience Entrance Gate located at Scout Albano Street. We were all amazed at the number of people lined up at the entrance gate. Here is a picture of the girls in front of the audience entrance.

We were welcomed by the studio tour staff. Here the girls took a picture with Melchor, our studio tour guide. Each of us was given a pin marked, "ABS-CBN Studio Tours" We were however reminded that the taking of pictures is stictly prohibited ( the first of as series of reminders). We could only take pictures when no one was around (this meant we couldn't take picture of the stars!)

We were accompanied by Melchor. We went to the studio where the game show "ESEP-ESEP" was being taped. "ESEP-ESEP" was a replacement for the suspended show, "MTB". We went to Studio 3, where Esep-Esep was shown live. The studio was jampacked with people and the group was unable to avail of seats, so we just situated ourselves in a place were we could see the performers on stage. And guess what? We stayed near the huge soundbox.

Jen commented : "Grabe mababasag and eardrums natin dito!"

The studio was filled with heavy, lively, brisk, and bustling music. Martin Nievera sang "Boogie Wonderland." and "September", by Earth, Wind and Fire. Wiith him were Amy Perez, Roderick Paulate, Vanessa del Bianco, Bentong, Gary and Bayani. They were all pouring out energy to give entertainment to the people in the studio and to the hundreds and thousands of televiewers. We realized that the television world is filled with magic. The studio was smaller than we expected. In TV screens however, the place seemed wide and spacious. Running a live show is not an easy job. The show started at 12:00 NN and ended at 2:30 PM. We however left at 1:00 to take lunch.

Melchor, our tour guide led us to the studio canteen. The place was quite nice, the food was great and cheap! Peewee and Cecille met two girls trying out for Star Circle in the bathroom. (Mukhang interesado nga si Cecille eh!)

Melch, after lunch started orienting the group about the place. He showed us the prop's section where all the props wre kept.

STUDIO 2

Here Melchor is seen with the girls In STUDIO 2, dubbed as the "Mega-studio". Why? According to Melchor, the mega-star, Sharon Cuneta shot her show here. Studio 2 is also the biggest studio in the compound.

Here Melchor shows us the various lights and equipment that is said to cost hundreds of thousands of pesos per piece.

We are seen here on the set of "Kaya ni Mr., Kaya ni Misis", a show starring Maricel Soriano and Cesar Montano. Here is a rare shot of James on the couch (Nag-pa-pa-cute). Cecille is donning her favorite "James Bond" pose, with matching leg lift, while Peewee and Jennifer are succeeding to be cute (without even trying!).

"Keep on dancing" with the dance empress, Charlene Gonzalez and "Tonight" with Julie Yap Daza, are also shot in Studio 2. We were only able to take pictures because no one was there. Melch was so nervous we would get caught( we were reminded again that it was prohibited to take pictures)!

We proceeded to Studio 1, but we were unable to go inside because a show was being dubbed that time. Melch told us that it is in Studio 1 where Eugenio Lopez was buried. On our way to Studio 4, we passed by Studio 3 (where Esep-Esep was still in progress!). Here we saw some actors of soap operas and dramas. Daniel Fernado, Tanya Garcia and some dancers were some of the actors we saw.

STUDIO 4

Finally, we reached Studio 4, where situational comedies are taped. Oki-Doki-Doc, Home Along the Riles, Richard Loves Lucy and Kaybol are some of the shows that are taped in this studio. Boom mics were hanging all over the place, which according to Melchor, where omni-directional. This meant that every sound created in the studio is captured. We were unable to take pictures of the set since there many people around the area (illegal 'yon, another reminder!)

STUDIO 5

Martin Late@Nite, Today with Kris and the Buzz are shot in this studio. The studio has an audience capacity of 200. After taking a close look at the place, we moved to Studio 6 where Balitang K and Hoy Gising are dubbed. Adjacent to this studio is Studio 7 where one could find the sets of TV Patrol and "Alas Singko Y Media"

Here James is absent in the picture again (forever by the side of his trusty camera-na palaging nag-re-reset!). The girls are on the set of the show "Hoy Gising" hosted by Ted Failon (Cecille ano'ng nakakagulat?)

The girls decided to ask Melch to join them in the picture (sobrang excited naman si Melch pag mag-pa-pa-picture!). Jen saan ka nakatingin?

STUDIO 9

This was the last studio that the group was able to visit since it was located in a separate building. This is where Cristy Fermin's show "Cristy Per-minute" is taped. After touring the studios , we proceeded to the technical divison.

This is the set of Cristy Fermin's "Cristy per minute" feeling ni Peewee cheerdancer siya, si Jen feeling Cristy at si Cecille naman - movie reporter?!?

This is the camera seat of the crane cameras. Peewee tries to sit in it, but the crane is unsteady, Jen and Cecille look on.

Melch is trying to explain something to Peewee.

Cecille: Peewee ano ang nakakatawa?

Peewee: Ewan ko, basta! (What a face! pa-cute, magagalit si Paolo niyan!)

We then proceeded to the so-called "heart" of the network - the Technical Operation Center. Melch told us that the floors of the technical center were hollow and made of fiberglass. Thousands of cables and fiber optics were to be found underneath these fiberglass floors. Melchor led the group into the different sections of the center. We went to the subtitling room. Although, we were not allowed to go inside, they were able to observe the people working, the computers and the TV screens through the window glass. Melch informed the group that it is where the opening and the closing billboards are done like the "parental guidance" which appeared in some programs. Sub-titles like this are often recorded, but if the situation demands, it can be typed live.

Afterwhich, they headed for the Master Control Room. This section finalizes everything before a program is shown on screen. They determine the quality of the audio and video. Melch pointed the vectorscope which is the device being used in determining video quality.

Melch then, led the group into the section where the commercials are arranged- based on what TV programs are appearing, how many times they should appear, and the length of time it must be aired on TV. Commercial rates cost more or less P1000,0000 per 30 seconds. Commercials/advertisements therefore, serves as the lifeblood of television. It enables television networks to survive and continue to produce programs which will cater the audience tastes and preferences.

  RADIO STATION 

We also asked to visit DZMM, the radio station of ABS-CBN. Melch told us that "Tambalang Korina at Ted" was being done at 8 am to 10 am in the morning. This is one of the more popular shows on the AM radio.It is a program which combines commentary and news. This is just one of the more popular programs. We were not allowed to enter the control room of the radio station because a news commentary was going on live.

Melch however explained to us that the broadcaster stays inside a glass booth with an anchor. The booth is a rectangular table with 4-5 microphones for guests. Melch also explained that radio stations have a teleprompter (like in TV). The teleprompter however , is for the news . It is is like a cartridge which is operated by a the broadcaster to play the music in between words like "Magandang Umaga Filipinos!". Other sound effects like music, etc.

There is also an area for the technicians who interject recorded commercials and signals the broadcaster inside the booth to speak.

Most commercials according to Melch are recorded in agencies, except those of personal intent, such as " Proud to be a member of the KBP...etc."

We hung around for awhile outside the station, we even waved to the newscasters inside the booth (they were even eating pizza!) WRR 101.9 (for life!) is the FM radio station of ABS CBN. This FM station is the highest rating radio station in the Philippines. It's catching phrase (For life!) has captured the "Masses" taste.

We tried to go inside the station to at least interview a few radio technicians or even the newscasters, but another program was still scheduled to be aired.

After having toured the technical center and the radio station, we went back to the Studio Tour Office where we had a picture taking session with the staff.

Cecille and Jennifer talks to a studio tour officer (who happened to graduate from UP) as Peewee looks on (ang seryos mo naman Peews!)

The studio tour staff takes a picture with the group. (Ayan ka nanaman Peewee sa facial expressions mo, ngayon kasama na sa picture si James!!!)

A group shot of James, Cecille , Jen and Peewee as they prepare to leave the studio.

Cecille, James and Peewee outside the compound (we all decided to stay around, just in case we could still take pictures of some actors).

The girls waste James' film (kunwari sila 'yung artista!)

Peewee and Cecille showing off their ABS-CBN tour pins!

Yey! Tapos na ang tour (feeling athletes!, Oh Cecille, gymnast ka pala! Jen, pa-cute nanaman!)

James and Jen (bagay kayo!)

Cecille tapos na ang tour, sige na nga baka ma-discover ka pa eh!)

Please take a look at the ABS-CBN logo, do you see our faces reflected in the logo?