Special Dish: Special Announcement from Kapamilya Jan

Since it's summer vacation, I will take a break from blogging, since there is no available free computer access in La Salle and elsewhere. I'll just give a try to blog at some point within the vacation. Whenever there are breaking news on ABS-CBN that catch my attention, I will let you know.

I hope it's a Deal for you. Don't worry; as General Douglas MacArthur said, "I shall return!"

Fresh/Hot/Fast: Something New on Halalan 2007 (and Some Reminders)

As the global Filipino community elects candidates to the 12 seats of Philippine Senate and 18,000 seats of the local Philippine government on May 14 this year who will serve the people for the next 3-6 years, expect ABS-CBN to be there as this historic event happens. ABS-CBN has been covering the Philippine national elections since 1969-and ABS-CBN's marathon broadcast will prove to be the most reliable, integrated, in-depth, comprehensive and credible to date.

Involved in the marathon broadcast are the partners: Philippine Star, Business World, Business Mirror, Globe, Bayantel, STI, Pulse Asia, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD) and COMELEC-the government institution that manages the Philippine national elections.

ABS-CBN will gather reports from 50 live points nationwide and worldwide--among them the COMELEC offices and other places related to Election Day in Mega Manila, scores of major national cities like Baguio, Cebu and Davao-plus dozens of election hot spots (those towns and cities where Election Day is a violent or bloody red day), and the international keypoints like Sydney, Singapore, China's Hong Kong, Dubai, Milan and San Francisco. And 500 technical staff will be involved in this great undertaking. Moreover, ABS-CBN's best and brightest news people and TV personalities will be anchoring the marathon Election Day broadcast. Plus, more than 14,000 volunteers will help ABS-CBN in the various operations in entire broadcast.

Starting 4:00am (Manila Time) on May 14, Halalan 2007 will be broadcast on a marathon basis on ABS-CBN Manila TV, ABS-CBN Regional TV, ABS-CBN Now, ABS-CBN International (The Filipino Channel and other global ABS-CBN channels), and the ABS-CBN News Channel. About 80 ABS-CBN TV channels nationwide (including Channel 2-the network's flagship Manila TV station and the 70+ ABS-CBN Regional TV Stations and Affiliates) will beam the coverage to make sure everyone will tune in to keep guard of their votes, and of course be informed and entertained on the events of Election Day. Halalan 2007 can be also seen on Channel 51, ABS-CBN's new digital channel in Mega Manila. One can check for the ABS-CBN TV channel/affiliate in his/her locality by clicking here.

Special broadcasts of Halalan 2007 will be on other media channels under ABS-CBN like Studio 23 (ABS-CBN's Manila-based UHF TV station), its nationwide Radio Patrol network (DZMM-AM 630 KHZ in Manila, DYAB-AM in Cebu, DXAB-AM in Davao and other AM radio stations and affiliates nationwide) and its nationwide My Only Radio For Life network (DWRR 101.9 MHZ in Manila and other FM radio stations nationwide). One can click here to check if he/she is tuned in to an ABS-CBN radio station/affiliate. On Election Day, the comprehensive ABS-CBN's Halalan 2007 Website will improve to answer the election-related information needs of the visitors-voters and will run as smoothly as possible to give information to almost everyone on the Internet.

Also, ABS-CBN expects the global Filipino community to text any election-related event in their area (a campaign promise not kept/a problem not given a solution by an official elected in the past poll/a case of election fraud or irregularity/a well-done job of an official elected in the past poll/a good election-related event before, during or after Election Day via Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo. Here are the mechanics:

• Anyone can join-he/she can use his/her cellphone (MMS-capable/3G-capable/just a simple cellphone) to send information to Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo hotline 2366, ABS-CBN's short messaging system center. Those with cellphones can text the reports in the following format IREPORT<space><YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR CONTACT NUMBER, YOUR REPORT> (with the picture/video/sound accompaniment-for the MMS/3G phones) to 2366. (available for all cellphone networks in the Philippines).
• For those with Internet-connected computers, they can e-mail reports with the accompanied pictures/sounds/videos (or even the links of those) to ireport@abs-cbn.com - a new special multimedia e-mail for Halalan 2007.
• For people with only a telephone, they can call up ABS-CBN Manila: (02 for regional callers/632 for international callers + 9244101). They can also try to call the nearest ABS-CBN station/affiliate in the Philippines or TFC center anywhere in the world.

With this new update, I say Deal!

Fresh/Hot/Fast: Updates on Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo!

For Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo, one can report on any election-related event in their area (a campaign promise not kept/a problem not given a solution by an official elected in the past poll/a case of election fraud or irregularity/a well-done job of an official elected in the past poll/a good election-related event before, during or after Election Day). Updated mechanics are as follows.

• Anyone can join-he/she can use his/her cellphone (MMS-capable/3G-capable/just a simple cellphone) to send information to Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo hotline 2366, ABS-CBN's short messaging system center. Those with cellphones can text the reports in the following format IREPORT<space><YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, YOUR CONTACT NUMBER, YOUR REPORT> (with the picture/video/sound accompaniment-for the MMS/3G phones) to 2366. (available for all cellphone networks in the Philippines).
• For those with Internet-connected computers, they can e-mail reports with the accompanied pictures/sounds/videos (or even the links of those) to ireport@abs-cbn.com - a new special multimedia e-mail for Halalan 2007.
• For people with only a telephone, they can call up ABS-CBN Manila: (02 for regional callers/632 for international callers + 9244101). They can also try to call any ABS-CBN station/affiliate in the Philippines or TFC center anywhere in the world.

For that I say Deal.

Fresh/Hot/Fast: Official ABS-CBN Easter Triduum Sked

Finally, ABS-CBN has released its Easter Triduum Sked (Moundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday). Here it is!

MOUNDY THURSDAY [5 APRIL 2007]
9:30-10:30 AM The Prince and the Pauper (Cartoon)
10:30-12:00 NN Komiks-Special Edition
12:00-2:00 PM Till There Was You (Movie)
2:00-2:30 PM Golden Treasure (Cartoon)
2:30-3:00 PM What The Old Man Does Is Always Right (Cartoon)
3:00-3:30 PM Hardy Tin Soldier (Cartoon)
3:30-4:30 PM Preacher In Blue Jeans (Special Feature of ABS-CBN and Jesuit Communications)
4:30-6:00 PM Moundy Thursday Special-The Washing of the Feet
6:00-8:00 PM All My Life (Movie)
8:00-9:30 PM Maalaala Mo Kaya-Special Edition
9:30-11:00 PM Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 (Special Edition)
11:00-12:00 MN The Correspondents-Special Edition

GOOD FRIDAY [6 APRIL 2007]
9:30-10:30 AM A Tale of Egypt (Cartoon)
10:30-12:00 NN Komiks-Special Edition
12:00-3:00 PM Good Friday Special-Seven Last Words
3:00-4:00 PM Panata (Special Feature of ABS-CBN and Jesuit Communications)
4:00-6:00 PM Forevermore (Movie)
6:00-8:00 PM Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (Movie)
8:00-9:30 PM Maalaala Mo Kaya-Special Edition
9:30-11:00 PM Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 (Special Edition)
11:00-12:00 MN The Correspondents-Special Edition

BLACK SATURDAY [7 APRIL 2007]
9:30-10:30 AM Noah's Ark (Cartoon)
10:30-12:00 NN Komiks-Special Edition 1
12:00-2:00 PM Kahit Isang Saglit (Movie)
2:00-4:00 PM Magnifico (Movie)
4:00-5:15 PM Nagmamahal, Kapamilya-Special Edition
5:15-6:00 PM TV Patrol World Weekends-The Holy Week Special Edition
6:00-7:30 PM Komiks-Special Edition 2
7:30-9:00 PM Maalaala Mo Kaya-Special Edition
9:00-10:30 PM Pinoy Big Brother Season 2-Special Edition
10:30-11:30 PM XXX:Exclusibong Explosibong Expose-Special Edition

Missing is the Easter Sunday sked, which I hope will feature the Pope's Easter Message from Vatican City. For now, let's say Deal for ABS-CBN's A-OK Holy Week sked (although it's surprising to see TV Patrol almost not broadcast for the Holy Week).