MAJA Salvador is aware that some folks are bashing her for moving to TV5 to host “Sunday Noontime Live” or SNL and leaving ABS-CBN which built her up.
“I will always be grateful naman to ABS-CBN, lalo na sa ASAP kunsaan nakilala ako sa pagsasayaw,” she says. “Hindi ako magiging si Maja kundi dahil sa ASAP, where I’ve been dancing for 17 years, at forever kong babaunin ang stay ko roon at ang lahat ng shows na ginawa sa ABS-CBN.”
She said it was her discoverer, Johnny Manahan, who called her up to join him in TV5. “Sabi niya, ‘Maja, kailangan kita.’ Tatay po talaga ang turing ko kay kay Mr. M at nang maglambing siyang kailangan ko siyang samahan, hindi ko kayang tumanggi. I owe him a lot and I cannot say no to him. Nagpaalam naman kami sa bosses namin sa ABS-CBN at naiintindihan naman nila ang naging decision ko kaya naging maayos naman ang paglipat ko.”
She is also grateful to TV5 and Brightlight Productions that produces SNL for giving not only her a job but also to other Kapamilyas who lost their livelihood when the ABS-CBN franchise was not renewed. “I’m thankful to them and Mr. M for trusting me. Isang malaking bagay po na nagpa-oo sa akin is ‘yung makakatulong po ako sa aking mga Kapamilyang nawalan ng trabaho. About 80 percent ng mga kasama namin dito sa production, nakatrabaho ko na sa ABS kaya gamay ko na sila. At the end of the day, nandu’n ‘yung katotohanang iisa lang ang goal namin, ang mag-entertain at ang magpasaya ng mg tao. Dahil sa panahon po ng pandemya, ‘yun ang kailangan natin, ang magkaisa. At ‘di ba, mas maganda po kung maraming choices ang mga tao sa panonoorin nilang shows para ma-entertain sila at ‘yun po yung pinaka-goal naming lahat, ang magbigay ng happiness at ma-entertain sila.”
She’s looking forward to working with her co-hosts: Piolo Pascual, Catriona Gray, Jake Ejercito and Donny Pangilinan. Does she feel any pressure working with them?
“Sa hosting or dancing po, wala. Ang pressure sa’kin dito, yung papakantahin nila ako. Kumakanta naman ako, I do concerts, pero siempre, iba ‘yung singers talaga ang kasama mo. But then, I consider it a challenge. I accept na, this time, I need to show something new para mas panoorin kami ng tao at abangan nila kami.”
She’s thankful to all her co-hosts for adjusting to her. “Kasi lahat sila, Inglisero and Inglisera. E, alam nyo naman, hindi Inglisera ang lola nyo, di ba? So nag-adjust sila sa akin. Everytime magkakasama kami, Tagalog ang salita ko so, nagtatagalog din sila sa akin. Ang boyfriend ko nga (Rambo Nunez), pag sumusulat sa’kin in English, sabi ko, Tagalugin mo para basahin ko,” Maja laughs.
“Sunday Noontime Live” or SNL starts this Sunday, October 18, on TV5, from 12 noon to 2 PM.
Missing former Kapamilya stars
MILES Ocampo says she’s happy to be back with Directors Bobot and Frasco Mortiz in TV5’s gag show, “Sunday Kada Kada Sunday”, produced by Brightlight Productions.
“Sa kanila ako lumaki from ‘Goin Bulilit’ days pa, then sa ‘Banana Sundae’,” she says. “So its really nice to work with them again although sa bagong network na.”
Did she have to make any adjustments since she’s a homegrown Kapamilya talent? “No big adjustment naman. We’re just all happy na we are working with the same staff and same crew. Ang sarap ng feeling na balik trabaho rin ang mga dati naming kasama sa dating network dito sa bagong network. Nag-shoot pa kami on location sa Boracay, but we have to practice all the safety protocols to make sure walang sinumang makakuha ng virus sa amin.”
How does it feel that almost all their co-stars in the former “Banana Sundae” are also in “Sunday Kada”, except for Angelica Panganiban and John Prats? It’s Jayson Gainza who replies to this and he becomes teary-eyed, obviously missing their former co-stars.
“Naiyak ako,” he says. “Siempre, gusto sana naming buo ang barkada namin from ‘Banana Sundae’, but we understand them. Pero masaya naman sila na meron kaming bagong trabaho, after ilang buwan ding nakatambay kami. Buo naman ang suporta nila sa amin. Ang importante, ‘yung nabuo uli ang gag show na makapagpapasaya sa mga tao lalo sa panahon ngayong may pandemya. It’s nice to be reunited after ilang buwan din kaming walang work. Nandun pa rin ang excitement and energy para matiyak na matatatawa ang mga tao sa bawat show.”
Other stars who were at the zoom presscon of “Sunday Kada” are Ritz Azul, Jerome Ponce, Daniel Matsunaga, Sunshine Garcia, Badji Mortiz, Jhen Maloles, Wacky Kiray, Josh Colet and more. The show will start airing this Sunday, October 18, 3 to 4 PM. We just noticed that during zoom presscons, it does not seem wise to invite so many stars as the presscon time is so limited and not all of them get the chance to be asked on cam. Sayang lang. And we also want to mention that it’s nice to have host like MJ Marfori because she’s already familiar not only with the stars but also with the press people who ask the important questions during the presscon.
