Batibot
Batibot | |
---|---|
Genre | Educational |
Created by |
|
Directed by | Kokoy Jimenez[1] |
Opening theme | Batibot theme song |
Country of origin | Philippines |
Original language | Filipino |
Production | |
Production location | Philippines |
Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | |
Release |
2013 (revival) |
Batibot is a Philippine television children's show produced by PCTV and based on Sesame Street. It was first aired in 1984 on RPN as Sesame! and was co-produced by Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) but the partnership broke up. Sesame! later aired as Batibot in 1985, a full Filipino language series. It aired until 1998 and was aired in at least four television networks. TV5 later revived the show and aired it from 2010–2013. A mobile app based on the series was released in 2015.
History
Conception and the first Batibot
Batibot was conceptualized and produced by Feny Bautista, a teacher from the Community of Learners Foundation and writer Rene Villanueva. The show was inspired after American children's show, Sesame Street which educates preschoolers through dance, song, and role play.educational skills through songs, dance, and role-play.[3]
First aired in the 1984, Batibot debuted as Sesame!.[4] It stars Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing which the characters were based on one of the Filipino stories, The Monkey and the Turtle popularized by the country's national hero, José Rizal.[citation needed] In the first year of its airing, the children's show was co-produced by the Philippine Children's Television Foundation and Children's Television Workshop with the support of then First Lady Imelda Marcos. Government support did not last long and ended within 1984 and the co-production deal was cancelled.[5] The Philippine producers went on to produce a show based on Sesame Street in February 1985.[6]
Batibot was then done wholly in Filipino and featured stories in a Philippine-context. At least in 1985, the series consistently ranked among the top 10 daytime shows in the Philippines outdoing its performance in 1984 when it was still a co-produced series and wholly American produced Sesame Street which first aired in the country in 1970.[6]
By February 1989, Batibot was airing its sixth season. However the producers of the series was experiencing financial constraints which placed uncertainty regarding the future airing of the show.[5]
Batibot was first aired in RPN and PTV, then it was later aired by ABS-CBN, then by GMA. After its airing in GMA, it was aired in RPN again. Batibot ceased airing in 1998[7] due to several factors among which is poor ratings.[3]
TV5's Batibot (2010–2013)
TV5 announced in 2010 that it would revive the Batibot series that first aired in the 1980s. TV5's version of Batibot featured a different set of characters than the prior series–Ate Maya and Kuya Fidel, and Koko Kwik Kwak. Instead of a Monday–Friday broadcast format, the new series was broadcast aired Saturday at 8:30 a.m.[8] The airing of the series lasted until 2013.[4]
Cast and characters
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2017) |
Batibot featured characters portrayed by puppets as well as human characters. The puppets used for the show were mostly locally made. Kiko Matsing and Pong Pagong who were among the main characters of the first Batibot were relatively more sophisticated and was crafted in New York.[6]
Sesame!
- Human characters
- Aling Nena portrayed by Angie Ferro
- Ate Sylvia portrayed by Susan Africa
- Luz portrayed by Dessa Quesada
- Mang Lino portrayed by Joe Gruta
- Ben portrayed by Tito Quesada
- JD portrayed by Bunso
- Musmos portrayed by Erick Azarcon
Original Batibot
- Human characters
- Kuya Bodjie portrayed by Bodjie Pascua[8][9]
- Ate Sienna portrayed by Sienna Olaso[9]
- Kuya Ching portrayed by Ching Arellano
- Kuya Elmar portrayed Elmar Llanares
- Kuya Mario*portrayed by Junix Inocian[9][10]
- Ate Isay portrayed by Isay Alvarez-Seña[9]
- Mang Mokyo portrayed by Soliman Cruz[9]
- Ate Jojie portrayed by Adriana Agcaoili
- Puppets
- Kiko Matsing*– a monkey
- Pong Pagong*– a turtle
- Kuya Derms (inspired by German Moreno aka "Kuya Germs") - a TV-host for "Negoshowbiz" (parody of NegoSiyete GMA-7)
- Noli de Casio (inspired by Noli de Castro) - a News anchor for "Magandang Araw Bayan" (parody of Magandang Gabi, Bayan ABS-CBN 2)
- Angelique Baso (inspired by Angelique Lazo) - a TV-host for "Balitang Bituin" (parody of "Star News" segment of TV Patrol ABS-CBN 2)
- the Byaps-Byaps
* – from Sesame!
2010 Batibot
Batibot as introduced by TV5 in 2010 featured a different cast from the original Batibot
- Human characters
- Puppets
- Irma Daldal*- very talkative TV Field Reporter puppet
- Koko Kwik-Kwak*– a bird character inspired from the Philippine Eagle[7]
- Manang Bola*– a forgetful fortuneteller[7]
- Kapitan Basa*– a character who has a magic book which he uses to answer questions from children[7]
- Sitsiritsit*and AlibangBang*– a curious duo of space aliens[7]
- Ningning*and Gingging*– characters based from Ernie and Bert of Sesame Street[7]
- Tarsi - a tarsier[7]
* – from the original Batibot
Mobile app
Batibot Games | |
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![]() Batibot Games icon | |
Developer(s) | OrangeFix |
Platform(s) | |
Release | Android
|
Genre(s) | Educational |
In August 14, 2015, Smart Communications launched a mobile app for Android devices based from the children's show series.Smart together with the Community of Learners Foundation commissioned OrangeFix to develop the app.[3] The development of the app content costed around ₱1 million.[4]
The Batibot app is specifically targeted to children from kindergarten to Grade 3. It is aligned with the Department of Education's kindergarten curriculum and is in Filipino. An iOS version of the app was released on July 5, 2017.[4]
References
- ^ http://www.interaksyon.com/entertainment/friends-colleagues-pay-tribute-to-batibot-director-kokoy-jimenez/
- ^ JTVKatigbak (April 20, 2012). "Batibot directors speak on educational TV production". The College of Development Communication - University of the Philippines Los Baños. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c Salazar, Marlet (August 27, 2015). "'Batibot' reincarnates as mobile app". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Smart launches 'Batibot' app, the first learning app". Manila Bulletin. August 14, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2016.[dead link]
- ^ a b Abbugao, Martin (February 12, 1989). "Filipino Sesame Street facing tough times". United Press International. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c Lohr, Steve (July 24, 1985). "Home Grown Values Replace Kermit in Filipino Version of "Sesame Street"". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Carballo, Bibsy (March 7, 2012). "Batibot & little kids in need of a boost". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b Carballo, Bibsy (July 4, 2012). "Batibot's problems on a Saturday morning". Live Feed. The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e http://8list.ph/watn-batibot-cast/
- ^ http://www.interaksyon.com/entertainment/actor-junix-inocian-dies-in-the-uk-at-64/
- 1984 Philippine television series debuts
- 1998 Philippine television series endings
- 2010 Philippine television series debuts
- 2013 Philippine television series endings
- ABS-CBN shows
- GMA Network shows
- People's Television Network shows
- Philippine animated television series
- Philippine children's television series
- Radio Philippines Network shows
- Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters
- Television programs featuring puppetry
- The 5 Network shows