Mel Tiangco: The hurt is over
“Now, the hurt is over.”
This is what broadcast-journalist and TV host Mel Tiangco said on the comeback of drama anthology “Magpakailanman,” which went off the air in 2007.
Mel turned emotional after seeing clips of past “Magpakailanman” episodes which she hosted on GMA-7.
“My tears started to fall when I remember how sad I was when they decided to take it off the air,” she admitted at the press launch of the new “Magpakailanman.”
“Nobody at that time asked me how I felt. You see, nobody. I remember the time sabi sa akin ni Otep na EP (executive producer) namin, ‘sabi ni Ma’am Wilma (Galvante), I-announce mo na raw sa speech mo.’ Because I was getting an award that time (in Star Awards), to say na “Magpakailanman” is going off the air. I was stunned because I didn’t know how to react. I was so hurt,” Mel said.
She decided not to announce it during the awards night.
Changes and new elements
Mel admits she initially hesitated to host “Magpakailanman” again. But she decided to give it a go, on the condition that she will see “changes and new elements” in the show.
Mel explained that she wants viewers to see her more as a news personality and public servant in the new show.
“The elements that I wanted and very important to me, sabi ko I want see more me, more Mel Tiangco on the show. Yung persona ko. First and foremost, as a news personality, gusto ko may element of news. I’m a public servant, I want that element also on the shows. Ito yung mga pagbabago na pasisikatin namin,” she said.
Mel is very excited over the comeback of the show and wants televiewers to learn lessons and values from it. Instead of having just “a lot of crying and shouting” in dramatizing real-life stories, Mel likes the show to have a positive effect on the viewers.
“We want to make this more dynamic, in a sense, na ayaw naming nanunuod lang kayo basta ng drama ng buhay ng may buhay. Gusto ko yung palabas, meron kang mapapala as a televiewer. Gusto ko the show will leave you feeling nice, feeling inspired, feeling lucky in life, feeling beautiful about yourself.”
The new “Magpakailanman” will see Mel interviewing other resource persons, aside from the subject of the story. This will enable the viewers to look at the show from a larger perspective.
“If we feature a person with a psychiatric problem, then we interview a psychiatrist. Gusto kong may napupulot yung tao na kaalaman habang nanonuod so that he’ll be able to use it in his life.”
Is she willing to have her own story featured on “Magpakailanman?” Mel replied that her life is “not that exciting.”
“But I still have a long life to live. Kapag nagkaroon ng konting excitement sa buhay ko, baka pwedeng i-feature,” she added.
“Magpakailanman” premieres on November 17 and will air every Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
