“NINO”, GMA’s current number one show on primetime just had its farewell presscon, headed by Director Maryo J. de los Reyes. Is it true the show is ending because he is going abroad?
“That’s not true,” he says. “We all thought that we would be extended, just like my previous primetime soap, ‘Munting Heredera’. Aalis nga ako for the U.S. but sa October pa. It was management who decided to end it while it’s on top kaysa hintayin pa raw mag-dip ang ratings. The last telecast is on September 12. The last two weeks will be full of revelations kaya abangan nyo how Miguel Tanfelix as Nino will accept the fact that he has two moms, biological mom Katrina Halili and adoptive mom Angelu de Leon. We’ve already shot the scene where Miguel as Nino has to leave his Naynay Angelu and Taytay Neil Ryan Sese to move to the home of his real mom, Katrina and it’s a heartbreaker. Pati technical director namin at crew, umiyak sa taping. The only consolation is matatapos kaming hindi lang mataas ang rating ng show kundi marami talagang pumupuri rito, pati mga pari, for the good values we’re trying to impart to the viewers.”
We hope GMA won’t regret terminating “Nino” like they did when they suddenly axed “Magpakailanman” and “Pepito Manaloto” before, even if they’re topraters. As we all know, they brought back both shows on the air and they’re now doing very well with a loyal following of viewers. “Nino” will be replaced by “Strawberry Lane” starring Bea Binene, Kim Rodriguez, Joanna Marie Tan and Joyce Ching as four young women fighting for their own place in the sun. Here’s hoping it’ll rate as high as “Nino”.