-KiRa-YaMaTo-: Correspondent

EXCLUSIVE: TV5's Grand Facelift....The Sidelights

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:16:42 -0000

FMA:Brotherhood's Ed and Alphonse Elric should be the Image Endorsers of TV5's New Slogan

Last 26 March, I and theBlocker went to the TV5 Trade Launch held last 25 March at the World Trade Center. It was a grandiose event marked by a Buffet, an Open Bar (in fact, I tried a Martini) and an atmosphere well worth the wait.

The Kapangilinan..oh, wait, It should be called as the Kapatid network, really pulled out the stops and everything that could go as planned did. The spectacle was directed by ace TV Director Bert De Leon and will be airing on TV5 maybe on the 4th of April 2010 at the 5Max slot.

It should be noted that ZEN Otaku Honbu is the ONLY Anime organization that was INVITED to be in the TV5 Relaunch, Bet your "classy" and "trusted" Anime news organization *ehemAAPehem* will not cover this event! We thank our gracious friends from TV5, Sir Myk Cruz and Sir Adrian Arsenal for inviting ZOH on this event.

Anyway, We went to the event area at 6pm, and we found o...

The Journal: Setting The Record Straight

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:27:05 -0000

Well well well, I really don't know what the hell is going right now but I think there is some guy in Plurk who wants to talk to me on Ozine Fest 2010.

For the record...

1. I don't know what his intent is, but I never told anyone, or on any site, or on any media that I am affiliated with, that I will meet with this guy on Ozine Fest 2010. I will not meet anyone except for my close friends, my ka-WTF, and my other acquaintances on those days.

2. He is not anymore connected with my life, with ZOH, and with anyone connected in our group, in our website, and in any other related media. He is considered to be "on-leave" from our group, but bear in mind that we (we being Zen Otaku Honbu and I) have no connection with and is not connected with this person ANYMORE, and.

3. I will definitely not meet with this guy, because of personal and professional reasons. I will not waste my precious convention time just of this person.

Who am I referring to?... I won't name names.

That's to set the record stra...

Uber-Alles

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 10:32:38 -0000

Just look at the highlighted yellow box on the left side.

This is what you call Uber-alles (above all) status.

We didn't know it at first, But it was a surprise that made my day more complete. Zen Otaku Honbu has now moved on to uber-alles status with Grand Chase's recognition from Otaku's Verdict, side by side with Ozine and GamEX

We never made this up, just look at the website to prove what we are saying.

Do any other anime organizations prove their worth in pulsing the Otaku with their favorites? None that I know of.

Zen Otaku Honbu is the ONLY anime and media news organization that puts the voice of the Anime Otaku through OTAKU'S VERDICT.

We are the only ones who created OTAKU'S VERDICT, and no one else.

We are the first, and surely we are going to continue what we have done.

PS: I don't know, but maybe someone from LU! saw the results, or maybe someone googled it. Whatever it is, we thank Level-Up for the recognition

And that's the way it is,

-HeAdIn'-OuT!-

Otaku's Verdict 2009 Results LIVE with Anime Kabayan and Me co-anchoring, Sunday 17 January 2010 at 1630PHT/0330ET on www.justin.tv/theblockerph

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:37:21 -0000

The Journal: The Decade That Was

Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:34:08 -0000

31 December 2009 marked the end of my 2nd decade, A decade filled with happiness, worries, fears, and tribulations.

In the ten years that had passed, My life has changed tremendously, both personal and professional. It in this decade that I knew I love Anime (2003), I graduated from Elementary (2001) and High School (2005), I witnessed a world revel in the millennium (2000) and joined the nation in witnessing an Impeachment and a People Power (2000-2001), I became a fully-fledged anime otaku via Zen Otaku Honbu (2005), and witnessed the first Anime event in my life, Toycon (2006), I met famous people from Mar Roxas (2007, during a talk at Lyce) to VJ Drei and VJ Nikki Gil (2008, during my OJT), I did my first real job, as an Intern at CCPMG (2008), and became accustomed to the real world.

But also this is the decade that I met the people who will shape me and mold me into what I am, from the first real forum I joined (ABS-CBN forums, 2004), to the only college org I joined (The Sentin...

Birthday Message: I want you Back

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:13:52 -0000

"And yeah, to Twist (again) because you became my comfort when I was sad. You became my best friend here in Lyce, Nobody can replace your Ideas, your visions (really?), your artwork (cool, hehe), and your humor, I became much more than an otaku, really!"

- Birthday Message, 2006

"Now, this last words will be dedicated to you, Yes, You, You know who you are, I know you are in pain and in hate because of what I did to you. But I know from my innermost soul that you needed a person who will listen to you, As you have said it before ...

"You're the one who listens to me regardless, you let me vent my frustrations on you....I'm learning from you too, you know. Its 'cause you're around that I know where I want to be."

I am still here, accepting you with open arms. I have already forgiven you from the start. Now it's your turn. It's time to listen to your heart, eat your pride, and rethink about what you had done to me."

- Birthday Message, 2008

------------------------------------------------...

December Thoughts: Thank you for the Torment

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:00:41 -0000

Thank you to all the people who made me realize that I am such a loser for this year, if not because of you, You made me look like a prime jerk.

Thank you to all the people who made me look bad for the past year. If not because of you, I almost killed myself.

Thank you to all the people who called me by such names as a fag, stalker and etc., because I almost lost my sense of identity.

Thank you to all the people who told me I am pathetic, because you made me feel like one.

Thank you to all the people who told me I am a liar, because that remark tagged me as an inconceivable liar to the community.

Thank you to all the people who tried to stall everything in my path, because I was not able again to revive a friendship and do my job freely as the Chief Anime Correspondent.

and Thank you to all the people who told me I failed. because right now, I failed again for this year, my 21st in my life.

If you knew I was the one talking to you, then you should not reply, If you reply, then it meant that y...

Insights Inside: Everything Else was Super

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:30:22 -0000

THE PAST MONTH was full of super surprises, super M and A news in the broadcast biz, and a super destructive program. Of course, we also experienced the wraths of superstorms and super grandstanding among the politicos in our midst.

Let me take you in a Super Journey in these issues.

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THE BIGGEST SUPER surprise last October was MediaQuest Holdings' Acquisition of both ABC Development Corp. and Primedia Inc., which owns and manages TV5, this year's biggest comer in all of Philippine TV.

TV5 sure was hell bent in being the third force in Pinoy TV by bringing in destructive hits like Talentadong Pinoy and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. It also brought terrorizing Anime hits that would look ABS-CBN and Hero a lone turkey in the oven like Shakugan No Shana, Mai-HiME, Code Geass, and the explosive Same-year airing of Animax's hit Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

MediaQuest, meanwhile, is PLDT's Media Holding company, thou...

The Journal: In Response

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:43:52 -0000

I feel a lot more sadder and sadder not by what I have done, but on what I should have not done.

I knew I should have done something. Or done anything.

I have a phone, I still have my house, I still have my parents, I still have everything. But I was helpless because of a rift.

I knew during that day something was very, very, very wrong.

and now, another storm is coming. I know what I am going to do next time.

You know, I was ready to help, I was ready to get down there wet. I was already going,,rah, what the hell I am going to say.

But all because of a senseless and pointless rift. I knew I wouldn't be allowed.

I was ready to help.

and I still am ready.

even if there are differences and inhibitions.

The Journal: I Work in the Frontlines and Go Beyond Boundaries.

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:01:35 -0000

In 2006, I only had a dream: To become a fully-fledged anime Otaku.

In 2007, that dream had upgraded: I want to practice Anime Journalism.

In 2008, I added another wish: I want to become an Correspondent.

and this year, I have a new dream: To work in the frontlines and go beyond boundaries.

"I Work in the Frontlines, and Go Beyond Boundaries", that is my new credo in life. That new credo was bolstered by too much CNN in my TV viewing diet.

This year, I have explored something in my anime life that was not explored by other news organizations, or the so-called Anime media. I have uncovered so many issues, so many words, so many cans of worms.

But I also uncovered the hidden happiness of an anime event, The joys, the triumphs, the sacrifices, everything.

Life has it's own ups and downs, and I am no stranger to that. I have experienced every inch of emotion for this year. Joy, triumph, sadness, anger, defeat, you name it, I had it in 2009.

I learn by experience, I learn by doing it, and as a budd...

Commentary: The Devastation and The Aftermath

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:16:39 -0000

September 26, 2009,

Tropical Storm Ketsana (Philippine Codename: Ondoy) has ravaged 80 percent of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga and other provinces.

The worse hit areas were Marikina, Pasig, Cainta, San Mateo, Parts of QC like Bagong Silangan and parts of Visayas Avenue, Philcoa and the like.

According to the NDCC, there were at least 290 people dead and the death toll is rising. The footages that were taken by ABS-CBN's camera crews were the poster videos of the destruction Ketsana has made, especially the one shot in the Tumana bridge in Markina.

Now, after the devastation comes the aftermath, the rescue and the relief efforts.

We urge the people to help and donate what you have, Volunteer in efforts made by the Government and the NGO's like Sagip Kapamilya. I wanted to go to the efforts of Sagip, but because of the sheer volume of the volunteers. I decided to go in an another time.

We also urge the presidentiables and all other politicos gunning for 2010 elections to stop political am...

Insights Inside AfterEvent Report: Cosplay Mania 2009

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:08:56 -0000

WE HAVE DONE another event milestone as Zen Otaku Honbu did again a fantastic job in covering another big anime event, Cosplay Mania 2009

We did our first live tweetcast from the event area itself, all thanks to my colleague theBlocker's power of mobile tweeting. But, in reality for this event, we wanted to do something other than the tweetcast.

As early as August, We were setting our eyes on a Live Stream broadcast from the event area itself, thanks to a member who was willing to join us and use his laptop PC and mobile broadband connection. But sadly, at the last minute, our member had flown to someplace in the country for a more important matter, thus our Live stream plan was held off for a while.

But, nevertheless, we had did the tweeting and we knew the tweetcast was a success.

The photos will be uploaded by my colleague theBlocker using his camera later, because of our policy of watermarking our photos.

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I DONT KNOW ...

Commentary: The Purported H-3 Event

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:53:43 -0000

This week, Zen Otaku Honbu has received some reports from CSCNTRL's Multiply site about a news that we are waiting to hear from HeroTV.

It's about their upcoming Last Quarter Big Bang.

To give you a background, I spoke to Sir Pocholo Gonzales on the sidelines of the MetroComiCon held at the SM Megamall last 8 August, and I asked him about if there are preparations that will be done for Hero's big event.

Sir Choy gave me a reply, It will be called "Heronation" and it will be held sometime November.

Just a few days after. Sir Choy confirmed to ZOH's theBlocker again about what I had reported.

And now, We have received info from the aforementioned CSCNTRL that Hero is going to stage their purportedly 5th staging of Hataw Hanep Hero.

and it will be held on 7th of November, 2009, and it will be held..

IN SM CITY MARIKINA!!!

I mean, OF ALL PLACES!, In a recently-opened mall with I guess no convention space whatsoever?!

That was according to our Analysis.

First off, I want to ask the people of HeroTV,...

Insights Inside 3: I Will Tell You A Story

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:57:15 -0000

BEFORE WE DISSECT all the issues in this third installment of Insights Inside, I would like to dedicate this edition to the recently-departed Don Hewitt, the creator of 60 Minutes.

Don Hewitt is one of my producing inspirations like Roone Arledge, He created the first ever TV Debate between JFK and Richard Nixon in 1960, He also produced the first ever half-hour nightly newscast, and before ABS-CBN's historic Cory Aquino Funeral coverage. He made the historic JFK Memorial and funeral coverage in 1963.

But his most important work is the longest-running and top-rating Sunday evening newsmagazine program, 60 Minutes, which as Arledge puts it, is "60 Minutes of first-rate news broadcasting".

Hewitt is competitive, he always snaps out against the competition, but he believed that he is competing not against those who are in his timeslot, but in his own work.

I have read Hewitt's autobio, "Tell Me A Story", published in 2000, and I must say, He really is deserved to be in the same league as wha...

34 Days to Amanpour. 22 September on CNN

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:37:55 -0000

The Journal: Shaking the way things were

Sun, 9 Aug 2009 13:44:33 -0000

Yesterday was TV5's first year anniversary. It was not so much announced yet celebrated but I had a different way to celebrate this momentous event in Pinoy TV History.

I went to SM Megamall for my coverage of the Metro Comicon 2009. It was the first event I went since that Toycon debacle last June. I thought an almost 2-month hiatus was enough to cure that.

Before the coverage, I and my colleague theBlocker decided to test-run Globe's new unlimited calling service. Globe DUO, which will enable us to call unlimited using our own Globe numbers as Landline numbers. Globe's DUO service will also enable us to call other landlines within Metro Manila for free.

We wanted to try if DUO is comparable to Globe's another Unlimited Service, Unlicalls Nyt which we always use on our roundtable discussions.

And The test results were IMPRESSIVE.

During one of our calls that was made later in the day, We were on the phone for ONE HOUR. Yes, One Hour and it's crystal clear. Unlike Unlicalls Nyt, which cuts ...

saddened to the death of Pres. Cory Aquino, RIP

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 06:09:35 -0000

Les Miserables on ABS-CBN Coming 3rd August, ATOM (Alpha Teens on Machines) on Disney Coming 13th August, and JONAS on Disney coming 9th August

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:29:22 -0000

The Journal: Being a Boto Patroller

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:21:52 -0000

When I registered in our Barangay hall last Thursday, I thought everything is going to be just easy. But when my sister went to the hall, we expected a mayhem.

Total Mayhem because of the number of people who turned up, mayhem because of the threat of power outage because of the overload, and mayhem because of the long wait.

But I say, the long wait is okay, as long as I have to exercise

1. My right at a voter, and
2. My right as a Boto Patroller.

Yeah, I am a full-fledged Boto Patroller, thanks to ABS-CBN News' Boto Mo Ipatrol Mo Ako ang Simula.

I am the start of the change, And I want to do it with the most trusted news organization in the country.

Face it, we don't have a steady supply of candidates eligible for Madame's chair, Pollitcos like Manny Villar, Mar "Lalaban Tayo" Roxas, Loren Legarda, Former Pres. Erap Estrada , Gilbert Gibo Teodoro and even Gov. Ed Panlilio are not the ones we have to think over.

They may have the qualifications mandated in the constitution, but still. I don't...

"And That's the Way It Is": A Tribute to Walter Cronkite

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:10:57 -0000

That person above shaped what I wanted to become today.

Who will ever miss the famous sign-off "And That's The Way It Is", which is also my signature ending line for all my blogs.

Who will ever forget the lines he uttered in such historical events, like "From Dallas, Texas, the flash, apparently official, President Kennedy died at 2'o clock Central Standard time...........some 38 minutes ago", and the now-legendary Tet Offensive editorial which Former President Lyndon Johnson commented, "If I lost Cronkite, I'd lost Middle America"

And who will ever forget his title, "The Most Trusted Man in America" because of his sheer delivery and steadiness in presiding over the CBS Evening News as it's Anchor and Managing Editor for 19 Years.

Walter was, and is, every journalist's icon, an inspiration. He is not only what the others call it as an anchorman, but he was the anchorman. He guided the audience every 6:30 pm Eastern Time through all the news that has happened, and he also was unflappa...

Insights Inside 2: Haruhi and HD

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:28:26 -0000

SORRY IF IT took long to write my second Insights Inside, there were some circumstances that went beyond my control that was why my 2nd Insight took a long gestation period than expected, Also I plan to write Insights maybe on a bimonthly or a monthly basis so that, at least, it will be regularly seen alongside my news reports and the occasional commentary.

Today, we now tackle another round of issues and controversies that we have seen during the past 2 months that Insights Inside had not seen print on the Online world.

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NOW THAT HARUHI Suzumiya is now coming on TV5 this Monday, July 13th, Many are now preying on the third network on how will they pull off the anime that kept others dancing Hare Hare Yukai worldwide. We at ZOH had been in close contact with the dubbing team who made Haruhi and they told us that this was their most difficult project ever, noting the cultural and the other references that the dubbers ha...

We Can Now Go with It : The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Starting 13th July

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 11:50:31 -0000

We Now Confirm it, and finally go with it.

After a month of secrets, middle of the night phone calls, and some internal analysis. This is really is it.

THE MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA is now on TV5 Starting Monday, 13 July to combat the Koreans and the Overused Aljur-Kris Loveteam on the other networks.

Now, We would like to know what are your reactions to this, So please give us a ring if you have any comments on the Anime that took the world by storm.

The Main edition airs at 6pm while reruns air Saturdays from 12 noon,

Only, from your Anime Authority, TV5

The Big Updates on Haruhi and Events

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 06:52:22 -0000

We now confirm 'em.

During the past week, We at ZOH had been bombarded with the latest news and information regarding the dubbing and the upcoming airing of TV5's crown jewel to combat the Koreans and the overused Aljur-Kris loveteam, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

Just a few days ago, Zen Otaku Honbu's Anime Kabayan and theBlocker reported to us about the progress of the anime.

"Narito ang eksaktong pahayag ng source:

"Hi guys! Tapos na naming i-dub ang first 3 eps ng Haruhi Suzumiya. Ang dugo! Gah! Pero I can proudly say that it's all worth it. Isa sa mga pinaka-mahirap gawing anime. Promise."

Nagpakita naman ng positibong tugon at pagsuporta mula sa Zen Otaku Honbu, partikular na sina eggman, ECWGuy at ang inyong lingkod, na siya rin naman tinugunan ng pasasalamat ng aming source.

Noong May 25, una nang ipinahayag ng Zen Otaku Honbu na maraming anime fans sa buong mundo ang napamahal, pumuri at kahit sinasamba ang tropa ni Haruhi Suzumiya. Kaya magiging sentro ng atensyon at magigin...

The More Serious Virus

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:47:11 -0000

It's all over the papers, the Radio and TV.

A(H1N1) is already spreading in the Metro,

But there is a more serious pandemic that is spreading.

It's the Korean Pandemic.

Admit it. ABS-CBN is going uber-gaga over the Korean F4 Fever. And I hate to say it, or even admit it that the Kapamilya network is going all out for the Koreans rather than to improve more on their Anime schedule.

Recently, I was offended by a recent ad promoting Varga on the Umaganda block. It shows that their Korean anchor program is comparable to all FOUR (that is, FOUR) shows in the block. Isn't it disheartening that ABS-CBN is comparing both Katekyo Hitman Reborn and Naruto over a single Korean program?!

Isn't it high time for ABS-CBN to wake up since TV5 is not yet ready to make changes in their primetime lineup (with Haruhi as their anchor) until July? And What is ABS-CBN replacing Reborn! with? A Cheap-o Chinese made Animation!

And I was more appalled when MYX is keen on the deluge of the Korean fans by accepting o...

Ozine Fest 2009 - Day One

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 09:40:35 -0000

This is my only harvest of photos from Day One of Ozine, Dated 04 April. I was not able to go to the first hours because I went to Makati for a Jobhunt session. Grab it while it's (not so)

The Correspondent's Camera: The 2nd Philippine Cosplay Convention, 28 March 2009

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 07:28:19 -0000

This is the 2nd Event for the year 2009, and It was where we leaked the big news of all, the confirmation of new titles from TV5, which happened to be one of the sponsors of the event. Also, A camera crew from ThomsonReuters plc. was there to cover the event. Here are the pics and if you are in my photoalbum, Feel free to grab