Korina ‘TikTalks’; ‘The Divas’ triumph
GUILTY as charged.
Veteran broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez admitted to The-Zone that she continues to enjoy pursuing the lighter side of news nowadays despite having steeled her name in the serious stuff of current affairs.
Her preference is clear for the present, with this exchange taking place during the media launch of her newest TV show, “TikTalks,” on TV5 and Cignal, where she gathers an unlikely mix of co-hosts with whom to discuss riveting yet mundane topics on prime time.
“Koring” or “Ate K,” as she playfully calls herself, the multi-awarded, no-nonsense news personality declared a caveat before explaining why she’s thriving on the fun side of her industry at this stage in her storied career.
“Meron naman [pull yung hard news sa akin]. Forever yun,” she began. “Hindi naman nawala yun kasi dun ako tumatak ng dalawampu’t limang taon, di ba?”
“Kaya siguro medyo walwal ako ngayon,” she laughed at her choice of street slang for letting her hair down, “[is because] I’m really enjoying the lighter side of things. Kasi, honestly, I really don’t take myself that seriously since life is short, and I want to live very long.
“Maliliit pa yung mga anak ko. Two years old pa lang sila so I have to live to be 120 years old,” quipped the mom of social media darlings and twins Pepe and Pilar Roxas.
Laughter — and lots of it — Korina says is the key to her goal, and she’s definitely having more than she can imagine with TikTalks.
For an idea of what the public can expect from the show, think a little like “The View.” Whoopi Goldberg and company’s long-running morning program on America’s ABC, where an all-female panel is free to deliver conflicting insights on any topic under the sun but in a fun and entertaining way.
“Malalaman n’yo dito ang iba’t ibang opinyon sa tanong na, ‘Hanggang kailan dapat gumagamit ang isang lalaki ng baby power’?” Korina sampled stifling a giggle.
It sounds silly, but it’s also quite interesting, right?
On board since conceptualization, Korina revealed the initial idea of the program came from veteran talent manager Jojie Dingcong.
“He really wanted five ladies, but here’s what happened,” Korina — who also serves as TikTalks’ co-producer with Dingcong — continued.
“[After talking to Jojie, I thought] parang ang gusto dito kong kasama dito yun medyo sira,” she quipped again, “pero
meron din dito,” she qualified, lifting a finger to her temple.
“I really wanted a singer na bigla na lang kakanta kung ano man ang hugot ng pinag-uusapan namin. Gusto ko yung ganun, biglang magko-concert mag-isa diyan sa gitna. So, that’s Kakai Bautista.
“Of course, we have a radio journalist who is Pat-P Daza. Barkada ko talaga ito kaya alam ko na hindi lang niya kailangang magsalita, kailangan din niyang tumawa.
“And then we wanted a vocal and unabashed LGBTQIA+ representative, and that’s G3 San Diego na isang magzine editor, kolumnista at writer.”
Finally, when thinking of the fifth lady panelist, Korina and her co-producer hit a wall. That’s when she realized the show shouldn’t alienate the men and the casting became a cakewalk.
For the ever-meticulous Korina, it was a no-brainer to tap noted stand-up comic and comedy writer Alex Calleja with whom she has worked for a very long time.
“Siyempre gusto natin yung medyo din palaisip, yung may opinyon,” she said matter-of-factly.
From TikTalk’s teasers, it’s obvious the public can look forward to a laugh-a-minute hour with Korina and her new gang just as anyone would with a diverse set of friends. Add to that sheer wit and intelligence that set all five personalities apart from their peers.
All raring to premiere on Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m., the show will also see Korina needing to play moderator or referee to balance out such strong personalities in conversation.
“Thankfully wala pa naman nag-aaway,” she laughingly revealed as she beamed with excitement and confidence that there’s so much more fun and laughter to be had in life. Do share in it come December 3 across multiple platforms, including TV5, Cignal’s One PH cable channel and play app and Radyo Singko 92.3.
From power woman Korina Sanchez, The T-Zone goes on to three because congratulations are in order for a trio of OPM queens. Philippine Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, Queen of Soul Jaya, and Concert Queen Pops Fernandez reunited for a virtual thanksgiving with a handful of media friends over the huge success of “3 Divas,” their one-night-only concert at Fantasy Springs Casino in Coachella, California, on November 12.
All three were still giddy with excitement as they recalled packing into the massive auditorium with a predominantly Filipino audience that has been longing for the return of live performances stateside since the pandemic.
What’s more, the Divas are confident that they have opened yet another prominent US venue for fellow OPM artists to conquer, given how Fantasy Spring’s top management made sure to personally congratulate them after the show.
“We were so blessed with such a fantastic audience,” Pops spoke on behalf of her fellow Divas, adding, “and Fantasy Springs was also such a great host.
“[Our concert] was the very first time they had Filipino artists in their casino, so proud naman kami and very honored to have been able to do that. They said, sunod-sunod pa so it’s very good for other Filipino artists because this is another venue [open] for all of us to perform.”
Just as ecstatic over getting to bond and forging closer personal friendships with one another offstage, Pops, Jaya and Kuh chatted like high school best friends for the rest of the Zoom call. Saying they could write a book about each other now, they were all the more thrilled to reveal that their glamorous gang can look forward to spending more time together very soon.
With their concert generating so much buzz around the statewide Filipino community in America, plans are already moving forward for a multi-city US tour in 2023.
“Because of the rave reviews we got, promoters from different cities immediately got in touch with the team and requested dates,” explained Pops.
The ladies are eyeing mid-year for another girls’ getaway, but — and this one comes from the Pop Diva herself —”Not before we bring the show to Manila in May.”
Hooray!