‘Sunnyville’ host Love Añover (center) with Patricia Gayod and Jermaine Ulgasan

The problem of poor and low-income families who can’t afford a pre-school education for their children could be over with GMA-7 News and Public Affairs latest children’s show called “Sunnyville.” For 30 minutes every Saturday morning, children can get free pre-school education that’s deemed expensive by poor people. The show is also patterned after a pre-school curriculum prepared by its education consultant.

According to program manager, Joy Madrigal, the conceptualization and production of “Sunnyville” came about as an answer to the prevalent problems of education in the Philippines. Since Joy has also worked as producer and program manager for other News and Public Affairs shows like “Reporter’s Notebook” and “Philippine Agenda: Education,” among others, she saw the need for a TV show that caters to pre-school children in the country.

Hosted by Love Añover, “Sunnyville” also aims to be a fun learning experience with songs and dances as well as puppets and animation. Love, known for being “Unang Hirit’s” lively traffic reporter in the mornings, plays Ate Bele. She is the amiable, “guidance counsellor” and fix-it-girl of Barangay Sunnyville. She also lives in “Bahay Butingting” that doubles as a portal to many kiddie adventures in “Sunnyville.” “Our goal is to be a school on TV like ‘Batibot’ which I watched and learned from growing up as a kid,” commented Love. “The learning experience here will be sunny, bright and happy because children wants learning to be fun.”

Characters that will make learning enjoyable for pre-school kids are Gaurin, a grouchy dwarf, Violet, a vain rose, the butterfly Mariposa, the animated cat Mingming, Kiko and Kokoy, the mice duo and an intelligent talking earthworm named “Bulatelino.” Completing the cast are Patricia Gayod as Anna, Jermaine Ulgasan as Buboy, both playing the children of OFW parents, and Joy Viado as Tita Auring, their strict and loving aunt.

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MJ’s top tribute artist in Bacolod Saturday

Kenny Wizz, who is Michael Jackson’s top tribute artist, will be in Bacolod City on Saturday, and in Tarlac City on Sunday, May 9, for the culmination of his “The Michael Jackson Experience” Philippine tour. Last night, he did another successful show at Clark Field and before that in GenSan.

This is Kenny Wizz’s second year to do shows in the country. When he came over the first time, he (in full MJ regalia) surprised me with his presence in our birthday party at 360 Rest. at A. Venue Mall in Makati. He was Steve O’Neal’s much-appreciated birthday present. My guests had a field day posing for souvenir shots with him and his manager, who looks like Elvis Presley.

Anyway, Kenny told us that he started out as a streetdance, and he was already moonwalking long before MJ popularized it in his shows. Someone suggested that Kenny tries impersonation and he did – very successfully since he really can sing too.

That was more than 20 years ago, and before MJ’s demise, he had decided to “retire.”

But then his idol died, and he thought his MJ act would be appreciated even more now “and I would like to give his fans that MJ magic that will never leave us…”

Kenny is now the most sought-after MJ impersonator in Las Vegas.

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‘Freedom Till Dawn,’ Tambayan Fest Saturday

A big event billed as “Freedom Till Dawn! Tambayan Festival” will be held on Saturday at the Marikina Riverbanks.

Metier Productions in partnership with Saturno Music Production spearheads the event during which Saturno’s latest compositions contained in “Ang Tambang Vol. 1” album will be featured. The album is a compilation of different genres performed by newly discovered song artists to enlighten the youth in exploring Original Filipino Music.

This event also has a bazaar, a “Tianggian Klanista,” a Youth Activity Fair, Tattoo Painting, a Car Show, Rider Exhibit Shows, Face Painting, Jobs Fair and pre-employment assistance.

Also, in the concert are the new band Sinag discovered and trained by the late Francis Magalona, Heidy MTV Supahstar finalist 2006 Divah Category, stickfigah, Mike Swift and Jason X who was discovered at “Wowowee” singing the carrier single “Ang Tambay.” Guest performing artists are Tippy Dos Santos, Sam Concepcion, GLOC 9, River Maya, Noel Cabangon, Shamrock, Cookie Chua, Jimmy Bondoc and Sam Milby.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on May 8 go to Justice Ines Luciano, Rep. Mike Romero, Dr. M. Avenido, Butch S. Javier, Manuel Bondad, Tina C. Tensuan, Virgie Buenaobra, Mike Evangelista, Boots Bautista, Nicolo Javier, Florentino Requinta, Michelle Dianne Lopez Dulce, Donna May Bundalian, my New York-based son Lester M. Belen and his former classmate Patricio Cabrera, and MB’s Allan Cambel. S-Magazine this May pays tribute to motherhood. On the cover are two controversial moms, Kris Aquino with sons Joshua and Baby James, and Ruffa Gutierrez. Also featured is Jay-R and new show ‘Take Me Out,” and Sid Lucero, Maja Salvador and Jed Madela in their travels.