JUST A THOUGHT: He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts. – Samuel Johnson

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NEW TIMESLOT: After 16 months of educating the masses once a week on aspects of Philippine law, the courtroom drama and talk show “Public Atorni: Asunto o Areglo” graduates to a new timeslot and a daily grind starting on Jan. 30, still on TV5.

The legal drama series hosted by Public Attorney’s Office chief Atty. Persida Acosta joins the network’s package of public affairs programs airing in the late afternoon. “Public Atorni” will air around 4:30 p.m. prior to “T3,” the no-holds-barred, in-your face investigative show by Tulfo brothers Raffy, Ben and Erwin.

At a luncheon interview Jan. 25 in Quezon City, Atty. Acosta thanked television for hastening resolution of small claims cases through mediation. When the show goes daily starting Monday, it can furthermore resolve more cases in record time, thus helping declog higher courts.

Atty. Acosta has been with PAO for 15 years before she was asked by TV5 to host the ground-breaking legal program. Claiming that her heart belongs to the masses, having come from a poor family of nine children who were all sent to school through scholarship grants, Atty. Acosta says public service is a calling she can’t refuse.

TV came as an incidental bonus for the feisty lawyer, who says what she does on cam is merely a replication of how she conducts her work at the Public Attorney’s Office.

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PINOY MD: You got the law covered on one hand, and medicine on the other.

GMA-7’s “Pinoy MD” hosted by Connie Sison and her team of medical experts led by Dr. Dave Ampil this Saturday give light on a study conducted by the Journal of Applied Toxicology explaining the health hazards of paraben – a component found in deodorants.

Alternative medicine experts give a rundown on the various health benefits of chico, which include removing gall stones and keeping the skin soft and smooth.

In a segment especially for men, uncover the truths behind some of the well known myths behind impotence.

“Pinoy MD” airs every Saturday at 6 a.m. A health program that can be considered a pioneer in the field and in the early morning timeslot is channel 2’s “Salamat, Doc.”

The show used to be hosted by Cheryl Cosim but is now in the able hands of Bernadette Sembrano-Aguinaldo.

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WRONG MEDIUM: A radio infotainment plug that speaks of the evils of violence committed against women and children is deemed more effective if it were done in Filipino. The radio plug, aired on DWBR and perhaps elsewhere, is rendered in an irritating Filipino-style English that doesn’t quite address its target audience. The plug is by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women.

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STAR NEWS: GMA Network issued a statement as we went to press that its glossy-drama series, “Legacy,” has been posting remarkable numbers in ratings.

Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, “Legacy” reportedly scored a household audience share of 37.7 percent in Mega Manila, according to Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. “Legacy” stars Heart Evangelista, Lovi Poe and Alessandra de Rossi together with Geoff Eigenmann and Dennis Trillo.

“Tropang Potchi,” described as an educational, entertaining, values-oriented show for children is out to prove that TV viewing may also be good for kids.

GMA’s Saturday morning educational program for kids enters its fourth season on beginning today, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m.

“Tropang Potchi” came at a time when morning programming was dominated by foreign cartoon series and action-packed anime. Although these forms of entertainment have a great appeal to its intended audience, most of the shows in this genre fall short in two aspects – the inculcation of good values in the minds of its young viewers and the incorporation of Filipino culture in their storylines.

“Tropang Potchi” tries hard to fill in the gap. The show is hosted by talented child stars Julian Trono, Sabrina Man, Miggy Jimenez, Liane Valentino and Bianca Umali.

(nescuar@yahoo.com)