Tropang Potchi Season 5 will air on GMA-7 starting April 30

Tropang Potchi ushers in its fifth season by moving to a new station and a new timeslot, with a new format.

Starting April 30, each episode follows a value-driven narrative that unfolds among the members of the Tropa in the spanking new Potchi house. Here, the kids learn how to deal with the different things they encounter in their young lives with the help of each other and their families. The Tropa also meets every Saturday at the Potchi house where they take turns exchanging stories about the different adventures they had from the previous week.

This week, Lianne nurses a 'tampo' over her OFW Mom's refusal to buy her a laptop. Meanwhile, Bianca shares how she conquers her fear of fun rides as Julian narrates his first time to 'fly'. 

'Tropang Potchi' is a motley crew of kids with different talents and personalities namely, Julian Trono, Ella Cruz, Sabrina Man, Miggy Jimenez, Bianca Umali and Lianne Valentino.


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I-Witness enters the danger zone of Taal volcano; Alert Level 2 raised by PHIVOLCS

Children frolicking on the shore while their parents haul in another bountiful catch of fish found only in Taal Lake.  It's an idyllic scene that can now be obliterated in a few moments.

Taal Volcano is one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the world, and it is acting up again causing multiple tremors that crack walls clear across the lake to the mainland. Alert Level 2 has been raised by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or PHIVOLCS; and the entire volcano island has been declared a permanent danger zone.  Hence, authorities have been urging  the residents of Volcano Island to evacuate, convinced that the volcano is ready to blow. Yet many refuse to leave, afraid of losing their livelihood.

I-Witness host Howie Severino and his documentary team enter the danger zone on the island to see what's at stake. They discover that in addition to the island residents, many live in floating houses on the water surrounding the island and may be even more at risk in case of an eruption.

The team also learns about the history of Taal's eruptions, visits ruins from past cataclysms, and realizes that a major eruption will not only kill many but could rearrange one of the country's most famous landscapes.

Join Howie Severino as he comes face to face with those who insist on living within the permanent danger zone.  Don't miss I-Witness this Monday, April 25, after Saksi, on GMA-7.

Heart Evangelista and Dennis Trillo's Dwarfina will end in two weeks' time

GMA-7's high-rating telefantasya Dwarfina comes down to its final two weeks with the tiny heroine set on fulfilling her royal duties as princess of the Duwende Kingdom.

The fate of the Duwende World now rests in the tiny hands of Dwarfina after Romera's (Angelika dela Cruz) gruesome assassination of Abiana (Jackielou Blanco).

But until recently, Dwarfina still hasn't figured out how to use the magical sword, which is the only way to defeat the black duwendes. Fortunately for Dwarfina, Elvin offers to train her on how to use the sword until she is finally ready to go into war in Kamurayaw.

Meanwhile, Lyndon makes it to the Duwende World after drinking a special potion from Dweinstein (Fabio Ide). His loyal sidekick Buddy (Yogo Singh) also tags along.

However, Elvin is not too happy about Lyndon entering the Duwende Kingdom and tries to keep him away from Dwarfina for as long as possible. Tension further rises between the two when Lyndon and Buddy got attacked by a swarm of bees, but received no help from Elvin.

Can Dwarfina perfect her sword-wielding skills before Romera completely takes over their land? What role will Lyndon and his companions play in Dwarfina's battle with the black duwendes? Can Lyndon and Elvin peacefully resolve their differences and agree to work together in the end?

Don't miss the exciting final two weeks of Dwarfina weeknights after Captain Barbell only on GMA Telebabad.

TV show gambles on mentalism for entertainment

MANILA, Philippines -- New GMA-7 show delves on a curious type of performance art---mentalism.

“Mind Master” will show how reading other people’s minds and seeing through their thoughts are made possible. The show features Nomer Lasala, known as The Mentalist. For four weeks, he and a special celebrity host tackle issue, situations and questions through mentalism.

In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment and other entertainment scribes during the show’s first episode taping held at the Baluarte de San Diego Gardens in Intramuros April 18, Nomer introduced mentalism in an open mic show. He wowed the audience with a number of mentalism acts that he performed with individual and group participants from the audience.

There, Nomer attempted to stop his own pulse, transferred his thoughts to special host, Ogie Alcasid, and predicted the answer to the questions of different participants. Also present as special celebrity guests were Barbie Forteza and Sef Cadayona, who both experienced mentalism’s surprise.

Skill plus talent

Mentalism uses partly psychology and partly psychic. According to Nomer, mentalism is skill and talent combined.

“[Mentalism] is a mixture of skill and talent. Like for example, everybody can sing, kailangan lang madevelop,” he explained. Nomer discovered his talent when he was nine years old via a telekinesis chapter (“Yung lunch box ko lumapit sa akin from a long table. Di na naulit yung feat na yun, though”).

Nomer recalled that as a child, he shied away from the skill. It was in college when he met his mentor, a top rank mentalist in Europe, David Elefant.

During the interview, skeptic members of the press asked “If you can read what’s gonna happen, then why can’t you predict the winning Lotto numbers?”

“For one, walang utak ang machine. Second, but if you will be thinking of a number, pwede kong mahulaan yun.

“That’s the same reason I got banned sa casino when I was younger. Hinuhulaan ko kasi yung mga lumalabas na number. Kasi in some casinos outside the Philippines, they cheat. From there I read the minds of the dealers,” Nomer recalled.

Mentalism vs magic

As said, mentalism can be learned. According to Nomer, there are special programs offered for mentalism abroad, like magicians’ School of Magic.

In the country though, Nomer named him and his mentor as the ones practicing the act. He also differentiated mentalism and magic. “Often, nagkakaparehas [ang mentalism and magic] kasi we borrow the theatrics of magic. Ang advocacy kasi namin ay ma-present yung psychic sa tao in a chewable way,” he stressed.

Eric Mana, Criss Angel, Bearwin Meiley are some notable magicians who performs magic in the country and abroad via shows.

Mentalism as entertainment

Nomer is also known as a psychic entertainer. Asked if people are scared of his talent, Nomer said, “Sa tingin ko, di na masyadong takot ang tao sa mentalism. One form of entertainment ang mentalism. I don’t go out naman to people and scare them ‘I can read your mind.’ Naging open na din ito sa public.”

Talking about the advantages and disadvantages of being a mentalist, Nomer thinks of more advantages. “But there are some disadvantages too. Like di na sila mag-o-open sa’yo, naaabuso minsan sa work… Other than that, I have a normal life."

Nomer confessed reading a girl’s mind before courting her. “I’ll be honest. (Laughs) yeah, I do read their minds first. Tinitingnan ko muna if papasa ako o hindi,” he said.

Positive vibes only

For all his skills, Nomer did not see the show coming.

“I don’t use my talent to see my future. Kandado sarado Katoliko ako. Ang unang nagmentor sa akin is a bishop… I don’t see the show coming. I don’t look at death, catastrophe, gusto ko good vibes palagi.

“I believe in the law of attraction kaya kung positive thinker ka, yung universe, yun din ang ibibigay sa’yo… I live my day one day at a time,” Nomer said, adding he can also channel and control his talent. According to him, there are times he turns off his mind-reading.

“Mind Master” begins airing April 30, taking the slot of “Man vs. Beast,” after “24 Oras Weekend.”