The Philippine Star
November 11, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” has just turned 20 and aired its anniversary episode yesterday, highlighting the show’s two decades of impactful stories that entertain, inspire and influence change.
Viewers saw host Jessica travel to Zamboanga to revisit JL, a five-year-old boy from Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur, who was diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease. After “KMJS” aired his story, JL’s family was able to send him to the hospital, where he successfully underwent surgery.
“KMJS” also gave an update on the children involved in the baby-switching incident as they transitioned to life with their biological parents.
Jessica got up close and personal with Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo as the on-screen couple talked about their highly anticipated love story sequel, “Hello, Love, Again” and how they could relate to the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) characters they portray in the movie.
The anniversary special got into the groove as “KMJS” did an exclusive interview with BINI, the chart-topping Filipino girl group behind the phenomenal hit songs Salamin, Karera, and Pantropiko. Jessica put on her dancing shoes as the BINI members taught her some of their trending dance moves.
For the GMA Network Public Affairs team behind “KMJS,” the best way to celebrate its first 20 years of storytelling is by making a promise to keep on flying high.
Jessica gets up close and personal with Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo, who talk about their highly anticipated love story sequel, ‘Hello, Love, Again’ and how they relate to their OFW characters. — Photo from official Facebook page
“Lumipad ang aming team” — the familiar spiel of award-winning host Jessica Soho that has tickled the fancy of Filipino audiences — has become a source of pride for the team, and a reminder of the show’s heritage of bringing stories with impact week after week.
“Over the years, it has been our goal na maging paboritong kakuwentuhan ng mga Pilipino, that our audiences turn to us as a special friend who is always ready to listen and share stories,” Soho said, adding, “Bago ‘lumipad ang aming team,’ nadapa-dapa muna kami, hanggang sa tumayo, naglakad, tumakbo, at ‘di na kami tumigil sa paghatid ng mga istorya.”
Airing on primetime, “KMJS” puts out stories on an expansive range of topics with the goal of always reaching a wider audience.
“We like telling the stories of Filipinos, our stories. Anything and everything interesting na masarap pagkuwentuhan,” Soho said.
Major news events, relevant issues, the funny, the peculiar, stories that give voice to the marginalized in remote areas, stories that make people reflect on things happening around them, and more, are all part of the weekly menu for “KMJS” viewers.
Asked about some of the show’s more memorable stories, Soho recalled her field coverage duties for breaking news events, particularly disasters.
She said these include her visits to ground zero in Leyte when Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013; Bohol after it was jolted by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that same year; Cagayan when it was inundated by floods during the height of the pandemic; and Talisay, Batangas as it was recently hit by a landslide amid Typhoon Kristine.
Integral to the story mix are lifestyle and pop culture stories on what’s trending with Pinoys, places to visit, food, Filipino traditions, love stories, unusual love stories, and even horror stories. All of these come together in “KMJS” for a unique magazine show that has been part of Filipinos’ Sunday viewing habit.
In telling these stories, the “KMJS” team learned and witnessed that stories have the power to change people’s lives.
The show is now in a position where stories come to the production team, with Soho offering its signature invitation to viewers — “i-KMJS na ‘yan!” The tagline was coined by GMA Public Affairs senior assistant vice president Lee Joseph Castel, the show’s long-time producer who has been with “KMJS” since Day 1.
For Jessica, the tagline allows audiences to “sort of ‘own’ and embrace the program, with stories coming from them.”
Over the past years, “KMJS “has been making an impact on film and digital platforms as well. Some of its featured stories have been adapted into films like “Clarita,” “A Faraway Land,” and “Sunod.” Next year, “KMJS” is set to debut its “Gabi ng Lagim The Movie.”
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