Bubble Gang anniversary
TV

'Bubble Gang' team admits facing challenges adjusting to the new normal during the pandemic

By Aedrianne Acar
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great learning experience for the production team behind 'Bubble Gang.'

March 2020 is a month that will remain in the memories of a lot of people, especially in the showbiz industry as it marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines

The disease had a global impact, which uprooted the lives of many people and brought the local entertainment industry to its knees.

Fast-forward to today, with the rollout of the vaccines, which reduced the number of sick people and slowly, the restrictions are being lifted, GMANetwork.com asked Bubble Gang Senior Program Manager Cecille R. De Guzman the important lessons they learned from mounting a show amid the pandemic.

De Guzman stressed that Bubble Gang was able to produce content amid the drastic changes in the entertainment industry with the help of both the production and creative team working hand-in-hand.

She shared, “'Yung lahat na ginawa from 2020, simula noong nag-lockdown. Ang pinaka-key lagi productions at creative, 'yung tulong-tulong.”

Admittedly, there were birth pains adjusting to the new normal, especially with the creative side of the show.

“Pare-pareho kaming nangapa doon sa paano na nga ba tayo magpe-present?

“Hindi lang kasi 'yung how do you do it? It's not just the technical or the production side. The creative aspect of the program ang pinaka na-challenge talaga, because, at the beginning of the pandemic naging very-very sensitive ang tao. Doon kami nangapa, [tinanong namin ang mga sarili namin] ano ang magpapatawa sa kanila nang hindi sila ma-o-offend.”

Source: GMA Network

The GMA lady boss also recalled that one of the geniuses behind Bubble Gang, Direk Caesar Cosme, lost a valuable source of inspiration in creating the viral sketches and gags for the show due to social distancing measures, which forced people to stay inside their homes.

De Guzman recalled, “Because sanay na 'yung creative people na kapain 'yun, kahit papaano naging madali for them. Just the same, may kaakibat din na challenge na kinukuwento ni Direk [Caesar] Cosme kasi, ang peg niya lagi sa lahat ng mga characters or situation or gags na binubuo nila for the program.

“Wala siyang show or film na peg -- ang peg niya ay totoong buhay. He commutes, nagji-jeep siya, nagba-bus, tinitingnan niya kung paano ang usapan ng mga tao sa pila ng tricycle for example.”

“'Yun 'yung nawala sa creative team, nahirapan sila doon sa ano ba ang gusto ng tao? Medyo natsa-challenge kami doon.”

She then continued, “Tiningnan namin kung ano 'yung weekly reactions ng tao sa social media. Of course, hindi lang 'yun, we don't depend on that solely.”

Another impact of the pandemic De Guzman pointed out is their regular cast members cannot join them during some tapings, because they are either under quarantine for an upcoming show or they cannot leave the lock-in taping, because of the COVID-19 protocols being implemented by the network.

“Naging challenge din sa amin 'yung naging limited 'yung cast sa studio. Dati, nakakapag-drama show 'yung ibang cast members without affecting the tapings of Bubble Gang. But now that they are lock-in [tapings], because of our protocols naman for everyone's safety.”

Despite these challenges, they were able to pull through and make everyone laugh week after week.

“Some of them nawawala nang medyo matagal. As Bitoy said, wala kaming ibang gagawin kung hindi to work within whatever we have and whatever we can.

“Mag-adjust continuously, aralin kung ano pa ang mga paraan na puwede pa gawin just so para makapagbigay saya sa tao.”

That's why the upcoming silver anniversary on November 26 (Friday night) is bound to be extra special.

Michael V. told in an interview with Chika Minute reporter Lhar Santiago that their anniversary episode is dedicated to their loyal Kababol viewers.

Michael V. said, “Hindi namin nakakalimutan na ginagawa namin ito para sa mga loyal supporters ng show and isa sa mga [pinu-push] namin for this anniversary presentation is sila naman [ang] mapagbigyan, sila naman ang marinig, at sila naman ang ma-i-feature.”

Meet some of the A-list graduates of Bubble Gang in the galleries below.

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