Sineskwela | An ABS-CBN 90s Educational Show for Children Retrospective

Sineskwela was Filipino educational television show for children that aired in ABS-CBN during the 90s. Sineskwela which was alternatively known as "School on Air", was produced by ABS-CBN Foundation with the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Education (DepEd). Let's go down memory lane with this iconic educational show for kids called Sineskwela. Tayo na sa Sineskwela...


Sineskwela - The Show
About Sineskwela

Sineskwela presented and explained otherwise complicated principles and concepts of science and technology through dramatization and visual effects. It also demonstrated the practical application of science in familiar life situations, thereby allowing the information to be easily understood and appreciated by its young viewers.

Sineskwela was a curriculum-based show and catered to public elementary students from Grade 2 to 6. The DepEd mandated that it be shown in the science class of each grade level at least once a week. Five episodes--one for each of the five grade levels--were shown every week. Each episode presented different problems and situations in which the characters had a chance to explore the world of science. The characters would gather information not just through library research but also through laboratory experiments, field investigations, on-the-scene reporting, and use of visual effects. An example would be the show's characters, Anatom and Agatom, shrinking to the size of molecules and entering biological organisms such as a flower or a dog. In these mini-adventures, they would encounter several personifications of bacteria, pollen, and other possible objects who explain the related scientific theories and phenomena.


The Sineskwela cast included Christine Bersola playing as the character Anatom, Brennan Espartinez as Agatom, Sheena Ramos as Palikpik, Maan Munsayac as Kulitsap, Roobak Valle as Ugatpuno, Frederico Gonzales as Bok, Giselle Sanchez as Ate Giselle, and Winnie Cordero as Ate Winnie.

Source: Sineskwela on WikiPilipinas

Sineskwela Opening Theme
Sineskwela Series Intro



Sineskwela Theme Song
Composed by: Ryan Cayabyab

Bawat bata may tanong,
Ba't ganito, bat gano'n?
Hayaang buksan ang isipan
Sa science o agham...

Tayo na sa Sineskwela
Tuklasin natin ang siyensya
Buksan ang pag-iisip
Tayo'y likas na scientist!

Tayo na sa Sineskwela
Tuklasin natin ang siyensya
Kinabukasan ng ating bayan
Siguradong makakamtan!

Sa daigdig ng agham
Tuklasin ang kaalaman
Halina't lumipad
Sa daigdig ng isipan

Tayo na sa Sineskwela
Tuklasin natin ang siyensya
Kinabukasan ng ating bayan
Siguradong makakamtan

Kaya't habang maaga
Mag-aral ng siyensya
Sa teknolohiya,
Ang buhay ay gaganda... ahhhh...

Tayo na sa Sineskwela
Tuklasin natin ang siyensya
Buksan ang pag-iisip
Tayo'y likas na scientist

Tayo na sa Sineskwela
Tuklasin natin ang siyensya
Kinabukasan ng ating bayan
Si-gu-ra-dong maka-kamtaaaaaan...




What is there to say about Sineskwela? Actually quite a lot. Well, that is for us who grew up watching Sineskwela back in the 90s. Sineskwela was a good educational show. It piqued the curiosity and interest of grade school students in Science and Technology. It re-define how Science should be taught. That Science can be learned and presented in a fun and entertaining way and not as a dull and boring cold textbook type of one. This is probably one of the factor, why I considered Science as one of my favorite subjects back in grade school, well except for the tedious memorization during recitations and exams hahaha. It featured a good format which seems to be lacking with most contemporary educational programming (2015 - as of the time of this writing) that major television networks are coming up with nowadays. Although Sineskwela did use various stock footage from other foreign Science shows way back in the days (maybe for the lack of other resource), the show was still able to properly explain science to kids.



Some episodes of Sineskwela have been uploaded on Youtube for you to have an idea of what the show looks and feels like. Simply search "sineskwela" on Youtube.
Some Sineskwela episodes that truly left a mark with me are the episode dedicated to photosynthesis with discussion of chlorophyll; and water treatment process before it becomes safe and drinkable with a jingle that describes the process of sedimentation, filtration, boiling, and distillation. Sineskwela, just like Beakman's World were a groundbreaking edutainment shows for children that will forever be in the hearts of those who grew up watching them and has a penchant for Science and learning.


How about you guys? What are your fondest and favorite memories, episodes, characters, and topics covered in the phenomenal ABS-CBN 90s Science-theme edutainment kids show? Have you seen newer contemporary Science educational programs that has the same feel and vibe to Sineskwela? Do these new shows work or have done a better work that what most of us grew up with Sineskwela? Share your thoughts and opinion about Sineskwela in the comments section below:

Hell Teacher Nube | Jigoku Sensei Nube | A GMA 90s Filipino-Dubbed Anime Retrospective

Hell Teacher Nube was a Filipino-dubbed anime which aired in GMA network's prime time television block during the late 90s in the Philippines. Hell Teacher Nube was originally titled Jigoku Sensei Nube that originally run from April 13, 1996 to August 7, 1997 on TV Asahi with a total of 49 episodes. Jigoku Sensei nube was first a manga written by Makura Shō and illustrated by Takeshi Okano published by Shueisha for the Weekly Shōnen Jump Magazine that originally run from September 1993 – May 1999 with 31 volumes. Let's go down memory lane and remember Hell Teacher Nube.


Hell Teacher Nube - The Story
Hell Teacher Nube Series Plot

Nueno Daisuke, a new teacher moving into Domori Elementary School. Nueno Daisuke, often simply called Nube is an both a warm and caring professor and a yokai "expert" and exorcist. Trouble seems to follow Nube as he must learn to contend with being a guiding and inspirational figure to his students and his colleagues and fend off any yokai that dare harms them.


Nūbē is usually forced to action when various yokai threatens and endangers his beloved students. Nube often use the power of the Demon's Hand (Oni no Te) to assist in solving the problem for the particular episode. The series follows an episodic format featuring different monster or yokai each episode which helps flesh out each characters in the show.

Hell Teacher Nube Opening Theme
Jigoku Sensei Nube Series Intro



"Baribari Saikyou No. 1" (The No. 1 Greatest Hard-Worker)
Performed by Feel So Bad
Hell Teacher Nube Closing Theme
Jigoku Sensei Nube Series Outro



"Mienai Chikara ~Invisible One" (Unseen Power ~Invisible One)
Performed by B'z

What is there to say about Hell Teacher Nube? Well, Hell Teacher Nube was one of those nostalgic anime that indirectly educated 90s kids (like myself that time) life lessons. It highlighted and taught about the value of friendship, respect, competitiveness, and valuing what matters most in life. Looking at it now, I personally find anime (thru this series) very fascinating as how effective it is as a form of entertainment and instrumental to shaping the minds, values, and morals of the youth. It has the perfect mix of humor (sometimes "naughty" humor) and seriousness which gives respect to the intellectual capacity of kids. I believe that it is better to not dumb down various shows in order to educate the children and it is up to parents to help and guide them through it. Hell Teacher Nube was also awesome and action packed thanks to the monsters featured each week which are usually "subdued" by the demon (oni) sealed in his left hand.


As a kid growing up in the 90s, there wasn't a single episode that I dare miss in Hell Teacher Nube's GMA Network television ran back in the late 90s or early 2000. Feel free to correct me about this if you know exactly it's original run here in the Philippines. Hell Teacher Nube was one of the five anime which was put into the primetime block (Mondays to Fridays at 7:00 or 7:30 PM) back in the days. A very bold and admirable thing by a television network when you look at it now. Back then, I could say that it was better that GMA took its younger audience seriously and featured anime first before getting on with the usual adult stuff like soap operas or movies. Looking at how television now, I somewhat miss those days. Now all kids have are those cliche'd local telenovelas that dumbs them down forcing morality, subliminally teaching them promiscuity not backed up by good sex education, and be "drama" kinds and queens. But I am digressing, we'll leave the state of television and social commentary for another day.







I remember doing sketches featuring Hell Teacher Nube characters in my notebook. Just recently I was able to relive what made it click as I re-watch Hell Teacher Nube episodes online (you can check out the series on the link there). There is also a Hell Teacher Nube Live action series available online if you are also interested. After re-watching the anime series, one particular episode stood out to me. It was Jigoku Sensei Nube episode 47 which was entitled "Strongest! Greatest! The final enemy! And his name is...God of Poverty!!" I will not spoil it for you but I highly recommend that you see it.


How about you guys? Did you remember how Hell Teacher Nube was like back in the days? Did you like the series or have other anime's in that GMA Anime Primtime block that you prefer (Monster Ranger, Master of Mosquiton, Vission of Escaflowne, etc.)? do you have any particular favorite episode, characters, yokai, merchandise, experiences and memories related to the show? Share your thoughts and experiences about Hell Teacher Nube in the comments section below:

Gumby | An ABC-5 90s Claymation Kid Show Retrospective

Gumby was an American claymation (clay animation) show for kids which aired in ABC-5 (Now TV5) in the Philippines back in the 90s. Gumby centered on a green clay humanoid character created and modeled by Art Clokey. The first Gumby show initially ran from 1956 to 1968 and later making a comeback with Gumby Adventures back in 1988 introducing more characters (See opening themes below). Gumby became well known as an example of stop motion clay animation and an influential cultural icon, spawning many tributes, parodies, and merchandising. Philippine television company ABC-5 was first to brought this to Philippine television making 90s kid like myself enjoy the 1950's classic. Let's go down memory lane with Gumby.


Gumby - The Show
About Gumby

Gumby follows the adventures of titular character along with his sidekick is Pokey, a talking orange (clay) pony through different environments and at times even in history. Gumby's nemeses are the Blockheads who are a pair of humanoid red-colored figures with cube-shaped heads wreaking mischief and havoc. Other characters in the Gumby series includes Prickle, a yellow dinosaur who sometimes styles himself as a detective ala Sherlock Holmes; Goo, a flying blue mermaid; Gumby's dog Nopey, whose entire vocabulary is the word "nope"; a mastodon friend called Denali; Gumby's sister Minga; and lastly Gumby's parents, Gumbo and Gumba.

Gumby Opening Theme
Gumby Series Intro



Gumby!

He was once a little green slab of clay. Gumby!
You should see what Gumby can do today. Gumby!
He can walk into any book, with his pony pal Pokey, too.
If you've got a heart then Gumby's a part of you.
Gumby Adventures Opening Theme
Gumby Adventures Series Intro





What can we say about Gumby? Well, growing up in the 90s, I was able to somewhat "enjoy" the adventures of Gumby back when it aired on ABC-5. I didn't know how to exactly feel back then, I knew as a kid it was entertaining but there is somehow that strange feel to it. Probably because of the unique stop-motion clay animation that the show primarily used; a breathe of fresh air from the usual studio-drawn and animation of cartoons. In a way it was weird because you can very well be recreate Gumby and his friends in real life; in your own living room with toy-clay which was very popular back then both at home and in school.


Ah "clays" that easily maneuverable creative play thing. Brings out the creative side of you. I remember purchasing my first clay back in grade school from a merchant making his rounds in each class room. I remember the clay having a "detergent" bar presentation after it slid off that box. Sadly now we have mobile device as play things. Gone are the days where you can be creative with clays. Old man x 90s kid ranting over hahaha. It is quite odd to see Gumby, his friends, and even his rivals the Blockheads get squashed and still live through the next day. Why am I asking this. It is a kids show! Not that different on what most kids animated shows did (Looney Tunes, Popeye, Hanna Barbera Cartoons, etc).


How about you guys? What are your fondest memories of the show? Any favorite Gumby characters, episodes, merchandise, or even experience that you relate to the show? Share your thoughts about the beloved Gumby in the comments section below: