ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata — A Retrospective | ABS-CBN 90s Educational Children's Television Show

ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata, directly translates to "And More: Song, Letter and Number for Kids", or simply ATBP was Filipino educational television show for children which aired in ABS-CBN during the 90s. ATBP, which was an abbreviation of "At Iba Pa" (literally translateds to "And More"), had a 30-minute television running time and originally aired from June 1994 to March 1998; it was created and produced by ABS-CBN with executive producer Gilbert Perez, written by Don Cuaresma and Richard Reynante, and directed by Laurenti Dyogi. Let's go down memory lane with this iconic Filipino-centric educational show for kids called ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata. AB, CD, EF, G, HI, JK, L, M, N, Ñ, Ng...


ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata - The Show
About - ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata

ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata or simply ATBP is an all Filipino educational show for children. If Sineskwela was to Science, Math-tinik was to Math, Bayani was to History or HeKaSi (old grade school curriculum Heograpiya, Kasaysayan, at Sibika), then ATBP was to Filipino. One can even say that ATBP was the Filipino Sesame Street, just like another educational Filipino kid's show, Batibot.

ATBP follows the Sesame Street and Batibot mechanics featuring a combination of human, muppets, and animations usually incorporating sing and dance numbers to convey the lesson of the day. One of the main character in this nostalgic ABS-CBN children's educational morning program is Piolo Pascual who played the role of Kuya Miguel. The other cast of ATBP includes Isay Alvarez as Remy, Raul Arellano as Berting, Dois Riego de Dios as Arman, Zeus Inocencio as Pol, Amiel Leonardia as Lino, Lorna Lopez as Ms. Carunungan, Jake Macapagal as Doctor Millares, Charmaine Nueros as Becky, Janice Pronstroller as Mrs. Millares, and Ama Quiambao as Tinay. ATBP is still being re-aired through educational cable television network, the Knowledge Channel.

ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata Opening Theme
ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata Series Intro


ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata Closing Theme
ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata Series Outro


So what can be said about ATBP: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata? ATBP will be forever be ingrained for those 90s kid glued to their television. While many will always have Sesame Street and Batibot as their default educational kid's show, ATBP cannot be dimissed. What is the best memory that most of us had with ATBP? Well, one memorable thing about it is its "Alpabetong Filipino" which to me is still relevant and is a great complimentary piece to the English "Alphabet Song." Here is a little clip of that last song syndrome and nostalgic "Alpabetong Filipino" from At Iba Pa (ATBP):





Making this retrospective now, I canb't say that I am someone who have fully followed the show as I recall most of its characters unlike that of other ABS-CBN educational kids show—Sineskwela, Bayani, to name a few— or maybe my memory is fuzzy about it. I also don't recall Piolo Pascual being in it. Maybe I wasn't that big of an ABS-CBN viewer at that time. Maybe you guys have better memory than I do so feel free to share them at the comments section and let's all go down memory lane and relive our ATBP nostalgic past. There is also little information to work with in the ATBP wikipedia entry to jog the memory.


How about you guys? What are your fondest and favorite memories, episodes, characters, and topics covered in the phenomenal ABS-CBN 90s Filipino-themed edutainment kids show? Share your thoughts and opinion about Sineskwela in the comments section below:

Batibot | A PTV 80s Educational Show for Children Retrospective

Batibot was a popular Filipino children's television program based on Sesame Street. Batibot, a Filipino word which directly translates to "small, but strong and robust" premiered in May 14, 1984, with the name Sesame! which was eventually renamed to Batibot several years later. Batibot used both English and Filipino as the media of communication back when it was still Sesame! but became a completely Filipino language children's educational show once it transitioned to Batibot. Batibot broadcast nationwide from Monday to Friday on the Philippine television networks Radio Philippines Network (RPN) from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and on People's Television (PTV) (now National Broadcasting Network) from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. In 1991, the show switched to ABS-CBN but switched back to RPN in 1994 after the former decided to produce its own set of children TV programs through the ABS-CBN Foundation. In 1995, PCTVF signed a contract with GMA Network and Batibot was shown at its original morning time slot. It ran from May 14, 1984 – June 30, 2002 and later came back on TV5. Let's go down memory lane as we remember Batibot.

Batibot - The Show
About Batibot

Batibot featured both humans, muppets, and mascots as its main cast of characters. batibot is one of the Philippines' longest running educational kids program. The original Batibot human cast included Kuya Bodjie, (played by Bodjie Pascua), Batibot's resident story-teller know for his opening line "Mga Bata..." when starting with his stories; Ate Sienna (Sienna Olaso) a college student; Kuya Mario (Junix Inocian); Ate Isay (Isay Alvarez-Seña) popular for her "Kapit-bahay" music; and Kuya Ching (Ching Arellano), Batibot's resident jeepney driver.

BATIBOT Television Special and Original Cast Reunion

In 2007, A Batibot Reunion and Tribute Special was featured in a segment in Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho. Check it out here fellow Batang Batibot(s).

Some of Batibot's most notable muppet/mascot cast included Pong Pagong, a clumsy, pink full-body turtle wearing a baseball cap from Jose Rizal's story of "Ang Pagong at ang Matsing"; Kiko Matsing, a brown monkey version of Sesame Street's Oscar which is also Ang Pagong at ang Matsing; Koko Kwik-Kwak, or Koko for short that wears an ethnic-inspired beanie cap with a propeller made of green leaves; Manang Bola, the forgetful fortuneteller who still relies too much on her crystal ball named "perlas na bilog,". She divines the future by chanting "Bolang bilog, huwag patulog-tulog; sabihin ang sagot" and "ba-be-bi-bo-bu", teaching vowels in the process; Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang, two inquisitive space aliens who take delight in discovering things, places and people around them. Inspired from the nursery rhyme "Sitsiritsit, Alibangbang"; Ningning and Gingging*, the sisters. Ningning is the eldest girl, the serious type, while Gingging is younger and the playful one between the two siblings; and Kapitan Basa*, a superhero that loves to read. He solves language-related problems caused by his arch-nemesis, Patlang-Palit.

Batibot Opening Theme
Batibot Show Intro



Batibot Theme Song Lyrics

Pagmulat ng mata,
Langit nakatawa
Sa batibot,
Sa batibot
Tayo nang magpunta
Tuklasin sa batibot
Ang tuwa, ang saya

Doon sa batibot
Tayo na, tayo na
Mga bata sa batibot
Maliksi, masigla. (2x)

Dali, sundan natin
Ang ngiti ng araw
Doon sa batibot (2x)

Tayo nang magpunta
Tuklasin sa batibot
Ang tuwa, ang saya

Doon sa batibot
Tayo na, tayo na
Mga bata sa batibot
Maliksi, masigla. (2x)

I am one of those Batang Batibot Kids who usually takes a break from the usual censored violence of US animated shows and Japanese anime(s). Everyday was Batibot Day with Kuya Bodgie reading us stories with matching illustrations, the angelic voice of Ate Isay, the gruff voice of Kiko, and the playful Pong. 90s kids connected and related to Batibot because that is one of the only educational shows presented in Filipino which make it stand out from Sesame Street and the countless of animations which are usually dubbed in English. Well, this is probably just me growing up fascinated with puppets but back then they were really a good source of rich colorful information and imagination. Well we now have the internet for that. For people who grew up with Batibot, they will forever be in our hearts and minds. How about a home video compilations to give our kids a chance?

How about you guys, were you a Batang Batibot? Any favorite muppet, mascot, human character, segment, music, story or mercandise you want to share? Let us here your thoughts about Batibot in the comments section below: