My Girl and Ligaw na Bulaklak Help ABS-CBN TV Ratings

The premiere of Gerald and Kim's My Girl was a stunner as it not only was the number one program on ABS-CBN but it also managed to grab a rating of 28 percent to take the fifth position in the daytime race.

However, not to take anything away from GMA-7, which is still the winning station according to ratings, the top 4 positions belonged to their shows Dyesebel, Joaquin Bordado, Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita, and 24 Oras.

My Girl replaced Claudine Barretto's sineserye Maligno in the evening, but in the daytime race, ABS-CBN's new afternoon soap Ligaw na Bulaklak starring Roxanne Guinoo also had its debut Monday. The replacement show of Prinsesa ng Banyera got 15.6 percent to take the seventh place.

The full top 10 list of Philippine TV programs according to ratings is as follows:

1. Dyesebel (GMA-7)
2. Joaquin Bordado (GMA-7)
3. Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita (GMA-7)
4. 24 Oras (GMA-7)
5. My Girl (ABS-CBN)
6. Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus (ABS-CBN)
7. The Singing Bee (ABS-CBN)
8. TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN)
9. Lobo (ABS-CBN)
10. The Legend (GMA-7)

Billy Crawford New PDA and ASAP '08 Host

Buzz is spreading that Fil-Am international singer Billy Crawford, who I've only heard about, is making a jump in the showbiz scene by now becoming a Kapamilya with the signing of his contract with ABS-CBN.

Apparently a GMA-7 boy before, many of his friends from the opposing network channel are surprised about Crawford's reported role as host of the second season of Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA), which is set to begin next month. Alongside Billy will be Toni Gonzaga and Nikki Gil, who will also be hosting the show.

To add to his schedule, he will also be one of the hosts for ABS-CBN's popular noon-time musical-variety show ASAP '08. This is part of the exclusive contract that he will be signing with ABS-CBN, as soon as he returns from the US, that is.

Marian Denies Marina is Stale, but Dyesebel is Fresh

Word spread that Marian Rivera has grown big-headed due to her recent rise in popularity and top ratings yet again for her new soap Dyesebel.

She was quoted as calling Claudine Barretto's similar mermaid teleserye of the past, Marina, "bilasa" (stale). Apparently ABS-CBN is running reruns of Marina to try and compete with the new GMA-7 mermaid soap Dyesebel.

However, Marian denied insulting the opposing network's mermaid rendition, clarifying she only meant that Dyesebel was very fresh, which people then interpreted as meaning Marina was quite stale, or balisa.

"Gusto ko lang klaruhin ang tungkol diyan na wala akong sinasabing bilasa ang Marina," Marian clarified. "Ang sinabi ko, sariwang-sariwa si Dyesebel. Kung mayroong mga taong minasama ang comment ko na yun, problema na nila yun."

"Pero walang dahilan para ma-interpret nila sa maling anggulo yung sinabi ko. Excuse me, hindi ko ugaling mambastos. Wala akong binabanggit na pangalan ng ibang show o network, at ang pinakikialaman ko lang naman ay ang sarili naming show," continued the actress.

And no one could deny the popularity of Marian's show and herself as well. She pulled in much attention with her previous soap Marimar, and was now doing the same with Dyesebel, which has been continuously high in ratings with Mega Manila and NUTAM.