RAYVER Cruz is one former Kapamilya star who’s so happy he became a Kapuso. Since he transferred to GMA-7, he has never been without an assignment. He got to act in soaps like “Asawa Ko, Karibal Ko,” “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Buhay Ko” and now, “Nagbabagang Luha.”

Aside from acting, he also got the chance to show his hosting, singing and dancing talents in such shows as “The Clash” and “All Out Sundays.” In contrast, his girlfriend, Janine Gutierrez, moved from GMA to ABS-CBN and we have yet to see her appearing in a new show.
“I’m really happy sa paglipat ko sa GMA-7,” said Rayver at the Zoom press con of “Nagbabagang Luha” that airs on GMA right after “Eat Bulaga.” He plays Alex, the role that Gabby Concepcion originally played in the movie version as the husband of Glaiza de Castro who is seduced by Glaiza’s own sister, Claire Castro. Is he also, like Alex, a ladies’ man in real life?
“Naku, dito lang po sa ‘Nagbabagang Luha’ na pinag-aagawan ako ng maraming babae,” he said with a laugh. “In real life, good boy po ako and stick to one. Ayoko po ng paiba-ibang girlfriends.”
He’s earning so well it now looks like he’s preparing for his forthcoming wedding to Janine.
“There’s no need to rush. Dapat pagplanuhan munang mabuti. I’m just thankful na ang daming dumarating na blessings sa buhay ko and I want to thank GMA for their continued trust in me.”
He knows the right time will come for him to start his own family. “Like my brother Rodjun, ang tagal muna nilang engaged before they tied the knot. And when they did, talagang reding-ready na sila and now, they have their own baby. Darating din naman ang tamang panahon from God as to when I can settle down and start my own family. When it comes, hindi ko naman itatago sa press. Isa kayo sa unang makakaalam.”
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‘The viewers now have so many venues to choose from in YouTube and social media — all for free.’
An advertising agency friend says the percentage of TV viewership has gone down lately.
We’re not surprised because free TV has so many competitors. There are many streaming channels now available, from Netflix to KTX to Vivamax, RAD, Upstream, plus various cable channels that offer their own original content. This lockdown we’re having has really been good for streaming services.
But more than the streaming and cable channels, we believe that the internet, YouTube and social media have really revolutionized the viewing habits of the public. Almost all movie stars have their own YouTube channel where they provide original content about themselves in their own personalized vlogs or even in their own social media accounts like Facebook channels and Instagram live.
The viewers now have so many venues to choose from in YouTube and social media — all for free. No wonder even advertisers are resorting to placing their ads on YouTube or individual vloggers and Tiktok-ers.
Everyone who is anyone can now be in showbiz by being an internet star, putting up their own content showing them doing comedy, pulling pranks, singing or dancing and all sorts of weird and riotous shenanigans, anything that can attract viewers.
Some vloggers and Tiktok stars with thousands of followers and subscribers have even gotten their own managers to negotiate for them in dealing with potential advertisers.
The offshoot of all these vlogs and Tiktok is that the interest of viewers, specially the younger ones, is also more fickle and their attention span is getting shorter. Younger viewers and consumers can easily get impatient and can no longer sit for hour-long shows, especially on free TV where shows are peppered with so many commercials. Many of them are no longer watching programming on traditional free TV so no doubt, TV viewing habits have really changed quite drastically.