MANILA, Philippines?Of course, there has to be an article about this huge part of my earlier career? I mean, what would my back-story be without it?

In 1986, 16 of show biz?s younger denizens were called to duty by Master Showman German Moreno (more affectionately, ?Kuya Germs?) to join a new program that would be named ?That?s Entertainment.?

We would be divided into groups of four, each group hosting a different day of the week. All of us would then come together every Friday, to sing, dance, host, do duets with other artists from another day, or just hang out.

The original 16 included: Kristina Paner, Jestoni Alarcon, Manilyn Reynes, Lovely Rivero, Gigi dela Riva (now Bautista), Mon Alvir, Sheryl Cruz, Francis Magalona, Jon Hernandez (+), JC Bonnin, and Mags Bonnin. I was part of the Thursday group with the Bonnins and Jon.

Later that first year, and every year that followed, more young performers joined in? Richard Bonnin, Ian Veneracion, Fatima Alvir, Melissa Silvano, Rachel Alejandro, Dennis da Silva, Dranreb Belleza, Nadia Montenegro, Bing Loyzaga, Janno Gibbs, Ricky Rivero, Lilet, Niño Muhlach, Marco Polo Garcia, Jennylyn, Tanya Montenegro, Jean Garcia, Romnick Sarmenta, Isabel Granada, Chuckie Dreyfus? The list reads like a young show biz who?s who.

Let?s see? how did it go?

Kuya Germs always opened the show and introduced each host for the day. One by one we would then run (and I mean run) to a microphone on a stand set up in the middle of the floor, say a quick welcome and get seated in the back. After a commercial break, we would then sit on the floor for some impromptu (read: unscripted, unprompted, unrehearsed) repartee or conversation? I can?t remember the topics of those talks, save for one, when Juan Bonnin spoke about a car accident scene he saw on his way to the studio. He told the audience to be careful. We all agreed. After another commercial break, there would be some songs or dances? and then probably another break, after which it was time to say goodbye.

The hosts were the primary source of entertainment on the show and not outside guests, although there probably were a few visitors in the course of its run. Which meant that, at any given evening, there would be dance rehearsals at any of the active dance studios around town and recording sessions at Cinema Audio Recording Studios.

I remember heading over to Cinema Audio one fine evening, and finding myself in a queue, since quite a few other ?That?s? members had gotten there before me. It was so lovely to find other very supportive colleagues in the control booth, providing much needed feedback or inspiration to get you through a difficult song (Gigi?s face, in particular, was my rock while I recorded ?Almost Over You?). I?d try to finish as many songs as I could in one go, so that I would have a nice stash from which to choose on any given Thursday.

On the show?s first anniversary, we had a huge extravaganza at the Araneta Coliseum? as well as a competition. Hormonally charged, adrenaline pumped, fierce competition. Each group had to perform a song-and-dance number, and each number would then be judged (heading the panel was Armida Siguion-Reyna). Group by group, the song-and-dance numbers came, each group feeling that its number was the best of the night. Of course. We had all put in many hours of dance rehearsals and painstakingly created the medleys we would sing. Mind you, not everyone could really sing or really dance, but the effort put forth was absolutely admirable.

During final rehearsals the day before the show, each group went up on the Big Dome?s stage to practice. I watched from the sidelines sizing each number up, figuring out who our group?s closest competitors were (yes, I?m competitive? sue me). In my mind, if we were to win, we had to outdo whatever everyone else was doing.

Anyway? back to the show. Each group went up and performed? after our number, I retreated to the dressing room, where I overheard snippets of conversations among members of the other groups with this same theme: ?Of course we?re going to win, we?re the best!?

So, which group won, as announced enthusiastically by Tita Midz herself? The Thursday Group! My group!!! Jon Hernandez was screaming at the top of his lungs, thanking every single person who had helped us out, particularly Ed, our tireless choreographer. The rest of us were running around like crazy people all over the stage. It was such an amazing experience performing with these people? one enormous high.

That evening, during the anniversary party at the Vera-Perez compound, I announced that I would be leaving the show to concentrate on my studies. I was entering my senior year of high school and wanted to focus on college applications and entrance exams. Sure, it was bittersweet, but Kuya Germs completely understood. Jean Garcia was my replacement.

The show has long gone off the air, and many of its past members have moved on to incredible careers? others have returned to private life, after having experienced a very public existence as members of this show. Personally, I?m grateful to Kuya Germs for the opportunity to improve whatever skills I had? I was a host? I sang almost every week? I danced quite a few times with some really great groups? I did duets with some really fantastic vocalists? and made some wonderful life-long friends.

Call me corny, even baduy, but I shall always remember with fondness my days as a member of ?That?s.?