Acquired Tastes: Juan on Juan

Last night, ZOE TV started airing my live television talk show, Juan on Juan. The product of a rushed weekend brainstorming session with ZOE TV station manager Jonathan Jabson, the show seeks to give ordinary people the opportunity to share their insights regarding the real-life issues that they are concerned with. As I announced in last night's telecast, this show is neither for the influential nor the powerful. Rather, it's for everyJuan.

Despite the fact that I had never done a live talk show before, and I am quite sure that I made more mistakes than is allowable under broadcast regulatory law, I had a great deal of fun. I can't claim the same on behalf of my guests, but I would like to thank them for the wonderful broadcast experience nonetheless.

My guests were also Juans. I invited Palanca award-winning playwright Christian Vallez, aka "Juan Ekis" and respected public servant Juan V. Borra, Jr., aka "Papa". I am honored by their acquiescence to my request and humbled by the depth and clarity with which they espoused, essentially, a view of life worth striving for.

Many thanks to the callers, particularly Coach Rick Reyes and Kat Aristorenas, for their kind words and support. Fortunately, there is no existing copy of the inaugural episode, and every week remains very much a tabula rasa and a welcome mystery.

Juan on Juan airs every Monday, 10 to 11 pm on ZOE TV, Sky Cable channel 5 and UHF channel 33.