Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano admit they are nervous but very excited ahead of the airing of the pilot episode of their public service program CIA with BA—short for Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda—on GMA 7 last Sunday.
“There is a lot that hinges on that first episode so may kaunting kaba. But we are also very excited for the show,” Senator Alan said on Thursday.
“This is another avenue for us to help our kababayans, and we are eager to see where this leads us,” he added.
Senator Pia echoed her brother, saying they have always felt the weight of carrying on the legacy of their father, the late former Senator Rene Cayetano, whom many Filipinos know as the original Compañero.
“Kami ni (Senator) Alan, we have very big shoes to fill, lalo’t dala namin yung name na Cayetano. Our dad is practically synonymous with public service for many Filipinos, and this is us paying homage to that legacy,” she said.
The lady senator also said she felt honored to be working with Mr. Boy Abunda on the same public service program.
“We are grateful to Tito Boy for joining me and Senator Alan in this new endeavor. It is an honor to work with someone like him na talagang batikan na sa media,” she said.
The Cayetano siblings have joined forces with the country’s King of Talk Boy Abunda to provide legal advice to troubled Filipinos in a new late-night public service program CIA with BA starting February 5, 2023.
Featuring the second-generation Compañero and Compañera, CIA with BA airs every Sunday from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Taking inspiration from the well-received current affairs radio talk show Compañero y Compañera, which ran from 1997 to 2001 and hosted by their late father Senator Rene Cayetano, the sibling senators help arguing parties who have no access to legal services resolve their conflict from a legal perspective.
The program, which has a live studio audience, begins with the segment “Payong Kapatid,” where the senator siblings hear the consulting party, assess their issues, and provide counsel.
The Cayetanos help the two arguing parties reach a settlement in the “Case 2 face” segment in a courtroom setup.
The senator siblings and Abunda are joined by a community of opinionated and witty professionals, dubbed the “Mari-Team.”
A segment called “Salamat!” will also recognize and reward selfless individuals who have done a good deed for a fellow Filipino.
Each episode will conclude with “Alan, Pia, Pik!” and “Pachinko,” a fun segment where prizes will be given to winning audience participants.
Senator Alan said that while the show has quite a number of moving parts, the core of CIA with BA would always be public service and making the law work for ordinary Filipinos.
“We will make things exciting for the audience and the viewers at home, but at the end of the day, people come to the show para matulungan sila sa kanilang legal problems,” he said.
“Ako, I definitely hope that Senator Pia and I can bring that seriousness of purpose to the table,” he added.
