How the stars aligned for MJ Felipe
Broadcast journalist and ABS-CBN’s senior entertainment reporter MJ Felipe is taking on a new adventure, literally and figuratively. In his newest show, Are You G?, MJ steps out of the usual celebrity news format and dives into fun-filled activities and meaningful conversations with today’s biggest stars.
The show, which airs on The Filipino Channel or TFC (a global subscription television network owned and operated by ABS-CBN), brings out the real, raw, and unfiltered sides of celebrities. He does this through adventures that come in thrilling or hilarious activities.
Are You G?, a Gen Z slang for “Are You Game?”, is the perfect title for a show that captures MJ’s vibrant personality and adventurous spirit. He embodies the spirit of being all in when it comes to work. From Vice Ganda and Melai Cantiveros to Antoinette Jadaone, Francine Diaz, Jessy Mendiola, RK Bagatsing, and Gerald Anderson, MJ shows a more relaxed and unguarded side of these stars. He tries out being a barista, doing coffee art, or going on a wet market tour.
The secret ingredient to the show isn’t just the activities. It’s MJ himself. Known for his warmth, wit, and passion for interviews and storytelling, MJ brings his signature energy and empathy to every episode. After more than two decades in entertainment journalism, this show feels like a homecoming and a leveling up for the resident showbiz insider.
“I may not be studying the stars,” MJ once said in a 2023 interview on Magandang Buhay, a talk show hosted by Jolina Magdangal, Melai Cantiveros, and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, “but I’m working with the stars.”
It’s a bit poetic for someone who, in another life, could have been an expert on stars as celestial bodies. A Physics graduate from De La Salle University in Manila, MJ’s career path is far from traditional. After college, he worked in a call center for three years before finding his way into media. His big break came in 2004, when he joined and won a competition for showbiz writing. I witnessed the reality segment of an entertainment program that narrowed down contestants weekly until the team found a winner. From there, he was absorbed into the iconic showbiz-oriented talk show The Buzz, and the rest, as they say, is showbiz history.
In his more than 20 years in the industry, MJ has broken major and controversial stories, including the surprise wedding of Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli and the much-publicized controversy involving Bea Alonzo, Gerald Anderson, and Julia Barretto. But the road wasn’t always smooth.
“If you’re looking for controversy, I’ve had plenty,” MJ recalled. “I’ve been called into the office so many times, argued with managers, and there was even a sexy drama actress who threw a logbook at me out of frustration.”
Through it all, MJ remained grounded. His inspiration? Family. Although his entire family migrated to the United States years ago, MJ stayed behind in the Philippines, alone but not lonely.
“I’ve been living alone for 20 years,” MJ shared in Magandang Buhay. “That’s why I treat my work and ABS-CBN as my family.”
Being the eldest of three siblings and raised to be independent, MJ found strength in solitude. His love for the Philippines and its stories is what anchors him. With Are You G?, he now gets to share those stories in a fresh and exciting way, not just with Filipinos here but also with those abroad like his family.
What makes the show even more interesting than just getting to know the stars is how it captures the spirit of “G.” It’s all about being game for anything, up for a challenge, and open to being real. It’s about adventure, but also connection. It is done with heart, humor, and a whole lot of good vibes, in true MJ fashion.
So, are you G to see celebrities like you’ve never seen them before? MJ Felipe surely is, and we can catch his adventures on The Filipino Channel IPTV or ABS-CBN’s multimedia platforms.
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