It was his relentless disposition that endeared German Moreno to Filipino audiences for more than half a century.
The godfather of Philippine showbiz was fondly known as Kuya Germs – kuya meaning “older brother”.
In 1986, he launched the youth-focused talent programme That's Entertainment, which ran for 10 years, ushering in a new era for the local film and television industries and launching the careers of more than 200 celebrities.
He was also the country's "Master Showman", hosting a late-night variety show called Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman, broadcast every Saturday since 1997. "Walang tulugan" translates as "no sleeping".
“They always ask me: ‘Why don’t you go and retire?’,” Moreno told me in 2011, when he was 77. “My God, I’ll get even weaker.” He paused, then continued with a smile: “I started on the stage, I will die on the stage.”
It did not quite turn out that way. Moreno died on Friday in hospital at the age of 82 after suffering a stroke the previous evening.
His nephew, John Nite, who co-hosted Walang Tulugan with Moreno until his final episode the weekend before his death, said he lived a full life.
“He touched many hearts through the years, and helped make dreams come true.”
Star-maker
Moreno’s storied career began in the 1960s, when he worked at one of Manila’s small theatres as a janitor and curtain-raiser.
Later, he performed as a stage comic and made the move to television as a presenter on the long-running lunchtime variety programme, GMA Supershow.
That's Entertainment is Moreno's great legacy. The daily talent programme, featuring a revolving cast of teenage aspirants performing song-and-dance numbers, discovered most of the country's biggest stars. They include Lea Salonga, Billy Crawford and Francis Magalona.
“When you think about it, I started reality TV,” Moreno told me. “When I’m in a restaurant or in the mall, people still scream at me: ‘Walang Tulugan! Kuya Germs, why don’t you bring back That’s?’”
A caring pioneer
As word spread of Moreno’s death, the Philippines went into collective mourning. Fans expressed their grief, while former proteges wrote tributes and shared memories. #KuyaGerms trended worldwide online. In response to public demand, his wake on Saturday was opened up to fans.
Moreno’s home television network, GMA-7, said it was “deeply mourning with the entire entertainment industry. His dedication will serve as an inspiration to all.”
I witnessed such dedication first-hand when I visited the set of Walang Tulugan in 2011. Within 20 minutes of shadowing Moreno backstage, no fewer than a dozen people had approached him to ask for advice or guidance: a production assistant asking him to approve the set design, a fan asking for money, a mother asking him to make her 7-year-old son a star, and many more.
Later, Moreno shared a revelation that stunned his peers and supporters when the interview was published: he was personally paying the salaries of his co-hosts and the guests on the programme.
“I fund it all, not the company [GMA-7],” he said.
When I asked, somewhat bluntly, how much he earned, Moreno replied: “Very little. But I don’t think about that anymore. I’m OK. At this age, I don’t think about myself anymore.”
Three hours later, Walang Tulugan finished filming. As the worn-out but happy audience ambled out of the television studio, Moreno slowly walked across the stage. His back was hunched. He looked exhausted. I decided it was best not to disturb him further, and just to leave without saying goodbye.
To my surprise, I saw him walking towards where I was standing, in a far corner of the studio.
“Have you eaten?,” he asked me, concealing the fatigue in his face. “Do you want me to ask someone to get you something?”
Kuya Germs will be a hard act to follow – and impossible to forget.
artslife@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
More on animal trafficking
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
