“Po” and “opo” helped set Musikwela in motion.
When Ellen Estrada noticed her daughter’s classmates were no longer using these familiar expressions of respect, she decided to put her creative skills to work. She wrote a song about them. That concern eventually grew into Musikwela, an online Filipino children’s show that uses music, storytelling, puppetry, and animation to introduce young viewers to Filipino values and culture.
This November, Musikwela will release five new 30-minute episodes in time for National Children’s Month. Co-produced by Ideasquest, Inc. and the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), an attached agency of the Department of Education, the episodes explore respect for elders, indigenous cultures, autism awareness and understanding, disaster preparedness, and environmental care.
Leading the adventures are Ate Yumi and puppet friends Potpot, Lala, and Biboy. Together, they are the Musikscouts, or Musikwela Scouts, whose stories encourage children to learn, discover, and express themselves confidently.
A mother’s concern becomes a children’s show
The idea for Musikwela began in 2014. Estrada, its founder and executive director, is also the creative director and head of Ideasquest, Inc., an advertising boutique agency and animation studio.
“I somehow felt alarmed. Sila kasi ang mga kasabay ni Yumi paglaki. This thought lingered for some time, then I finally decided to do something about it. I know I can write stories and make music. With our company, I have the resources that I need, so I just went to work and made a song about Po and Opo.”
According to Musikwela, its “Po at Opo” and “Ang Bagong Alpabetong Filipino” songs went on to reach 3.4 million and 4.7 million views, respectively.
The show’s purpose extends to teaching empathy, respect for others and the environment, and love for God and country.
“We want to raise a generation of Filipinos who are proud to be Filipinos and live with empathy, respect for oneself, others, and the environment, and aspire to make a positive difference in our society. In Musikwela, we believe that character building also equates to nation building,” Estrada says.
Since 2017, Musikwela has served as a teaching resource for teachers, parents, and other educators. Online learning during the pandemic gave its content another role in children’s learning at home.
Meet Ate Yumi and the Musikscouts
Ate Yumi is played by Estrada’s daughter, Yumi Sansano, a multi-medalist at the 2019 World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California. She earned the Champion of the World for Opera title in the Junior Division.
Sansano was also a Season 1 host of PTV 4’s children’s program Artsy Craftsy. A soprano, she has performed for the President, ambassadors, and distinguished guests.
Her puppet companions each bring different interests and personalities to the group.
Potpot is an eight-year-old red, furry puppet who loves playing the guitar, a skill he learned from his lolo. The cheerful musician believes songs can tell stories, bring people together, and make ordinary moments memorable. His beloved dog, Pawpaw, often joins his adventures.
Six-year-old Lala is the group’s creative artist. The pink, furry puppet enjoys drawing, painting, and using her imagination to turn everyday things into something colorful and meaningful. Friendly, thoughtful, and empathetic, she believes caring should be expressed through actions.
Biboy is the biggest puppet but the youngest at five years old. He loves nature, plants, and gardening, and enjoys tinkering and experimenting to create something new.
Bringing these characters to the screen requires careful work behind the scenes.
“Shooting with puppets is actually challenging. Puppetry is very technical, especially performing on TV. You must have the right angle. Sometimes our puppeteers had to perform in very uncomfortable positions to get the right shot for that scene so the character looked completely natural on camera,” Estrada explains.
Five episodes for families to watch together
The new episodes take the Musikscouts from family celebrations to outdoor adventures, giving children stories about relationships, responsibility, and understanding others.
Episode 1: Grandparents’ Day
The Musikscouts excitedly prepare for Grandparents’ Day, thinking of different ways to make their lolos and lolas feel special. Their preparations introduce lessons about honoring elders, expressing gratitude, and appreciating the important role grandparents play in Filipino families.
Episode 2: Campout Day
Potpot’s dog, Pawpaw, is missing, and the Musikscouts set off to find him with help from their new Aeta friend, Kuya JR. Along the way, they discover the Philippines’ diverse Indigenous Peoples, cultures, traditions, and languages. Kuya JR’s knowledge and skills prove invaluable to their search.
Episode 3: Talent Show
With encouragement from the Musikscouts, shy Kiko finds the confidence to share his singing voice. Meanwhile, Lala befriends Gelo, a talented young artist with autism, through their shared love of painting.
With guidance from Best Buddies Philippines, Lala learns to understand Gelo’s sensory needs. Their friendship explores empathy, acceptance, and making space for one another’s differences.
Episode 4: Emergency Drill
The Musikscouts help Chuchay understand why preparing for fires, earthquakes, storms, and floods is important. Ate Yumi explains how the Philippines’ location makes it particularly exposed to typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
Through practical lessons and teamwork, the episode shows children the importance of being prepared, knowing what to do, and staying calm during emergencies.
Episode 5: Care for Mother Nature
A wetlands visit to see migratory birds turns into a mission to help clean and protect the surroundings. The Musikscouts learn proper waste segregation, the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling, and how mangroves help protect and sustain the environment.
The adventure carries a simple reminder: we need to care for the world we share.
Filipino stories beyond the new episodes
Before producing these five episodes, Musikwela had already created 13 videos, including animated songs and Ang Bayani at Ang Kanyang Sandok, a documentary about food chemist and war heroine Maria Orosa.
The documentary won Best Documentary and Most Child-Friendly Documentary in the Adult Division of the NCCT’s 2023 DokyuBata Film Festival. It also received the Special Jury Citation for Educational Documentary for Children at Baguio’s Montañosa Film Festival’s Pelik Ubbing.
Musikwela recently held its media launch at VS Cinema, located on the eighth floor of Victoria Sports Tower 2, 799 EDSA, Quezon City. Supporting the event were Ceelin Gummies, Ceelin Immunped, Appebon, Allerkid, White Rabbit Philippines, Wildfire, Inc., Shop N Play, and Kontrata.ph.
Where to watch Musikwela
The five new episodes will be available this November through Musikwela’s Facebook, website, and YouTube. Viewers can also follow its Instagram and TikTok accounts.
For Estrada, watching is only the beginning. She hopes families will use the episodes as opportunities to ask questions, try activities, and spend time together.
“Technology is now a big part of our lives. There are also different parenting styles. I hope Musikwela becomes a family activity, where parents watch it together with their children. I also hope it will spark a child’s curiosity so that they will ask questions to their parents about the episode, do the same craft activity they saw on the show, or sing the songs together,” she says.
Her longer-term hope is for Yumi, Lala, Potpot, and Biboy to become childhood friends that Filipino viewers remember as they grow.
“I hope Musikwela becomes a recognizable Filipino children’s educational entertainment brand that children watch, sing with, learn from, participate in, and grow up remembering.”
