With mid-August entering and anticipation for MNL48‘s first single is building up, a few changes are about to happen. MNLife (and with it, MNLaugh) will end its run, hopefully to be replaced with something new, personality development seems to be in full swing, and several of the girls becoming more active in interacting with their fans.
MNLife comes to an End
MNLife, the revamped MNL48 Online Update, is ending its run, as announced in the August 6 episode. As a proto-type talk-show for MNL48, MNLife gave us priceless sneak peeks in the activities of the girls. In its short run, it managed to show which of the girls have the skills to be good hosts, which of the girls are better suited for variety, and some really memorable moments like Gia falling down.
The show has the obvious goal of “breaking in” the girls for public guestings and hostings. Basically helping them break out of their shell. In that regard, I would say that it was reasonably successful as the girls also used it as an opportunity to practice the lessons they’ve learned in Personality Development.
MNLife – August 3
Brei co-hosted this episode with Team N-IV where we learned of several stuff from the girls relating to their studies. A number of the members are under the Alternative Learning System and Jem is currently enrolled in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Here is a run-down of some of the stuff we found out from the episode:
- -The Six Rules of MNL48 (more on this later)
- The girls point to Brei as being one of the rowdy ones. The other ones being Belle and Ecka.
- Lara loves to sleep.
MNLife – August 6
Team L is featured in this episode with Kyla co-hosting. In addition to the announcement of the end of MNLife, the girls talked about their Personal Development class and with a video showing the girls undergo an activity to help them break out of their shell.
Because Kyla made them do a challenge wherein the girls are not allowed to use “filler words”, it restricted the info that the girls could have shared. But here are some that I managed to get:
- Gabb loves vinegar, using it as a sauce in everything.
- Kyla called Ash “silent but deadly”
- Mari loves milk. Kyla says you can see Mari walking in the mansion at night drinking milk.
- Grace is acknowledged as the eldest among the girls. She basically managed to get in before the age cut-off.
MNLife – August 8
Team M-II stars in this episode, co-hosted by Essel. The short video clip shown in the episode features Coach Angel giving out punishments for infractions.
It was explained that the Mansion had rules that all the girls needed to follow, and that every infraction resulted in the offending members being made to do physical exercises.
We also learned that:
- Lara cooked instant noodles in the CR.
- Dana, Nice, and Cess, and Sha were all caught using their phones during practice. Sha actually had a valid reason (something happened to her Dad), but still had to do the punishment.
- The girls have a 10PM Curfew and they would have to be in their rooms by then.
- Room-hopping is not allowed. Shaira admits to breaking this rule to sleep with her twin sister, Shaina.
- The team captains used to wake the girls up but now employ a bell that functions as their time-keeper. This actually brings back fond memories, but I can only imagine how tough it may be for the one ringing it.
MNLife – August 10
This episode was co-hosted by Daryl. This is the last regular episode of MNLife.
- Daryl is part of the Drum and Lyre band in her hometown.
- Daryl regularly joins beauty contests, showing off some modeling skills.
- Team N-IV has codenames: Ecka’s nickname is Ecka-Taba (Ecka Fatty). Even Sela didn’t back her friend up. Brei says that Ecka is worried about her BMI but still loves to eat.
- Abby is called “Abby-bi” because she’s like a baby.
- Alyssa is Aly-shark. A reference to the Shark game they played in MNLaugh where they teased Alyssa that her mouth is like the shark’s (nasty, I know).
- Aly is Aly-bagang. Because her cheeks is bloated after having some teeth taken out. The girls also said three dentists (or one dentist and two assistants) plus a staff had to hold Aly down during the extraction.
- Ecka and Sela love to do some body-building poses.
The 6 Rules of MNL48
Something came up several times last week while they were showing the notes of the girls to the camera. The 6 Rules of MNL48 read like a high-school student’s guidelines. We’re not really sure where these rules came from, if they were based on existing rules given by AKS to HHE, or if it’s something MNL48 itself came up with.
- Greet and respond in a loud and clear voice.
- Always be on time.
- Always challenge yourself to be better.
- Don’t be ashamed or afraid to try.
- Always listen.
- Cleanliness and hygiene.
Whereever these may have come from, they seem to be basic things every idol should know.
I really loved MNLife and am sad to see it go. But I am looking forward for a new and better show for MNL48. Hopefully with Hashtag Luke still as host.
MNL48 launched its first single, “Aitakatta – Gustong Makita” on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Back2gaming.com was invited to the event which also saw the opening of Movie Stars Cafe. The event was significant to me for two things: first, because I – and all the fans – have waited so long for the girls to debut. Seeing them in their ‘Aitakatta’ uniforms and be treated to an exclusive viewing of the single’s MV, was a culmination of years of hoping and following. Second, when MNL48 was announced, HHE held a fan-meeting in the old Movie Stars Cafe. That MNL48 went from concept to reality in the Movie Stars Cafe’s old and new venues seemed very fitting and brought the whole thing full-circle.
The single will hit the digital platforms iTunes and Spotify on August 31, 2018 with the physical album also being launched this month. The group will also have a live performance of “Aitakatta – Gustong Makita” and reveal its music video on “It’s Showtime” on August 18, 2018.
So, this is it, ladies and gentlemen. The MNL48 train is up and ready to go.
