Doraemon in the Philippines

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Title Card

Doraemon in Philippines refers to the Filipino & Cebuano adaptations of the Doraemon series in the Philippines.

Manga

One of the pages in the Doraemon Filipino comics

In 2009, JLINE COMICS CENTER published Filipino editions of several Doraemon comics. There are 45 volumes currently in sale in bookstores nationwide. Doraemon's last volume was released on December 22, 2014.

Anime

Since 1999, the GMA television network aired a Filipino and Cebuano adaptation of TV Asahi's Doraemon anime series. However, due to somewhat tighter media controls in the market, and due to Gian/Damulag's frequent use of cartoon violence and Shizuka's love for bathing, and Drunken Lid, and sexual contents such of Nobita pulls Shizuka's clothes, etc. the MTRCB (the Filipino media watchdog) requests "PG" (Parental Guidance) for "very young audiences".

From 1999 to 2016, they use the 1979 series. From 2016, GMA stopped broadcasting the 1979 episodes and then broadcast five of the Doraemon movies from July 2012 to June 2016 on a different time-slot (9:10 am [Saturday], 7:50 am [Sunday]) (See the film section). Starting on January 4, 2016, GMA aired the 2005 series on its original time-slot (7:35am, Monday-Friday). From May 27, 2019, GMA's license for the anime series were expired and rival ABS-CBN's sister channel YeY! channel will airs the 2005 series episodes. It has received own eyecatches for the Filipino dub of the 1979 anime series and 2005 anime series, which aired on GMA (1999-2016) and YeY! channel (2019-2020).

On June 30, 2020, YeY! (alongside the rest of ABS-CBN permanently ceased broadcasting on that night due to the cease-and-desist order (ACDO) issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and Solicitor General Jose Calida against ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries. Because of this, the Filipino dub of Doraemon anime series was cancelled after 21 years since its debut on GMA. It is currently unknown if the dub will return to GMA.

However, A2Z, a channel of the Philippines religious multimedia tycoon ZOE Broadcasting Network has posted a "One of D biggest cartoons has found a new home" teaser ad on Facebook in July of 2021, which is a hint of Doraemon anime may return to the Philippines, and it become a hot topic in Philippines alongside local fans. ZOE and ABS-CBN also recently has signed a cooperation agreement, allowing A2Z to air former programming from that defunct channel. The ad video was posted on Facebook a few days later, on July 8 of the same year, revealing that the anime will receive a special limited run with back-to-back episodes on 8AM-9AM morning timeslot every Saturday and will be premiered on July 10.

Changes

• Gian's nickname is changed to Damulag literally meaning "big kid".
• Sensei is called Titser (lit. "Teacher" in Cebuano which borrowed from English).
• Gian's song in his concerts is changed into Ako ay may Lobo in Filipino and Ako Adunay Lobo in Cebuano both are mean "I had an Balloon" which is a children's song in the Philippines and, However, it ruined is due to the Gian's terrible singing voice.
• 4D Pocket is renamed to Ang Mahiwagang Bulsa in Filipino and Ang Tinagong SAC in Cebuano that can be translated to The Magical Pocket.
• Memory Bread is renamed to Ang Mahiwagang Memory Bread in Filipino and Ang Misteryosong Memory Bread in Cebuano meaning The Magical Memory Bread.
• Dorayaki is renamed into Hopia (loanword from Hokkien 好餅 literarly mean "good pastry"), a Filipino version of Dorayaki.
• Sunetsugu is renamed Sunegu.

Voice Actors

• Jimmy Figueroa/Jefferson Utanes/Bernie Malejana as Doraemon
• Julius Figueroa/Ryan Bondoc/Jefferson Utanes/Mark Ivan Uy as Nobita
• Robert Brillantes/Kevin James Stevens/Pipooh Villavicencio/Jose Marie Galvez as Damulag
• Robert Brillantes/Kevin James Stevens as Suneo
• Ed Belo/Kevin James Stevens/Steve dela Cruz as Nobisuke Nobi
• Arlene Bacay as various characters
• Ahlee Reyes as various characters
• Charvie Abeletes as various characters
• Mark Aspiras as various characters

Films

The Filipino and Cebuano dub version of Nobita and the Animal Planet aired on GMA Television on July 1, 2012 as Doraemon Adventures presents Nobita and the Animal Planet.

The film Stand by Me Doraemon, was released on June 17, 2015 in a limited number of cinemas nationwide. Unlike other anime movies, Stand by Me Doraemon released as a regular movie. The film is also presented in English, unlike the TV series. This dub is different from the Bang Zoom dub and is considered lost.

Official Filipino movie poster of Nobita's Great Battle of the Mermaid King

The Filipino and Cebuano version of Nobita's Great Battle of the Mermaid King aired on GMA television. The movie is split into four parts, the first part is released on October 31, 2015, the second part is released on November 1, 2015, the third part was released on November 7, 2015 and the last part is released on November 8, 2015.

The Filipino and Cebuano version of Nobita and the New Steel Troops ~Angel Wings~ also aired on GMA television as "Nobita and the Steel Troops - The New Age". The movie is also split into four parts, the first part is released on November 14, 2015, the second part is released on November 15, 2015, the third part is released on November 21, 2015 and the last part is released on November 22, 2015.

The Filipino and Cebuano version of Nobita and the Island of Miracles ~Animal Adventure~ aired on GMA television as "Nobita and the Last Haven - Animal Adventure". The movie is split into four parts, the first part is released on November 28, 2015, the second part is released on November 29, 2015, the third part is released on December 5, 2015 and the last part will be released on December 6, 2015.

The Filipino version of Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum ~museum Adventure~ also aired on GMA television as "Nobita in the Secret Gadgets Museum" ("Ang Museo ng Sikretong Gagamitan ni Nobita" by Doraemon in the opening). The movie is split into four parts, the first part is released on December 12, 2015, the second part is released on December 13, 2015, the third part is released on December 19, 2015 and the last part is released on December 20, 2015. In the movie, Mii Chan's name is changed into Min and Kaitou DX's name is renamed into Dakilang Magnanakaw na si Deluxe, literally meaning Deluxe the Mighty Thief, though Nobita called him Deluxe na Salarin (Deluxe the Culprit) before.

The Filipino version of Nobita and the Wind Wizard will also air on GMA television as "Nobita and the Mysterious Wind Wizard".

ABS-CBN, aired the film Stand by Me Doraemon, initially on March 13, 2016 at 10:30 am, but due to unknown reasons, it aired instead on March 26, 2016 . ABS-CBN then makes an apology letter to fans and thanks them for "stand by Doraemon".

In order to celebrate Holy Week, GMA television airs three Doraemon films. The first film is Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 that aired on March 24, 2016. The second film, Nobita's Dorabian Nights aired on March 25, 2016. The third film, Nobita and the Green Giant Legend aired on March 26, 2016 as "Nobita and the Giant's Legend of the Green Planet".

On June 23, 2016 (and on June 24, 2016), GMA aired the Filipino version Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds, albeit it splitted into parts, due to time constraints.

The Filipino dub of Doraemon: Nobita's Chronicle of the Moon Exploration released in Philippines theaters on July 24, 2019, marking probably that the last Doraemon film to be dubbed in Filipino language.

Recently, it is announced that the 2020 film Doraemon: Nobita's New Dinosaur and as well as Stand by Me Doraemon 2 will be released in Philippines in February 19, 2021 and Ferbuary 24, 2021, respectively. but instead of the Filipino dub, it uses the original Japanese dub with English subtitles for both movies. (This is probably due to factor that the Filipino dub of the anime ended in 2020 and ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic) It also happened in Singapore too.

Other Media

Doraemon & friends at The Ryzza Mae Show

In Eat Bulaga's segment On the Spot, the voice actors of Doraemon, Nobita & Tamako Nobi were there as contestants.

Doraemon & Nobita appeared on the show Unang Hirit for the 14th anniversary of the show in December 2013.

In the published Wattpad book called "Four Bad Boys and Me", Jeydon Lopez , Candice Gonzales's boyfriend, is a fan of Doraemon. His room is full of Doraemon merchandise. The book will be adapted to a movie, with Janella Salvador and Marlo Mortel as Candice and Jeydon, respectively.

Doraemon & his friends appeared as guests on The Ryzza Mae Show as part of a promotion for Stand by Me Doraemon on June 17, 2015.

Doraemon appeared twice on Jessica Soho. Some who managed their appearance said that the mascots were identical to those used by TV Asahi in Japan.

Doraemon, Nobita and Shizuka at the Cool Japan Festival on November 7-8, 2015

Doraemon participated in the Cool Japan Festival on November 7-8, 2015 along with Hello Kitty.

In the show iBilib Doraemon and Nobita appeared as a guest twice in 2016 and 2017 without Shizuka, Gian and Suneo.

Promotions

In 2021, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the franchise, McDonalds Philippines have announced that they'll sent two free Doraemon toys for those who purchased ₱90 of Happy Meal.

Videos

|One promo of A2Z Channel of this Dub.

References

The Philippines is mentioned few times in the original series. In Nobita Swallows, Doraemon mentioned that swallows migrate to the Philippines for winter, due to that the Philippines only has sunny and rainy seasons. Another one is in the movie Nobita’s Birth of Japan, wherein Manila (the capital of the Philippines) was mentioned since the governors from Mexico ran this place. In the episode Weather Exchanging Maps, Nobita used the Philippines' weather to demonstrate the gadget to Shizuka.

Trivia

Suneo's naked scene is SPG rating by MTRCB is a sexual content.

• Doraemon is one of GMA's longest-running TV series.
• The Philippine franchise of Doraemon (both GMA and ABS-CBN) is actually in "Filipino language" (The 'national language' of the Philippines) and not in "Tagalog language" (A 'regional language' spoken near the Philippine's capital region), but some people misunderstood it as Tagalog language.
• With the exception of the 4D Pocket, none of Doraemon's gadgets have Filipino names.
• One of Doraemon's Filipino quotes (Hindi mo dapat iniiyakan ang nakaraan. Isipin mo, bakit nasa harap ang mata? Ito ay para lagi mong nakikita ang iyong hinaharap. "You must not weep for the past. Mind you, why the eye? It is like you always see your future.") and Cebuano quotes (Kamo kinahanglan dili paghilak sa nangagi. Hunahunaa, nganong sa atubangan sa inyong mga mata? Kini mao ang alang kaninyo sa kanunay makita ang imong umaabot. "You must not cry in the past. Think, why in front of your eyes? This is for you to always see your future.") is frequently used in exchanges amongst Filipinos.
• The episode card title is not edited., and always appears in Japanese.
• Doraemon is pronunced as Do-REI-mon in this locale for some reasons.
• Some Filipino Doraemon fans prefer the use of the unofficial name Nobitski for Nobita.
• Though Shizuka's Filipino and Cebuano voice actor is currently not named by GMA, either Arlene Bacay or Ahlee Reyes are believed to be in said position.
• Doraemon's previous time-slots on GMA were 7:00am each Monday to Wednesday, then from 2004 until 2015, it was changed into 9:10am on Saturdays and 7:50am on Sundays. Newer episodes of the 2005 anime air each Friday night at around 8:00pm.
• Shizuka's name is pronounced as Shishuka, since the letter Z is unpronounceable in other Philippine languages. However, Kurt Hartman pronounced Shizuka's name with her actual Japanese pronunciation of her name.
• Oh Orange sells Doraemon plushies.
• GMA television acquired Doraemon anime rights while ABS-CBN broadcast the Stand by Me Doraemon film due to its relationship with the movie distributor.
• For some years, Doraemon anime series were received the unofficial pirated home video releases on Philippines.
  • In ABS-CBN's Stand by Me Doraemon, some names of the characters were from the English Dub (Sewashi to Soby; Sensei to Mr. S) for some reasons.
• The scene from Shizuka-chan, in an Egg and some scenes from Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding were removed.
• As stated above, MTRCB rated all of the anime episodes as "PG" (Parental Guidance) and G (General Patronage). They also rated some episodes as "SPG" (Strict Parental Guidance) due to tight censorship rules in Philippines. All of naked scenes of characters in Episodes like "Ang Mga Powder para sa Tubig", "Ang Dress-up Camera" and many more are Rated SPG because of sexual content.

Reference List

• GMANetwork.com