Sine'skwela

Sine'skwela (lit. 'cine-school', a portmanteau of the Filipino words "sine" and "eskwela"), alternatively known as School on Air, is a Philippine educational children's television series produced by ABS-CBN Foundation (formerly ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation), Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS, now the Department of Education or DepEd). The show aims to educate children about science.

Format
Sine'skwela is a curriculum-based show, in line with the science classes of public elementary students from Grade 2 to 6 in the Philippines. The Department of Education mandated that the show will be used as a reference for school classes and be screened at least once a week. The episodes does not only focus on basic library research but also on conducted laboratory experiments and field investigations.

Presentation
Sine'skwela simplified the complicated principles of science and technology by casting animated characters, dramatization and colorful visual effects. It also taught children the practical application of science in everyday life. Originally the show cast had been subsequently changed yearly on a basis during the run of the program, the original concept which runs on a segment-by-segment manner from 1994 till 1995 when the conceptualization of segments and scenarios of the script which now based on an academic approval from the Department of Education from 1996 the end of the run.

Regular cast

 * Jon Santos
 * Tom Taus
 * John Prats
 * Camille Prats
 * Antoinette Taus
 * Paula Peralejo
 * Audie Gemora
 * Panjee Gonzalez as Ate Stella
 * Christine Bersola as Anatom
 * Brenan Espartinez as Agatom
 * Ding Lucina
 * Icko Gonzales as Kuya Bok
 * Sheena Ramos as Palikpik
 * Maan Munsayac as Kulitsap
 * Roobak Valle as Ugat-Puno
 * Kjell Villamarin
 * Allyzon Lualhati
 * Giselle Sanchez
 * Winnie Cordero as Teacher Wackee / Ate Winnie
 * Agatha Tapan as Mai-Mai
 * Ricardo Flores as Migo
 * BJ Rodriguez
 * John Wayne Sace as Emilio
 * Soliman Cruz as Mang Anding
 * Hazel Ann Mendoza as Hazel
 * Gerard Pizarras as Kuya Joel
 * Bryan Homecillo as Elvis
 * Lovely Rivero
 * Tado Jimenez
 * Shiela May Junsay as Binhi
 * John Manalo as Pepe
 * Bombi Plata as Buhawi

Guest cast

 * Julius Babao
 * Joji Isla
 * Lou Veloso
 * Jun Urbano
 * Lester Llansang
 * John Arcilla
 * Jaime Fabregas
 * Jon Achaval
 * Alwyn Uytingco
 * L.A. Lopez
 * Carlo Aquino
 * Stefano Mori
 * Archie Adamos
 * Marc Solis
 * Michael V.
 * Mon Ilagan
 * Gus Abelgas
 * Erwin Tulfo
 * Jao Mapa
 * Gio Alvarez
 * Empoy Marquez
 * Bob dela Cruz as Mang Tomas - "Avian Flu" episode (2007)
 * Kim Atienza
 * Bodjie Pascua
 * Ernie Baron

Production
The Sine'skwela Creative Committee made the concept for the television series in 1993. The committee was composed of an executive producer, a science research coordinator, a head writer, and consultants from the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS, later became the Department of Education or DepEd), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP ISMED). There are five stages in the process of producing an episode. Sine'skwela was first aired on June 13, 1994, and its success led to the production of similar educational shows such as Hiraya Manawari, Math-Tinik, Epol/Apple and Bayani. Sine'skwela aired its final episode in 2004.

Re-runs
Beginning on March 28, 2020, the show's episodes were rerun on ABS-CBN as part of the programming change the network made due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

Accolades
Sine'skwela was awarded the Priz de Jeunesse at the 20th Television Science Programme in Paris, France in 2003. The winning episode, titled "Polluted Waters" and directed by John Red, featured the Pasig River as its subject and how human activity contributes to its degradation.