GMA Network welcomes the most-awaited season with the premiere of the “MaGMAhalan Tayo Ngayong Pasko” Christmas campaign on its primetime newscast 24 Oras last Thursday.
The message of love takes center stage in the Kapuso community as well-loved Kapuso artists and trusted News and Public Affairs personalities come together with viewers in a happy, heartfelt celebration of the season.
Cesar Cosme, who helmed the project, says that the message imparted by the video is about “genuine and pure love,” much like that of a child.
Christmas is truly the season for loving one another and the Network’s message is to spread the love this Holiday Season.
One with the Network’s message of love are GMA’s best and brightest stars including Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, AiAi de las Alas, Lovi Poe, Heart Evangelista, Michael V, Willie Revillame, Dennis Trillo, Tom Rodriguez, Megan Young, Carla Abellana, Barbie Forteza, Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, Andre Paras, Ruru Madrid, Gabbi Garcia, and German Moreno.
They are joined by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon leading Dabarkads, with the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, together with Lola Nidora, Lola Tidora and Lola Tinidora.
Also featured are GMA’s formidable News and Public Affairs team Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, Jessica Soho, Vicky Morales, Arnold Clavio and Howie Severino.
With heartwarming scenes full of traditions and the sharing of the gifts of love and laughter among those we care about the most, the 2015 GMA Christmas station ID shows a holiday that is truly Pinoy, and truly Kapuso.
And as the countdown to Christmas continues, the station with a heart hopes that Kapuso viewers worldwide hear the message – “MaGMAhalan Tayo Ngayong Pasko.”
This year, the Christmas station ID theme song was sung by Pambansang Bae Alden Richards; with lyrics written by Brian James Camaya and Clare Yee, and music composed by Simon Tan.
‘I-Witness’ celebrates 16th Anniversary
Who would have thought this would happen?
This November, I-Witness celebrates its 16th anniversary and with it comes an ambitious endeavor from the producers of the show.
For the first time in the history of I-Witness, the four hosts – Howie Severino, Kara David, Jay Taruc, and Sandra Aguinaldo – come together in one episode to bring viewers stories of unsung Filipino heroes in Dubai.
Dubai is the commercial, banking and tourist hub of the United Arab Emirates, the second-biggest Arab world economy after Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is no wonder that OFWs flock there to seek good fortune.
For a country that has more oil reserves than fresh water, Sandra experiences the water adventures that UAE has to offer, she gets to meet the Filipino workers in Wadi, the wild water theme park in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She also discovers that the arid, water-scarce U.A.E. is doing its best to provide fresh water to its citizens by producing desalinated water.
Howie’s penchant for skateboarding gets him to encounter young Filipino skateboarders doing their routine in a park. He also meets other youth currently studying in Filipino schools. Helping their own country is not far from the student’s agenda but for now they have to settle in a foreign country.
For Kara, entrusting her safety to the only Filipino desert safari driver in the sand dunes of U.A.E. is one experience she will treasure. As she gets to know him inside the SUV, while rolling down the treacherous sand terrain, she begins to admire his tenacity in driving as well as the sacrifices he made to feed his family.
And lastly, Jay gets a treat from fellow Filipino broadcasters in the only Filipino radio station in Dubai. They let him get a try to host his “own” radio program! With fellow I-Witness hosts as his guests, he realizes that it takes guts to entertain radio listeners.
I-Witness airs Saturday, after Celebrity Bluff on GMA-7.
★★★★★
Michael V.’s Creative Writing Workshop discovers New Writers
Michael V.’s Creative Writing Workshop held its culmination activity on Nov. 7.
The Kapuso ace comedian together with GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Entertainment TV, Marivin T. Arayata; and Assistant Vice President for Entertainment TV Janine Piad-Nacar gave the participants special awards and citations. Also present in the event were the program managers and creative team of GMA Entertainment TV.
The workshop, which ran for five weeks, was definitely a fun-filled experience for the top 20 participants. Not only they tackled narrative, gag and sketch writing, but they likewise had the pleasure to work with Michael V. and GMA Entertainment TV’s Creative Team composed of Caesar Cosme, Mon Roco, Joseph Balboa, Chito Francisco, Sen Que, and Jojo Nones.
Fellow Kapuso personalities also gave support to the workshop as they shared insights and experiences. Making the event a meaningful learning opportunity for the aspiring writers were the participation of Directors Uro dela Cruz and Dominic Zapata, Kapuso artists Sef Cadayona, Chariz Solomon, Isko Salvador, Betong Sumaya, and Carmi Martin plus the Chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Atty. Eugenio “Toto” Villareal.
★★★★★
Mother Lily’s grandson weds long-time GF
Regal Entertainment’s Lily Monteverde and daughter Roselle are waxing emotional as Keith Teo, the latter’s son, weds girlfriend of four years Winni Wang in a lovely beach ceremony in Boracay today.
Keith, 32, is one of Mother Lily’s seven grandchildren. He is a cum laude with a degree in Law at Boston University. He also has a Master of Law from UC Hastings.
Winni, meanwhile, is a doctor-pharmacist. She and Keith practically grew up in the US where they met through a mutual friend.
A beach lover, this explains why the couple chose to exchange “I do’s” in the pristine island.
Several showbiz luminaries in the list of principal sponsors including Antonio Tuviera and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Peter Coyiuto and Charo Santos-Concio, lawyer Alfred Alex Cruz III and Sen. Loren Legarda, Jose Javier Reyes and Cristina Tan Ng, Jose “Chito” Roño Jr. and Comm. Leonida Bayani Ortiz, Kenneth Yang and Cory Vidanes.
“The excitement is the same as when I was getting married. It’s also the same as when my four children got married. Inaasikaso ko ang lahat ng bagay. I’m so eager to be a great-grandmother. Pero iba ang sa apo. It’s so emotional, so sentimental,” said the Regal matriarch, who also shared that she took care of Keith when he was a little boy.
Roselle has this to say about her son, “He’s thoughtful and caring. When Keith was a kid, every time he saw my mom smoking, he would take away the cigarette and put it off.
“When my mom was operated on (for lung cancer a few years ago), Keith came home from the States and took a break from his work to check on his grandma.”
Keith and Winni will fly back to San Francisco, California, after their honeymoon.
★★★★★
My Faithful Husband bids adieu
GMA Network’s My Faithful Husband tackled the infidelity of the wife and how the faithful husband faced his biggest challenge in life. The most controversial drama on GMA Telebabad provided a different view of marriage, since the series braved all double standards and undermine all biases.
And as the series came to an end last Friday, Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo shared what they experienced while doing this intriguing show. The two award-winning actors believed that this had been the heaviest drama that they had done.
According to Dennis, “Sa dami ng pinagdaanan ng pamilya nina Emman at Mel, isa ito sa mga pinaka-challenging gawin dahil heavy drama talaga siya kumpara sa mga dati na naming nagawa. Nakakatuwa na pinagkakatiwala nila sa akin yung role ng pagiging faithful. Iba’t ibang klaseng roles at hindi pare-pareho at paulit-ulit na istorya at kwento ang ginagawa ko.”
Meanwhile, Jennylyn portrayed a different character in the series. “For a change hindi naman ako masyadong mabait tapos ‘yung character ko rito ay palaban at independent. Masaya ako kasi maganda yung kinalabasan ng show at sinubaybayan kami.”
Both Kapuso actors agreed that they had a great time with all their co-stars and co-workers. Jennylyn and Dennis also expressed their happiness and sincerest gratitude for being able to work with Joyce Bernal. “Dennis and I feel blessed na nabigyan ako ng opportunity na makatrabaho si Direk Joyce. First time namin siyang nakatrabaho at naging sobrang gaan sa set. Kasama namin siya, makipagbiruan at nakita namin kung gaano siya ka-tutok sa mga artists niya, emotion wise and acting wise,” Jennylyn said.