Building bridges for Pinoys around the world

Life is a journey. It may take you to far away places. It might even separate you from your loved ones, but you will only have one home, one family.

From its pilot episode in early 2006 until today, ABS-CBN’s Nagmamahal Kapamilya in cooperation with Philippine Airlines (PAL) has lived with its commitment to be of service to every Filipino who needs family love more than anyone else.

Indeed, Nagmamahal Kapamilya has been true to its vow to millions of OFWs and migrants worldwide, as Enrico Santos puts it, to make Nagmamahal Kapamilya as their family away from home.

From Asia to America, Australia, Japan and almost every continent in the world, the Nagmamahal Kapamilya team with host Bernadette Sembrano has reached out to OFWs and the families they left in the Philippines – sharing their heartwarming and inspiring stories and giving everyone a spark of hope and a sense of comfort that Pinoys will always have a kapamilya loving and caring for them no matter how far from home they might be.

2006 has been very meaningful for the show and the families they have helped. Nagmamahal Kapamilya is happy to be the catalyst to the numerous reunions they made possible, all the wishes they were able to grant that separated families only thought could happen in their wildest dreams.

Who could ever forget the story of Paz Pejoro – an Ulirang Ina awardee in 1997 – who, after raising up her 14 children ended up in a convalescent home in San Francisco? It was a difficult decision that her family had to make, but the story became sweeter because of the get-together that the show arranged for them.

There is also the story of Loida, a prisoner in the Philippine correctional, whose only wish is to see her daughter, even through the conflicts she had with his Japanese husband. The show, through the help of one golden-hearted Pinay named Marlyn in Japan, was able to reunite the family of Loida just before Christmas. It was the perfect Christmas gift for her family.

A very touching story is that of Juriel Amora, a boy from Bohol with no arms and legs. A family in Australia came across Juriel’s story from a newspaper, and was deeply moved by his condition that the family members all chipped in to bring Juriel to Australia and shoulder his treatment and accommodation. Juriel is enjoying his childhood, thanks to his robotic arms and legs.

The story of real hero Fr. Agustin "Gestie" Advincula, the only Filipino Catholic priest assigned in Lebanon during the height of the war, was also a very inspiring story featured on Nagmamahal Kapamilya. Fr. Gestie was assigned at The Church of the Miraculous Medal which served as an evacuation center for Pinoys in Lebanon who sought refuge in the war-torn country.

The show spread the gift of love and brotherhood during the Christmas season as it launched Magpauwi ng Kapamilya campaign. In a short span of time, thousands of e-mails and letters were sent to Nagmamahal Kapamilya team for the special portion of the show.

One story for the campaign is that of the Castor family. Aida Castor wanted to be reunited with her sister Mercedita, who has been residing in Melbourne, Australia for 10 years. The family had a falling-out because of a conflict in the division of their ancestral land. Aida wrote Nagmamahal Kapamilya in hopes of finally being able to celebrate Christmas with her whole family and at the same time break the gap that their family was in. The show did just that and more. Aside from the reunion, the story of the Castors showed that it will never be too late and love for family will surpass every hurdle that may seem unbearable.

Aside from the assistance of Nagmamahal Kapamilya to bring back together estranged families, the show is happy to showcase the inspirational stories of successful and famous Pinoys abroad.

Last year, the show encouraged viewers through the stories of Hollywood star Rob Schneider, superstar wrestler David Batista, Lea Salonga, actress Ruby Moreno, entrepreneurs Loida Nicolas, Erlinda Rosario, Tante Urdan and Victoria Arnobit to name a few.

The audience saw the slow rise to fame, the hardships, trials that these once simple Pinoys had to battle to get to where they are now. It gave inspiration and hope to other Pinoys on how they can improve their lives with hard work, perseverance and faith.

In its effort to better its public service to kapamilya, Nagmamahal Kapamilya has forged special ties with institutions like Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), Travel Cooperative of the Philippines, PAL and ABS-CBN Global Ltd., The Filipino Channel (TFC).

The show also staged OFW Hatid at the NAIA in cooperation with ABS-CBN Global at the Overseas Filipino Workers Lounge, Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Nagmamahal Kapamilya is proud of the special citation it received from the Catholic Mass Media Awards as the Filipino TV program promoting Filipino values and recognizing its efforts in reuniting families wherever they may be in the world.

This year is extra special as it marks the first year of Nagmamahal Kapamilya.

The Nagmamahal Kapamilya team has no intentions of slowing down in its world-class service to kapamilya all over the globe.

A new year only means more stories to share, more lives to touch, more Filipinos to serve.

"Our experience in Nagmamahal Kapamilya this year has made all of us richer," host Bernadette Sembrano shares. "We are inspired by the stories and the generosity of the Filipinos we have met here and abroad. I admire the strong desire of Filipinos to do something good for the Philippines. We are also grateful for the unwavering support we got from our kapamilya and we look forward to continuing to journey with them in our anniversary year in a mission to empower every Filipino, no matter where they may be,"

The team of Nagmamahal Kapamilya, led by business unit heads Enrico Santos and Cathy Perez, with production manager Ethel Espiritu, executive producer Grace Ann Casimsiman, headwriter Francis Pasion, and all the writers, directors and the talents who have graced the show, share the same sentiment and believe in Santos’ words that "Nagmamahal Kapamilya is dedicated to our new heroes. Ang kapamilyang nasa ibayong dagat na aming pinakamamahal."

With this strong cry, expect the show to be with Pinoys – here and abroad –in their journey through life to assure everyone that "Nasaan ka man sa mundo, may nagmamahal sa’yo, Kapamilya’.