Tacloban turns Kapuso

MANILA, Philippines - Tacloban City was undoubtedly Kapuso Country when it celebrated its Sangyaw Festival recently as some of the biggest and hottest Kapuso celebrities provided star power to some of the city’s festivities.  

Kicking-off the celebration was the Senior Citizen’s Night at the Tacloban City Astrodome on Monday (June 20) with Futbolilits’ Ehra Madrigal and Rey Valera. This was followed by a Balik-Tacloban (Balikbayan’s Night) at the Balyuan Convention Center a week after (June 27), which featured Party Pilipinas’ mainstay Jolina Magdangal who performed a number of heartwarming songs that delighted the crowd.

On June 29, there was just no denying the Kapuso fever that swept Tacloban, reaching even its neighboring cities and municipalities, as Captain Barbell stars — led by no less than the primetime program’s top star, Richard Gutierrez — participated in the city’s much anticipated Sangyaw Float Parade to the delight of thousands of highly excited Kapusong Taclobanons.

“We are truly grateful to the Sangyaw organizers for giving us the chance to bring the Kapuso Network closer to our Kapusong Taclobanon. The optimism was simply astounding and the response to the different Kapuso events was indeed overwhelming,” Ann Marie Tan, GMA’s Regional TV station manager, shared.  

Joining Richard on the Kapuso float are fellow Captain Barbell stars Michelle Madrigal, TJ Trinidad, and Ervic Vijandre, who all experienced first-hand the warm welcome extended by the multitude of eager fans who braved the unpredictable weather just to be able to see their favorite Kapuso stars in the parade.

Then at night, an estimated 8,000 Kapusong Taclobanons joined in the fun during the Kapuso Night held at Robinsons Place Tacloban. Adding more star power to the already electrifying roster of Kapuso stars present were two of Party Pilipinas’ pride singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid and Kyla and another Captain Barbell star, Jillian Ward.

There’s just no stopping the celebration that night — not even the sudden heavy downpour. On the contrary, it even added more color to the celebration as some of the Kapuso stars even braved the rain just to get close to the adoring crowd. 

“This is the first time that GMA Network has participated in Tacloban City’s Sangyaw Festival. GMA Regional TV is overwhelmed with the positive response shown by our Kapusong Taclobanon. They have braved the scorching heat during the Sangyaw float parade and endured the rain during the Kapuso Night,” Oliver Amoroso, GMA Network’s AVP for regional marketing and sales, said.

The full details of the network’s participation in this year’s Sangyaw Festival will be shown in The Kapuso Sangyaw TV Special airing on July 24 at 8:30 a.m. through GMA Network’s regional stations in Cebu, Dagupan, Naga, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.