A Very Merry Kapusong Pasko Concert series wraps up the year for GMA's regional TV

MANILA, Philippines - This 2011, GMA Network through its Regional TV arm has brought color and star power to the major festivals across the country. This is apart from the stand-alone events mounted during non-festival season as part of efforts to further bolster its regional presence.

“For this year alone, GMA Regional TV has participated in more than 20 festivals across the archipelago. Our Kapuso artists have traveled to as far as Northern Luzon and Southern Mindanao. We couldn’t have done all of these without our festival and mall partners. Our heartfelt thanks as well (to our regional viewers) for welcoming us to their cities and municipalities,” Oliver Amoroso, Regional TV’s AVP for sales and marketing, told The STAR.

So what better way to cap an eventful year for the network but with a Christmas concert series?

The STAR was able to join the network’s Jammin’ Sa Kapusong Pasko when it hit Cebu City last Dec. 10 — the second to the last stop of the concert series that culminated over the weekend at Dagupan City. It was also staged in Naga, Iloilo and Davao.

For the Cebu concert held at SM City Cebu, GMA assembled a cast of stars who could deliver the goods when it came to performing live.

Among them was Mark Herras, who took to the stage with several numbers including the dance craze Dougie. Mark recalled that it was in Cebu where he had his first regional show with then loveteam partner Jennylyn Mercado, fresh as they were from their big win in the first edition of StarStruck.

They have since gone on to work on separate projects, but Mark continues to be a fixture in GMA’s regional shows. “Malapit ako sa regional,” explained Mark and this is what’s keeping him busy as he takes a momentary break from doing soaps. The last one was the dance-serye Time Of My Life.

“I love dancing so much,” he said, “most especially dancing in live shows.” To recall, in Mark’s first foray into showbiz via StarStruck in 2003, he was the underdog and didn’t get much notice until he started dancing, even earning the tag Bad Boy of the Dancefloor. 

Solenn Heussaff, on the other hand, was a revelation on stage. The hype is true: She’s more than just a pretty face as she did jazzy interpretations of hit songs. The genre fits her husky voice and sultry appeal.

The STAR had a short chat with Solenn, who’s just been in showbiz in a little over a year, and yet can be considered as one of the breakout stars of 2011, having starred in three movies, released an album and hosted shows. In 2012, she’s starring in the teleserye Legacy, where she plays the resident bad girl. “Bad girl naman ako palagi,” she said with a laugh. “Okay lang sa akin.” 

She summed up her 2011: “Lucky ako, but it’s also because of hard work. (Regarding the workload) I think it’s also by choice.”

The Fil-French model feels that she’s getting roles because she’s willing to be go sexier, more daring and “more French.” “I’m game to do everything, but I like acting in movies more and singing.”

Another regional show favorite on hand to entertain Cebuanos was La Diva made up of Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos and Maricris Garcia. With the seamless blending of their individually powerful voices, it wasn’t hard to realize that this trio deserves all the exposure that they could get.

It was revealed that La Diva will soon be joining the wave of Pinoy artists reaching out to other Asian markets. The three ladies shared that they will be recording an Indonesian album. For the meantime, they’re learning the Bahasa language.

Rounding up the Kapuso stars were Jackie Rice and Dennis Trillo, who electrified the audience by jumping off the stage and into the audience waiting to swarm him.

Prior to the Yuletide show, GMA Regional TV also had a trade show at the new Movenpick Resort & Spa in Mactan to thank local partners and advertisers. Celebrities that showed up at the trade party were Sam Pinto, Isabelle Daza, Frencheska Farr, Will Devaughn, Daniel Matsunaga and Mark Herras. GMA Cebu’s news and public affairs team also joined in the celebration led by the local newscast Balitang Bisdak anchor Bobby Nalzaro.

Earlier this month, GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) also opened its Cebu chapter. “(Launching the Cebu chapter) also provides an opportunity for Cebu residents to show their care and concern to their kapwa Cebuanos,” said the socio-civic arm’s EVP, broadcast journalist Mel Tiangco.

Regional TV’s VP Rikki Escudero said that “viewers can expect further regional expansion via originating stations in Ilocos and Bicol as well as more participation in regional festival celebrations and serbisyong totoo in 2012.”

The highlights of the Jammin' Sa Kapusong Pasko will air on Christmas morning, Dec. 25 at 8 a.m., on all eight regional stations of GMA — Naga, Dagupan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod , Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.