Marian breaks record in Peñafrancia Fest fans’ day

MANILA, Philippines - People say you don’t forget your first time. This might hold true for Marian Rivera when she visited Naga City to be part of this year’s celebration of the Peñafrancia Festival.

Standing before a crowd of 15,000, Marian could not help but be overwhelmed by the warm reception shown by the Bicolanos who flocked to the Plaza Quezon just to see her during the Grand Kapuso Fans’ Day. For Marian, it was a night she would not forget, “first time ko rito sa Naga, nung nakita ko ‘yung crowd kanina, naisip ko agad, unexpected ito.”

The audience turn-out amazed Marian, “Punung-puno ang venue, sabi ko, aaaw, to think na may kasabay tayo sa kabila,” pertaining to an event mounted simultaneously by a rival network featuring five of its stars elsewhere in the city.

Amid the unpredictable weather, supporters of Marian jam-packed the Plaza Quezon, the biggest crowd drawn in Naga by a Kapuso event in an open venue to date, with even more fans filling up even the nearby Rizal Park. The unmoving throng even caused vehicular traffic that event organizers were forced to close some parts of General Luna and Elias Angeles Sts.

“Umuulan na pero nandiyan pa rin sila,” shared Marian, who was touched by what she witnessed. “As of parang four or five in the afternoon nandoon na sila e ano’ng oras ako lumabas, 8 p.m.? Imagine three hours na umulan ma’t gumabi, nandun sila, so â€˜yun pa lang thankful na ako e,” she added.

Marian, who has been going around different parts of the country lately to perform and meet fans, together with her fans’ day hosts Bettina Carlos of My Husband’s Lover and Boobay were overjoyed with the way they were treated by Bicolanos. “Nakakatuwa ang fiesta rito, â€˜yung pinakita nila, para sa amin, bilang artista, blessed ka e, pag may mga ganito kasi hindi lang more on acting, pag lumalabas ka, nag-pe-perform ka, tapos nakikita mo ‘yung crowd, â€˜yun ang bonus na feeling sa artista e, parang wow, love nila ako.”

Also present was the cast of Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko bannered by Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica, together with co-stars LJ Reyes, Lian Paz and newest Kapuso Renz Fernandez. They joined the Peñafrancia Festival’s Civic Parade and led a Kapuso Barangayan with Mike “Pekto” Nacua as host last Sept. 19 at the Pili Sports Complex.

Meanwhile, live coverage of the grand Marian festival was delivered by GMA Bicol’s News and Public Affairs: the Peñafrancia Festival Civic Parade Special Flash Bulletin; the Peñafrancia Festival Military Parade Special Flash Bulletin; and An Divocion Ki Ina (Devotion to Our Mother), GMA Bicol’s special live coverage of the fluvial procession along the Naga River.

Highlights of GMA’s participation in the festival will be aired on Let’s Fiesta TV Special tomorrow, Sept. 29 via the Network’s regional stations in Bicol, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Dagupan, Ilocos, GenSan, Bacolod and CDO.