Regional festivals in full swing

Summer brings more than just extra heat to this tropical side of the globe. It’s also the time of the year when the regions are filled with vividly colorful festivals or fiestas that truly make summer more fun in the Philippines.

The second half of April was a particularly busy one for Kapuso stars who traveled from Ilocos in the far north all the way down south in Lanao del Norte to join the millions of Kapuso in celebrating newer but equally vibrant summer festivals in some of the most beautiful places in the country.

Dancing pro Rochelle Pangilinan and Julian Trono, the so-called “good boy of the dance floor,” starred in a Kapuso Barangayan event in Lanao Del Norte on April 24, as part of the municipality of Kauswagan’s Hugyaw sa Kadagatan Festival, an annual thanksgiving festival for an abundant harvest of fresh goods from the sea. The Miss Kauswagan pageant was also held with the contestants serenaded by Kris Lawrence.

Over in Opol, Misamis Oriental, Benjamin Alves and Bela Padilla had the time of their lives joining the Kabaybayonan Festival on April 25. The said fest, coming from the Cebuano word “baybayon,” meaning “shore,” celebrates the beauty and bounty of the seas.

“A festival that features the seas is something close to where my heart is,” said Benjamin in an interview after the show. “It being known, I’m in love with nature and I am attracted to the sea. So anything that celebrates that, I’m all for it,” he added.

Meanwhile, General Santos City welcomed “fearless” Jonalyn Viray, together with Innamorata’s Dion Ignacio and Rhodora X’s Yasmien Kurdi in a Kapuso Mall Show held at the KCC Mall of GenSan on April 20.

Jonalyn only had nice words to say when asked about her experience in the city: “The audience was very energetic. Their excitement was ‘contagious’ in a positive sense and it gave us so much energy to perform on stage. Masaya talaga.”

In the Visayas, Bacolod City mounted the Festival of New Saints in honor of the historic twin canonization of then Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. Rhodora X’s Jennylyn Mercado together with nine-time platinum recording artist Julie Anne San Jose delighted the Bacolodnons last April 27 in a Kapuso Fiesta as a culmination of the said event.

Bohol’s crowd-drawing fest — the Tagbilaran City Fiesta — in turn, welcomed Jen’s Rhodora X co-stars — Yasmien and Mark Herras — who bannered the Kapuso Night at CPG Sports Complex last April 30. The event, which coincides with the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, was an effort to revive the Bol-anon spirit which was shaken during last year’s earthquake.

The same night saw Dennis Trillo and Tom Rodriguez from the phenomenal series My Husband’s Lover celebrating San Jose de Buanavista’s Tiringbanay Festival — also held in honor of their patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker — with their Antiqueño supporters in a jam-packed Kapuso Fiesta at the EBJ Freedom Park. Tiringbanay, or “tiriringub” in the local language, connotes togetherness as the occasion also bonds families and friends.

Tom was amazed by the reception he witnessed, saying, “It’s been quite a while since our series My Husband’s Lover folded up but our fans in Antique seem to have a hangover of the TomDen love team (laughs). I’m happy that since my transfer to GMA, the millions of Kapuso in Manila, in the regions and even around the world have accepted and have been supportive of me. As a way of giving back to them, I continue to improve my craft and every time I participate in a show like this, I make sure that the fans go home with smiles on their faces.”

“It feels great to be able to meet our Kapuso in the regions. It’s not every day that my fans, especially those outside of Manila, get to see me in the flesh and so I thank GMA Regional TV for staging events such as this. This is also an opportunity for me to travel and experience what every region has to offer,” added Dennis.

Finally, in Luzon, Derrick Monasterio, Aicelle Santos and the comedic duo of Moymoy Palaboy participated in the Santa Town Fiesta, which celebrates the founding anniversary of the town named Santa in Ilocos Sur, via a Kapuso Night held on April 25.

Last April 26, a Kapuso Mall Show was held at Magic Mall Zambales led by Dennis and Sunday All Stars regular Maricris Garcia; while in Pangasinan, Yasmien and Protégé male grand winner Jeric Gonzales thrilled their supporters at Magic Mall Mangatarem.

“The feeling was overwhelming. I was surprised to find out that I have many supporters there who have been following me since my Protege days. They told me they’ve been waiting for me to have a mall show so they could see me personally. The crowd was really very participative making us enjoy the show, too,” shared Jeric.

Further, GMA also participated in Dagupan City’s much-awaited event — the 11th Bangus Festival — as its strategic partner. Here, the network sent some of its biggest stars to be one with the Dagupeños in giving thanks for yet another bountiful year.

Truly, GMA’s growing reach throughout the country was incredibly felt this second half of April with the network participating in the aforementioned festivals of the country.