Kapuso in Ati-Atihan Festival

KALIBO, Philippines  — The whole of Kalibo, Aklan is on a festive mood once again as the province celebrates its annual Ati-Atihan Festival. The week-long event, honoring the Sto. Niño, kicked off last Jan. 9 and will culminate today with various activities such as the street parade, tribal music, religious procession and a tribal dance competition to be participated in by contestants from the different municipalities of this province located in the northwest portion of Panay Island.

“Groups from different municipalities are expected to join in the competition where they will represent the (island’s) different tribes,” Gel of RGMA said prior to the start of the pocket interview with Claudine Barretto, Kyla, Steven Silva, Ehra Madrigal, TJ Trinidad and Bubbles Paraiso. They flew in from Manila to perform in the Kapuso Night. Mark Herras wasn’t able to join in the interview for some reason.

After the interview, the Kapuso stars headed straight to Pastrana Park for the Kapuso Night. I, together with PDI’s Dolly Ann Carvajal and People’s Tonight Entertainment editor Ian Fariñas, witnessed last Jan. 9 how GMA Network added thrill to the occasion. Wild cheers and thunderous applause already filled the air minutes before the start of the show. There were even some who didn’t mind the risk of going up a statue and standing tirelessly for hours just to see their Kapuso favorites in the flesh.

Aklanons roared in delight when Mark appeared on stage strutting to the beat that signalled the start of the show. He personified his title Bad Boy of the Dancefloor with energetic and infectious moves. He dazzled the crowd more when he took the stage again to perform his signature dance routine with a music medley from his dance album. Who wouldn’t be thrilled with the StarStruck 1 winner’s choreographed footwork to the tune of Average Joe and Cullo? The crowd went crazy with Mark’s Dougie number. Here’s more: The audience, specifically the female fans, turned hoarse when Mark sang Parokya ni Edgar’s Harana.

Steven, got similar eardrum-splitting shrieks when he ascended on stage with his rendition of Billionaire. With the audience’s “hysterical” acts, one could easily feel how they wanted to get close to the StarStruck alumnus who eventually got off the stage to shake hands and pose for pictures with the Aklanons.

Aside from being part of Party Pilipinas’ Keso Boys, I asked Steven if there are projects lined up for him and he said, “After Time of My Life, my upcoming show is a musical titled Hope for the Flowers with Frencheska Farr. We will begin rehearsing either this month or early next month.”

Steven also revealed that there were times he felt being left out as far as his career is concerned. “S’yempre, I would be lying if I tell you that I didn’t notice that medyo left out ako but I know there’s still more to come and I hope the musical will be the start of a good year for me.”

Kyla: ‘It’s my first time here and I enjoy traveling to different places.’

At the moment, Steven enjoys joining out-of-town shows because “I love learning about different cultures. They are also an opportunity to meet people outside of Manila.”

Bubbles and Ehra, on the other hand, equally sent the crowd in Cloud 9 when they performed in solo numbers. The former crooned Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold while the latter teased the audience with Crazy for You and Stars are Blind.

“I’m more into acting,” Ehra said. “That’s why I feel nervous every time I sing. But thanks to GMA, they let us try to do things out of our comfort zones. I’m also grateful to Tita Annabelle (Rama, her manager) who supports me in harnessing my abilities, pinag-a-attend n’ya kami ng workshops at sy’a lahat ang bahala. She really takes care of her talents.”

TJ, too, shared he feels butterflies in his stomach while singing onstage. But when he belted out Always be my Baby and I’ll Be, no signs of stage fright were noticed. He went down and gamely stretched his arms to people who visibly were eager to touch him.

Claudine also took a break from her schedule to join in the Kapuso show. She gladly sang Pricetag and Firework before the cheering crowd.

Sighs of admiration reverberated in the air when Kyla rendered an emotion-filled song number. The Party Pilipinas mainstay, who recently tied the knot with basketball hottie Rich Alvarez, visibly enjoyed performing before the Aklanons.

“It’s my first time here in Aklan and I really enjoy traveling to different places. Yes, aside from Party P, I also do corporate shows in Manila but meeting people during out-of-town shows gives a different high.

Rich, Kyla added, is more than happy to allow her to go out for shows. “So far, no major adjustments because we’ve been steady for six years kaya more or less kabisado na namin ang ugali ng isa’t isa. Sinasanay ko lang sarili ko na matulog na hindi na sister ko ang katabi ko.”

That’s me (center) with Ehra Madrigal and Steven Silva

Meanwhile, GMA Network was also present when the coronation night for this year’s Mutya Ag Lakan It Kalibo Ati-Atihan was held last Jan. 6. Grand winners paraded on stage with much elan.

The highlights of the Ati-Atihan fest will air as a TV special on GMA 7’s eight regional stations — Naga, Dagupan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and GenSan — on Feb. 19.