Marian, Piolo, Angel, Divas and Survivors: Sinulog brings in the stars

It’s going to be a star-studded Sinulog week yet again as rival networks ABS-CBN and GMA 7 will be flying in their prized talents to join in the festivities. And which network do you think will provide the highest wattage? 

From GMA 7, it’ll be Marian Rivera and “Survivor Philippines” winner JC Tiuseco with some of the castaways. For ABS-CBN, the line-up is headed by Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin, who will also promote their first big-screen pairing in “Love Me Again.” Also expected are “I Love Betty La Fea” star John Lloyd Cruz and the cast of “Banana Split.”

Among the glut of artists, Marian Rivera will most likely breed the most excitement, if not the most interest. I think Marian has already grown enough anticipation for her Cebu visit since her breakout success via the 2007 series “Marimar,” which during its run topped the National Urban TV Audience Measurement (NUTAM) survey ratings. In previous interviews with some GMA 7 executives, we were told that there has always been a strong clamor to bring her to Cebu, but her schedule couldn’t make any room for an appearance until now. 

Apart from the TV and film projects, the attention generated by this actress is magnified by her tri-media endorsements (reportedly numbering at 25 and counting) and a generous share of controversies in the year that was.

Even the labels being affixed to her right now have sparked debate among entertainment stalwarts. While “The Buzz” host Kris Aquino tagged Marian as the “biggest star today,” co-host Boy Abunda reacted, “I don’t think you can be the biggest star with two television hits (referring to ‘Marimar’ and ‘Dyesebel’.” Biggest or not, she is certainly one of the most talked about celebrities, even in the rival network. 

Still, the Cebuano reception has yet to be seen, and should it live up to the “labels” bandied about this red-hot actress, I think this will confirm more than just her star power. It will also mean the level of acceptance of Kapuso shows to Cebu, which has long been touted as “Kapamilya country.”

Watch out for the show schedules and other updates on these visiting artists in the coming days in this section. 

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Poised to be an epic showdown of divas is the forthcoming “Diva 2 Diva” concert of Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla and Concert Queen Pops Fernandez, which will kick off the Sinulog week on Monday, January 12, 2009 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Regine Velasquez was part of the hit original show in Araneta Coliseum last year, but had to beg off from the Cebu concert because of her schedule.

The organizers, BCB Productions together with PR Works, and the beneficiary, the I Can Serve Foundation, an advocacy group empowering women with Breast Cancer, held a presscon at Ching Palace last Wednesday, wherein reporters had a phone interview with Kuh Ledesma and Pops Fernandez.

Kuh said that the concert will showcase the best of the best of their music. “For the last two years, we’ve been trying to put together this kind of show, and it has not been easy because aside from being a very big production, there was also the matter of conflict in schedules. So, this is really a rare concert.”

Pops, on the other hand, was queried if the controversy that she figured in last year—that Mandaue concert of hers that did not push through, resulting to her filing of a complaint at the city’s prosecution office against the organizer—has found resolution. “It was a sad incident. I’m just glad I have another chance to perform before Cebuanos,” was her brief answer.

Pops, nevertheless, talked at length about what it’s like to be performing alongside Kuh and Zsa-Zsa for “Diva 2 Diva.” “It’s definitely going to be a great show with great numbers, great performances. We will have a showdown, but the beauty of the whole show is that we complement each other’s style.”

Crooners Jed Madela and Erik Santos are the show’s front acts. For ticket inquiries, call 413-4062.