A Kapamilya Sinulog

CEBU CITY — A kapamilya knows what gladdens the heart, uplifts the spirit and keeps the ties that bind strong. These, ABS-CBN unfailingly does for every Filipino here and abroad through its participation to any event close to Juan dela Cruz’s heart.

Recently, the Kapamilya network joined in the colorful, grand celebration of Sinulog Festival in honor of the Sto. Niño. Cebuanos were treated to a week-long activity dubbed Kapamilya Karavan: Sinulog Festival 2009 that added glitter and excitement to the festive mood.

ABS-CBN News delivered fresh updates on the event — from the fluvial procession to street parties to mall events to the pontifical Mass to the grand parade. Sky Patrollers constantly went around town, giving an aerial view and on-the-spot report to televiewers nationwide. Live reports were simultaneously aired on radio and TV for kapamilyas who were not physically present for various reasons. Live webcasts, on the other hand, let our kababayan abroad witness the celebration of the mother of all festivals.

”We also put large video monitors in strategic places so everybody could get a close view of the event,” says Ronald Padriga, ABS-CBN marketing specialist of channel development group.

Hundreds of thousands of local and foreign tourists flocked to the center of this central Philippine island to experience the country’s grandest festival.

Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin greeted the ecstatic audience at SM City with a lively ”Viva Señor Sto. Niño.” They rendered songs that elicited deafening shrieks and wild applause from the jampacked crowd.

The warm welcome was also felt by Pinoy Dream Academy scholars Lizelle Garcia, Van Pojas and Sen Nichols during their album tour at SM Entertainment Center.

“We always give in to their (Cebuanos) requests. That’s why the whole regional group has come up with well-planned activities that would surely delight them,” says Jayne Abella, ABS-CBN’s Cebu Creative Communications Management head.

Sending everyone in a more jubilant mood was the appearance of Banana Split girls Angelica Panganiban, Cristine Reyes and Roxanne Guinoo in a show held at the Ayala South Surface Parking Area last Saturday. It started at 3:30 p.m. and saw an estimated audience of 15,000. Fences from all sides were full of people, standing all throughout the show.

The girls did song numbers with male fans onstage. Cristine sang Hawak Kamay and went down the stage for the audience to meet her up close. Roxanne, while singing, teased her partner with a charm that made everyone ecstatic.

Cebuanos can’t get over Scarlett dela Reya’s bitchiness on Iisa Pa Lamang. That’s why Angelica asked the crowd if they will also support her latest show. Their answer: A resounding yes.

She, too, displayed her vocal talent via Especially for You.

The crowd went wilder when John Lloyd Cruz (Armando Solis on I Love Betty La Fea) rendered Ale, Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako? and Ngiti. Even the nuns were impressed.

Parlor games were also held to give every kapamilya a chance to join the affair.

The event ended with stars thanking everyone for watching ABS-CBN shows.

“Their shows are really nice. I’m really satisfied especially with their Primetime Bida. It has variety of stories. I’m really satisfied,” a Cebuano fan says.

Indeed, the satisfaction was overwhelming. But there’s still more. Viz rock fans converged and made the football field of Cebu State College of Science and Technology System too crowded in anticipation of feel-good music from local bands and Parokya Ni Edgar via MOR’s Lupig Sila with Parokya Ni Edgar. Colt 45 gave away novelty items and beer cans to winning game participants.

Despite the global financial crisis, contingents from as far as Lanao del Norte took part in the Sinulog Festival garbed in colorful costumes. They danced to the graceful and rhythmic Sinulog beat.

Above all the activities, Pinoys’ religiosity vividly reflects during the pontifical Mass held at Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. Devotees trooped to the church’s pilgrim center with prayers of thanks and various wishes for the new year. Most of them attest to the miraculous blessings of the Sto. Niño. One devotee even gave away Sto.Niño statuettes as a show of gratitude and faith.