60,000 Ilonggos brave the heat for ASAP stars

MANILA, Philippines - Anticipation and celebration were the operative words during last Sunday’s staging of ABS-CBN’s ASAP in Iloilo City. The STAR joined the bunch of Kapamilya stars brought to the home of Dinagyang Festival and the famed, delicious La Paz Batchoy.

Quite a number of fans were present at the city’s Japan technology-powered airport from the moment our plane, also carrying sultry Cristine Reyes, landed Saturday afternoon. She was just one in a battalion of public properties who trooped to the province and consequently made celebrity-catching a more exciting routine for Ilonggos, synonymous to watching a lengthy multi-colored fireworks show.

The spectacle that was ASAP 18, with its entourage of around 300 people, including 50 showbiz stars, and well-rehearsed production numbers, gathered thousands aching to witness it live at the Iloilo Sports Complex even under a hot Sunday sunshine.

“We want to put up a fantastic show that will really make the people of Iloilo feel good about celebrating the occasion through world-class Pinoy talents. We want a show to compete with the kind that we put up in 2011 and people can expect a different show and line-up today,” said ASAP headwriter Garlic Garcia to STAR a few hours before show time.

In coordination with ABS-CBN Regional Network Group led by its vice-president Jerry Bennet, the Kapamilya network made possible a classy three-hour open-air show, with its thematic stage design and delightful camera shots carefully executed by Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) himself. This return trip could be easily differentiated with the fact that Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano was not part of the 2011 trip. So, it was fitting that he manned the frontlines right from the opening number that featured the danceable music of Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna complementing the sexy, snappy moves and voices of the star-studded ASAP cast.

Actually, Gary led the “break a leg” prayer with his famed inspirational tongue just before the fireworks began. Him being encircled by a squad of familiar faces in local showbiz was a sight to behold.

The security head Martin Aguda, through the video grab of the crowd, estimated the audience attendance at 60,000. Gates were said to have been opened as early as 7 a.m. as spectators were treated to a pre-show proper entertainment, highlighted by song numbers from big band crooner Richard Poon and rock princess Yeng Constantino.

“I could feel the intensity in their eyes. I could feel we’re so welcomed, “ said balladeer Jed Madela of his hometown people. He is a native of Molo, which is just 10-minutes away from the city.

Jed was among the celebrity attendees during a dinner presscon held at Hotel Del Rio. Other  notable personalities present were Gary V., Jericho Rosales, Gab and Paolo Valenciano, Jovit Baldivino, Yeng, Richard, John Prats and Martin Nievera.

“There is no better place to start the year than in Iloilo,” said Gary V., referring to their provincial trip being the first this year.

His son Gab, who is set to leave for US this March, noted they’re extra prepared for their dance numbers. “This is probably my last provincial ASAP show so we’re taking the numbers seriously to the people.” He has decided to leave Philippine showbiz to concentrate more on record producing abroad.

ASAP, awarded the 2012 Best Musical Variety show by PMPC, is celebrating its 18th year of TV existence with a special reunion with past hosts today, followed by its Chinese New Year special on Feb. 10. The Iloilo stop, therefore, was a worthy pre-anniversary showcase, especially with the alluring and heartfelt numbers as well as the special segments (like the presentation of Himig Handog song finalists) it offered.

The young actresses Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador were an image of beauty and mystery while dancing to the tune of Alicia Keys’ Girl On Fire. The song Killing Me Softly was rendered with authentic vocal class by rocker Bamboo and upcoming singer KZ Tandingan who joined other celebrity singing pairs in a laid-back, love song-mode number.

Two Kapamilya child stars, Larah Claire Sabroso and Julia Klarisse Base, also cutely displayed their potential with a song number alongside Vina Morales and Zsa Zsa Padilla.

Acting talents who flew in to promote their teleserye projects were Iza Calzado and Jake Cuenca for Kahit Puso’y Masugatan, Jessy Mendiola, Denise Laurel and Matteo Guidicelli for Paraiso, and Piolo Pascual and Diether Ocampo for the upcoming series Apoy Sa Dagat. Piolo and Diether shared a tent at the show venue where celebrities were somewhat grouped by hierarchy.

Garcia shared, “We really did some researching, like what are the hit songs in Iloilo radio charts or how we can pay tribute to the festival.”

Dinagyang is religious-cultural in nature, held on the fourth Sunday of January in honor of the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival of Malay settlers in the island of Panay. Several painted performers were on stage backing up the hosts during the breath-taking opener.

Meanwhile, the ABS-CBN Store opened its Iloilo branch during the Dinagyang Festival, offering collectibles such as shirts, notebooks and other novelty items. It is located at the network’s Broadcast Complex in Luna Street, La Paz. Licensing officer Pia de Leon emphasized on the logic of putting one in the “City of Love.” “Ilonggos like souvenirs. And this is an ABS country for all we know.”