Songbird finds home in Bohol’s Sandugo Fest

MANILA, Philippines - Remarkable was the night of Bohol’s Sandugo Festival last July 27 as the Bol-anons celebrated their annual fete with Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez together with the cast of GMA’s primetime drama series Niño.

Albeit that Sunday’s thunderstorm, Bol-anons of all ages — from the old folks to the younger ones — lined up to fill the Bohol Wisdom School in Tagbilaran City to witness Regine’s Kapuso Fans’ Day.

Songbird impersonator Ate Redg and GMA Cebu’s Yuri Deldig set the mood with exciting production numbers and games.

Thrilled was the audience when Julian Trono grooved to the beat of his combo and even asked a Bol-anon teenager to come up on stage and dance with him.

Bianca Umali wowed the crowed not just with her version of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way but also with her moves on the dance floor.

Of the three GMA Artist Center talents, it was Miguel Tanfelix who drew the most cheers with a song and dance number. Bol-anon direk Maryo J. de los Reyes also made an appearance and shared a group selfie with Miguel, Bianca and Julian.

But it was definitely Regine who brought the house down when she finally took the stage. Much to the surprise of the Bol-anons, the Bet ng Bayan host greeted them in fluent and flawless Bisaya. Regine, unknown to many, lived a short while in Leyte. Deafening was the audience’s cheer when Regine sang a heartfelt version of Usahay, a Bisayan love song her mother used to sing to her and her siblings.

Regine gamely kidded around with the Bol-anons, stirring laughter here and there. With every song she performed, the audience sang with her, once in a while pausing to let the Songbird do her job and hit her highest of notes.

Oliver Amoroso, GMA Network, Inc.’s head for Integrated Marketing Services (IMS) Division and AVP for Regional TV, meanwhile, expressed thanks to the Bol-anons and said, “Once again, our Kapuso in Bohol overwhelmed us with the warmth of their welcome and it is our pleasure to have brought more laughter and entertainment to their annual Sandugo Festival. This, of course, would not have been possible without the support of our local partners most notably the Municipality of Panglao and the management of Island City Mall (ICM). We hope to up the ante in next year’s celebration, and we will work hard as well to replicate the same festivities in our coming regional shows in other parts of the country.”