Time well spent for Kapuso stars

To say that they are busy is definitely an understatement. But for some of the biggest stars of the Kapuso network, there’s just no stopping them as they find time and go out of their way to be with their ever loyal supporters all over the country.

A testament to this is this year’s third quarter, which brimmed with a number of big festivals including occasional promo tours the stars made sure not to miss.

On top of the list is GMA’s “Royal Couple,” Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, who both took a break from their wedding preparations to delight their fans in various regional shows.

Just last August, then newly-engaged Marian held two Kapuso Fans’ Days — one in Bacolod and another in Cebu — where she bared the total performer that she is, to the satisfaction of thousands of audiences.

During her visit to Cebu, Marian, in partnership with GMA Regional TV, launched the Marian Rivera Collections Exhibit, an online auction of her most memorable and iconic wardrobe organized to raise funds for the Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka project. The project donated new boats to fishermen who lost their means of living to Typhoon Yolanda.

Just recently, a follow-up auction of her garments was held in Clark, Pampanga, the proceeds of which will be used to provide fishing implements and gear to the Bantayan community. The said auction also served as the culmination of the Kapuso Adopt-A-Bangka project that has built 131 bangkas, provided 29 boat engines and 140 fishing implements, in turn benefiting over 300 fisher families to date.

For Marian, who served as the campaign’s media ambassadress, helping others brought more meaning to being a celebrity as she shared, “Doon nagkakaroon ng kabuluhan ang pagiging artista. Ang artista ay hindi lang artista. Depende sa artista, sa pagkatao, sa pagpapalaki. Ako kasi pinalaki ako ng lola ko na hindi maramot at na-she-share talaga kung ano ang meron ako na ipinagpapasalamat ko rin dahil ngayon nararamdaman ko na masarap talagang tumulong. May kapalit man ‘yan o wala, ang importante bukal sa kalooban ang pagtulong. At the end of the day, matutulog ka, magpapasalamat ka sa Diyos, alam mong may naitulong ka. Hindi lang ako basta umaarte, at least masasabi ko na may kabuluhan ang pagiging artista ko.”

Marian’s fiancé, Kapuso Primetime King Dingdong, for his part, continued his practice of donating school supplies to public school students wherever in the country he goes. Moved by public school pupils’ need for learning resources, which he had observed during his past trips to the regions, Dingdong started his donation drive in January, and strived to do the same every time he went to a province to do a show.

In cooperation with GMA Regional TV and his own YesPinoy Foundation, Dingdong also gave out school bags to students of Consolacion Elementary School in Cagayan de Oro City where he participated in this year’s Kagay-an Festival.

A proud degree holder and an advocate of education, Dingdong actively supported DepEd’s launch of Abot-Alam, a national program that seeks to provide jobs for out-of-school youths and to encourage them to return to school via the Alternative Learning System. The actor, who serves as commissioner-at-large for the National Youth Commission, also graced the COMELEC’s one-day registration of youth voters in Cagayan de Oro during the same visit to the city.

For Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, meanwhile, it has been a very hectic third quarter as she spearheaded GMA’s participation in Batangas City’s Sublian Festival and Bohol’s Sandugo Festival last July. But the singer/TV host/actress never seems to get tired despite her back-to-back shows in various venues, each time overflowing with ecstatic spectators.

In Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Regine left her fans dramatically moved when she sang Usahay, a love song in the language that her mother used to sing to her and her siblings when they were still residing in Leyte. The Bet ng Bayan host also spoke in fluent Bisaya all throughout the event, which endeared her more to her Bol-anon audience.

Equally thrilled were Regine’s supporters when she visited General Santos City during its Tuna Festival merrymaking. Apart from belting out her classic hits, Regine carried out her own rendition of British singer Adele’s pieces. 

Dennis Trillo also made waves in this year’s Kadayawan Festival where he starred in a Kapuso Mall Show. The Dabawenyos showered the Hiram na Alaala actor with shrieks and screams, which all the more made Dennis enjoy his performance.

Ilustrado lead character Alden Richards had his share of region-hopping in search of the best “bets” in the country and at the same time giving his supporters a chance to meet him in person. It was in July when he bannered a mall show in Cebu with Ilustrado co-star Max Collins; in August when he hosted Bet ng Bayan’s provincial finals in Cagayan de Oro; and in September when he celebrated Naga’s Peñafrancia Festival with the Bicolanos while enjoying the said reality-talent search’s first regional finals.

Time surely is a precious thing for everyone, even for these Kapuso stars who almost always get caught in crazy schedules and yet they still find ways to make time for the people who helped them get to where they are today. Their passion in doing what makes their supporters both entertained and empowered only echoes the aspiration of their home network — to enrich the lives of Filipinos everywhere.

As GMA ushers in the last quarter of the year, it promises to bring more fun and surprises to millions of its viewers nationwide as a treat for their unwavering support.