TV5 ushers in 2015 with the loudest bang

The skies over Quezon City Memorial Circle literally lit up to usher the New Year as TV5 in partnership with the Quezon City government welcomed 2015 with a blast, literally. Fireworks and song-and-dance numbers were enjoyed by the more than 20,000 Kapatids who trooped to the venue for the momentous event.

For us in TV5, it was the first collaborative activity we had with the Quezon City government led by Mayor Herbert Bautista and certainly, it will not be the last as plans are afoot for succeeding projects. For QC Memorial Circle habitués, it was the first time that they saw the venerable Quezon Memorial Tower light up in the most spectacular fireworks display that have not been seen before in these parts. The grand light show came courtesy of Canada’s Royal Pyrotechnie and the Philippines’ very own Platinum Fireworks. The fireworks display was so grand that it even merited a feature, alongside those iconic New Year’s Eve countdowns in other countries such as Sydney, New York, Dubai among others, on CNN.  

The festivities started as early as six in the morning of Dec. 31, with people trooping to the Quezon Memorial Circle to secure their strategic spot to view the much-awaited TV5 Happy sa 2015 New Year Countdown. Families, friends and relations came in throngs and were treated to free meals and refreshments. The festivities turned out to be veritably the largest picnic or “salo-salo” ever as far as anyone can remember, hosted by anyone in the circle. Adding to the happy mood were the long queues from aspiring talents joining the artista search launched by TV5.

MVP group of companies’ top executives, led by TV5 chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP), TV5 president and CEO Noel Lorenzana, PLDT president Napoleon Nazareno and Maynilad president Ricky Vargas, among others, were also around to lend support to the first New Year event countdown of its sister company, TV5. Also seen in the audience were Gary and Angeli Valenciano who came to watch their son, Gab; Vicki Belo who was with Hayden Kho who will have his own program on TV5; Cristalle Henares was also there with her dad, Atom. Talent manager Jojie Dingcong was seen with some of his talents who were enjoying themselves as they watch the show later that evening.  

Leading the evening fanfare was stage firebrand Ogie Alcasid, who started the program with a prayer and segued to a musical number. He was joined by the inimitable Tuesday Vargas and well-known DJ and former child actor Tom Taus, who kept the crowd literally on its feet. The show was hosted by Alice Dixson and Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Actor Derek Ramsay. There were outstanding performances from Kapatid stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Ritz Azul, Carl Guevarra, comedian Empoy Marquez and Artista Academy graduates Marvelous Alejo, Akihiro Blanco, Mark Neumann, Brent Manzano, Chris Leonardo and Alberto Bruno. Talentadong Pinoy 2014 winner Neil impressed the crowd with his repertoire of 20 different voices/ tunes as he performed a Michael Jackson musical favorite. 

The evening’s program was made more special by world-class singer Kuh Ledesma, who rendered a medley while another Talentadong Pinoy 2014 Hall of Famer Mystiq performed an aerial dance. These were just some of the remarkable performers that night but the real highlight of the entire evening was the fireworks presentation. The first set was shown at 11:30 p.m. and this was from Canada’s Royal Pyrotechnie who also did the Dubai New Year countdown and Philippines’ own Platinum Fireworks which literally lit the sky at 12 midnight. 

“We were able to get these two suppliers at a very reasonable price because they were also one with our objective in giving the best to our fellow Filipinos,” Wilma Galvante, TV5’s chief entertainment content officer and the overall in-charge of the grand production, said.  

The midnight spectacle also included two high-flying radio-planes/drones circling the stage area to the delight of the crowds and the blaze of laser lights that made the Quezon City Memorial Tower throbbed with radiance.

The spectacular midnight countdown was topped off with a 3D mapping show that featured TV5’s logo ascending up the Quezon City Monument buoyed by the energy and sound of the performances on stage. It was something that will remain in my memory for some time — the rising red logo of TV5 lifting up our hearts and spirits this 2015.  

Overall, TV5 welcomes the new year with renewed hope and we are all united with our Filipino brothers and sisters in making this 2015 as the year of the Happy Network.

My happy New Year greetings to one and all!