 | An Interview with the Former Kontrabidas |
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| AFTER the chaos, a more orderly show. Onstage is Bituin Escalante. |
| CEBU CITY -- Fans stampeded in Ayala Center right before an ABS-CBN mall show on Saturday, second day of the network's promo blitz in the southern capital. Monobloc chairs and pieces of metal railings flew as waves of zealous spectators surged toward the stage. No one was reported hurt, but the melee left a wailing child or two in its wake, and a frantic lola searched the grounds for her missing bakya. The same couldn't be said of the stars, who suffered bruises and scratches. Amy Perez, Roderick Paulate, Nikki Gil, and Angelica Panganiban were among the casualties. But they all shrugged it off as "evidence of the Cebuanos' love and warmth." "There were so many people, everywhere we went," guest star Rachel Alejandro told the media later in Tambuli Resort, which was likewise swarming with fans even though it was on faraway Mactan island. To think that homegrown ABS-CBN talents Angela Calina and Jude Bacalso earlier claimed that Cebuano fans "are really not showy (demonstrative)." On this weekend they were, definitely. It was obvious that the showdown here between ABS-CBN and GMA 7 (April 29 to May 1) had charged up the local crowd. The collision has been described variously as "a miting de avance" and "all-out war." Strewn all over the city were streamers and posters of the two giant networks. "It really is a lot like an election," said a source from ABS-CBN, "or a fiesta." "Some of our Cebuano friends were saying this event was bigger than Sinulog," said Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN EVP and Entertainment head. She added: "At the airport in Manila, I told some of our GMA-7 friends: 'This [weekend] will be fun!'" The revelry, however, smacked of politics. It was as if the Visayan viewers were being asked to vote which of the country's two top networks is No. 1. GMA 7 claimed it was No. 1 in Mega Manila; ABS-CBN countered that they were No. 1 all over the country. Throughout the weekend, they were clearly monitoring each other's movements. Case in point: Over merienda, "TV Patrol" Central Visayas anchor Leo Lastimosa fumed: "It's sad that our competitor had to resort to dirty tactics, ferrying audiences to the venues in a fleet of buses." The following day at breakfast, GMA insiders were denying the "dirty tactics" allegation. It was also a war of words. Charges and counter-charges flew thick and fast. The GMA camp insisted that ABS-CBN's decision to invade Cebu was a last-minute decision. ABS-CBN, through Santos-Concio, explained that summer specials have always been a part of the station's annual calendar. "Every year, we bring our different musical-variety shows like 'ASAP' and 'MTB' to the provinces. It's just that this year, we planned something bigger," Santos-Concio said. GMA 7, through president and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, reportedly approved a P40-million budget for the blitz only after the head-on collision with ABS-CBN was confirmed. On the other hand, Santos-Concio insisted: "We just spent our regular budgets [and] got a little help from our friends in Cebu." Food flowed from host restaurants and vehicles were lent by said Cebuano friends, who also donated streamers and giveaways. "Aggressiveness is also a function of competition," Santos-Concio said, unperturbed. "And there is nothing wrong with competition." "Surreal," a talent manager called the Cebu confrontation. "It's palpable proof that there is a raging network war." Guess who's caught in the crossfire? The hapless masses, of course, who would risk life and limb and brave a stampede for a glimpse of Jericho Rosales and Shaina Magdayao. |
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Atong Banat, aired 6-8 p.m. Saturdays, is anchored by Apas, Cebu
City's No. 1 Councilor Ramil Ayuman. It features the extended
versions of his exclusive interviews conducted during his daily
sorties for TV Patrol Central Visayas.
ABS-CBN proudly presents its newest teleserye, Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin,
set to premiere on a prime evening slot on Monday, May 16.
Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin stars teleserye princess Claudine Barretto,
cast for the very first time alongside one of today's most popular
screen teams, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. Also heading this
exceptional cast are Angelika de la Cruz, Shaina Magdayao, and Diether
Ocampo.
An emotional story about love and life that can happen to any one of
us, Ikaw ang Lahat Sa Akin is considered by many as a return to form
for the teleserye format that ABS-CBN pioneered and perfected.
Directed by Eric Reyes (Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas) and Jerome Pobocan
(Hiram), and costarring acclaimed actors Hilda Koronel, Tirso Cruz
III, Jaclyn Jose, Noni Buencamino, and Carmi Martin, with Kathleen
Hermosa, Vanna Garcia, Marla Boyd and Glaiza de Castro, Ikaw Ang Lahat
Sa Akin centers on the story of three young women whose journeys
intersect in the most unexpected of ways.
Nea Cruz Fontanilla (Claudine Barretto) and Jasmin Cruz Fontanilla
(Bea Alonzo) are sisters, although they haven't seen each other since
Nea was five – when Nea's father Larry (Noni Buencamino) abandoned her
and her mother Elena (Jacklyn Jose) to live with the rich Yolanda
(Carmi Martin).
