The fireworks for Canada’s 147th birthday on July 1 are yet to launch but the all-Filipino Kapamilya gang from ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) had already started one humongous party of thousands when it held last June 21 One Kapamilya Go in Toronto at the prestigious Direct Energy Centre and Ricoh Coliseum.
As long lines filled tens of activity booths of TFC, myRemit and event
sponsors, and waves of hungry ticketholders packed the dining hall of
Filipino food vendors, many attendees trooped early to the game hall for
the Celebrity Bingo which was emceed by Tart Carlos and Vivieka Ravanes, the comedy duo from TFC’s global rom-com hit, Be Careful With My Heart. Gleeful shrieks pierced the air not only when winners called out “Bingo!” but also when celebrities like Maja Salvador,Enrique Gil and Xian Lim made surprise appearances.
There were also well-applauded performances from local talents Inah Canlapan and singers from the Josie De Leon School of Performing Arts.
The main show under award-winning film and TV director John-D Lazatin and his team opened with one of the most creative and hilarious video spoofs in Filipino television done on the famously viral Monica vs Nicole catfight scene of TFC’s phenomenal teleserye hit, The Legal Wife.
Intentionally cheesily overdubbed with dialogue that involved mangling of hair extensions and the French language, the spoofed scuffle ended with Nicole inviting Monica to OK Go in Toronto, a dolled up Vice Ganda approving and a countdown that led to the electric opening number with Maja Salvador doing her song-and-dance rendition of J.Lo’s upbeat dance megahit, “Goin’ In”.
The cheers haven’t died down when the reigning Philippine king of the dance floor, Enrique Gil, joins Maja before breaking out with the back-up dancers with his own hit, “OHA! Kaya Mo Ba ‘To (Can You Do This?)”, as his colorful music video with an infectious beat plays on the big screen.
Enrique followed this up with a sexy, updated version of the Hagibis classic, “Katawan (Body)”.
Maja returned and invited two obliging males from the audience to sing along with her as she performed her first hit, “Dahan-Dahan (Slowly)” while scenes from the music video is flashed.
She then called in Tart and Vivieka who had the audience giggling with their version of Tuesday Vargas’s classic novelty hit, “Babae Po Ako (I’m Really A Girl)”.
Giggles turned into moreshriewhen Tart and Vivieka introduced Angel Locsin who exuded wholesome charm with her rendition of Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away”, followed by a cool performance of Zia Quizon’s jazzy pop hit, “Ako Na Lang (Let It Be Me)”.
Tart and Vivieka, joined by ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus and ABS-CBN Global Head of Sales & Distribution Marco Amoranto, took a brief break to announce the winner of Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) raffle draw for two round-trip tickets from Toronto to the Philippines. The lucky one was Rosalie Siaga from North York, Ontario.
The show turned wild and wacky when Tart and Vivieka called back Angel and Maja to channel their TV alter egos, Monica and Nicole, respectively, and act as warring coaches for the The Legal Wife Royal Rumble Acting Game.
The game had two contestants each for the Monica and Nicole teams who had to reenact the famous catfight scene from said show. The contestants’ very game attempts had the entire crowd inside Ricoh Coliseum, as well as the celebrities, in stitches. Judging via audience claps and cheers, the pair of Team Nicole ran away with the victory.
After the ladies came in the man for the ladies of the house – matinee idol Xian Lim whose entry was greeted with a flood of camera flashes from adoring fans. Xian thrilled them with two numbers: his own single, “Di Bale (Never Mind)” and the super band Parokya ni Edgar’s “Harana (Serenade)”. He also delighted two lady fans who he called to join him on stage and gave them gentle hugs and kisses.
The entire crowd went from swooning to standing, screaming and jumping as stand-up comic, Philippine box-office King and among the most watched TV hosts,Vice Ganda, barged into the stage packing megatons of energy with his “Boom Panes” number that played like a national rock anthem. Two game men excitedly joined him on stage to do the dance moves and won Boom Panes shirts that Vice Ganda autographed right there.
To the thousands, Vice had the presence and charisma of a charming cult leader with followers ready to do whatever he tells them to. Then he blew everyone away with his voice and range via a Rey Valera hits medley. The show was reaching its ultimate climax.
Enter TFC 20th Anniversary Ambassador – Mr. Pure Energy himself, Gary Valenciano. Ageless, dynamic and kinetic, Gary V kicked off a veritable mini-concert segment with the nostalgic, “Babalik Ka Rin (You Will Return)”, peppering it with his unique dance moves.
Then he showed what world-class means with his TFC teleserye theme song medley, followed by the TFC 20 theme song, “Galing ng Filipino (Greatness of the Filipino), and climaxed with his own greatest hits medley that had everyone dancing on their feet.
“We promised to turn Toronto into the happiest place for our fellow Filipinos and we hoped that we achieved it with this year’s One Kapamilya Go. Our brothers and sisters deserved it,” said ABS-CBN Global Head of Events, Ad Sales & Trade Marketing Ricky Resurreccion.
“This is TFC’s 20th anniversary offering so we should showcase the best 360-degree entertainment experience that we have nurtured in the past two decades,” said Olivia De Jesus, ABS-CBN North America Managing Director.
“We will continue to deliver this and even aim higher all in the service of the Filipino globally as our founders mandated.
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