MARIAN RIVERA and Maine Mendoza are among the Kapuso stars featured in the 2018 GMA-7 Christmas station ID. GMA-7 spreads Christmas among loyal viewers through its new Christmas station ID, #PusoNgPasko. With an over-all theme of “Ipadama ang Puso ng Pasko,” the station ID captures the network’s view that Christmas is all about sharing and giving.
Using a music video and theme song released in Sunday PinaSaya, its Sunday noontime comedy show, the almost-eight-minute video kicks off with an introduction from multiawarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho.
The choice of Jessica is inspired. Considered one of the pillars of GMA News and Public Affairs, Jessica has received the Most Trusted TV News Presenter Award eight times, besting all other TV newscasters working today.
The video ends with Kapuso stars gathering as one as they ask viewers to make love felt this Christmas. In the final shots, Atty. Felipe Gozon, chairman and CEO of GMA Network Inc., appears with other key officials and hundreds of employees of the Kapuso Network.
That GMA-7 chooses to start its Christmas Station ID with its most credible newscaster and chooses to end it with its most powerful executive is telling of how GMA-7 has wrapped up the video to include all its trusted people.
Extending this sense of being in one working organization, the 2018 Christmas station ID showcases scenes where various Kapuso stars, from newbies to veterans, help in multiple charities.
It also has the biggest Kapuso stars appearing in Kapuso shows coming together to sing along to the theme song, for good measure.
GMA-7’s Primetime Queen Marian Rivera brings smiles to the Big Dreams for Little People Foundation, as she helps spread the message: educate people about dwarfi sm; respect the needs of little people.
Janine Gutierrez, Andrea Torres, and Mike Tan help Raymond Magdato, founder of Genius Help Foundation, with a feeding program for children that started in 2014.
Katrina Halili, Mark Herras, and Rodjun Cruz join volunteers of Team Ahon, a group distributing school supplies and art materials to various provinces.
Real-life couple Barbie Forteza and Jak Roberto—with their Dalawang Mukha Ni GuadaLupe co-star Mika dela Cruz and other Kapuso child stars—collect toys for the Philippine Toy Library, a charity institution that aims to bring joy to kids by providing them with toys and books.
Respected TV broadcaster and GMA Kapuso Foundation ambassador Mel Tiangco, with other GMA News and Public Affairs personalities, help pack goods to be distributed to families nationwide.
The station ID also features Team Anacs, a group helping families in Pampanga affected by devastating typhoons.
Veteran actor Gabby Concepcion, award-winning comedienne-actress Eugene Domingo, and critically acclaimed reporter Howie Severino—alongside GMA-7 homegrown actors Ken Chan, Joyce Ching, and David Licauco—hand out pandesal to kids and the elderly.
Heart Evangelista, dubbed the “Philippine TV Sweetheart” by the Kapuso network, takes the lead in sending the message that stray dogs—or “aspins”— deserve to have a home this Christmas. Bannering the call to adopt and not to buy animals, she works with PAWS (aka Philippine Animal Welfare Society), an institution she has been working with for 10 years. In this scene, she is joined by Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, and Gil Cuerva.
Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko hosts Orly Mercado and Connie Angeles appear to say they are proud of their 42-year-old public service program, which has been helping the needy and the sick since 1975.
Wish Ko Lang host Vicky Morales and Miss World 2013 Megan Young, with B e a Binene, Mikael Daez, and Ruru Madrid, bonded with GMA Network Center’s service crew and security personnel for an afternoon of camaraderie.
The star-studded video also shines the spotlight on actresses who have distinguished themselves in the field of acting: Jaclyn Jose, the first Filipino to win the Best Actress award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival; and Eugene Domingo, who brought home the Best Actress award from the 2013 Tokyo International Film Festival.
Especially appealing about the station ID is its honesty. It does not, for instance, sell the AlDub team anymore, even if the fans will cheer this on, because in fact Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards are now on to separate careers.
There may be more projects later for the two, beyond their joint appearance in Eat Bulaga!’s “Juan for All, All for Juan” segment, but right now it is right that Alden appears on his own, amid the Christmas glitter and cheer. It is rare for a network to forget commerce and be this honest.
In past Christmas station IDs, GMA’s jingles always tapped the likes of Alden Richards, Julie Anne San Jose, and ex-Kapuso Regine Velasquez.
That is why it’s nice to see more Kapuso singers performing the song this year, even as Alden and Julie Anne are still there to regale the fans.
This time, they are joined by more popular and established singers like Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Bautista, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia, and Christian Bautista.
Jennylyn, dubbed GMA’s “Ultimate Star,” is also tapped to sing the important, catchy portion of the song, twice.
Lesser-known but promising newbies—like Hannah Precillas and The Clash grand champion Golden Cañedo, with the other clashers—are also given a chance to own their spot.
