A stellar line up. Feel-good music. Comic exchanges. The 10th “Kapamilya Fiesta World: Fies Dekada” at CCIB, El Centre, de Convencion de Barcelona International de Barcelona on October 15 had all the elements of a special event.
In truth, what the celebration of the decade-long “Kapamilya Fiesta World (KFW)” of The Filipino Channel (TFC) and ABS-CBN Regional shared with the Filipinos in Barcelona was an experience worthy of the 10 years of one of the most anticipated Filipino gatherings in Europe: a much-awaited homecoming; a reunion with Kapamilyas; and a chance to rekindle ties.
What started as a community event in 2007 has become one of the most-anticipated annual events in Europe, specifically in Spain. And for its 2017 installment, the anniversary presentation felt more like a homecoming because it was exactly in Barcelona where Kapamilya stars first brought to Europe a piece of home in the form of entertainment.
Since then, TFC and ABS-CBN Regional have been making the rounds of Europe to bring the Philippines to kababayans in the continent through the company of Kapamilyas and homegrown entertainment.
It felt like a reunion for the Filipino community and especially for Bea Alonzo who first joined the first set of stars: Jodi Sta. Maria, Vhong Navarro back in 2007. Like veritable reunions where families delight in the life milestones of their members, Kapamilyas have seen the rise of Alonzo, then dubbed as one of the most promising actresses in Philippine entertainment industry, into This Generation’s Movie Queen.
During the 2017 anniversary celebrations, Alonzo proved that she is more than a movie queen as she charmed the audience with her own version of the Elvis Presley classic and B40’s remake “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” and fellow British act Clean Bandit’s “Symphony”. Thrilling the audience even more, Alonzo serenaded a Pinoy in the audience with her recently concluded teleserye “A Love To Last” with the theme of the same title.
Alonzo beams: “It feels like I’ve come full circle. When I performed for TFC and ABS-CBN Regional 10 years ago, I just celebrated a career high with ‘One More Chance’. Now, as I perform again on the KFW stage, it feels like I have grown with this event and am now performing at a time when I am ready to face a new phase in my career”.
Joining Alonzo was her constant companion these days, Millennial Heartthrob Gerald Anderson. Delightful shrieks met Anderson when he opened his segment with another British act, pop band One Direction’s hits “One Thing”, and “What Makes You Beautiful”, and even when he simmered down to fellow British artist Alison Krause’s “When You Say Nothing At All”.
“Kapamilya Fiesta World” felt all the more like a family reunion as Enchong Dee, known to be a close friend of both Anderson and Alonzo, joined the Star Magic artists to fire up the dance floor and surprise the audience with his ability to sing when he performed such as “Bicycle” and “Push” and including his own hit “Chinito”. The audience rewarded him with much love and fan messages.
No reunion is complete without comedic relief. Providing witty antics and Pinoy humor was Pooh, host, comedian and regular of the long-running “Banana Sundae”. Even while narrating his life experience, Pooh continues to bring in the laughs.
Dubbed the Ultimate Heartthrob, Piolo Pascual continues to affect his audience the same way like no other Filipino actor-singer can. At the “Kapamilya Fiesta World”, he continued to be at the receiving end of fan love especially when he performed the theme song of “Starting Over” one of the Philippines’ all-time box office hits. Pascual also performed one of United Kingdom’s best singers, Adele’s “All I Ask”; and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen.
The reunion’s high point came at the end of the show when the entire entourage appeared on stage first to greet Alonzo on her 30th birthday and then to eventually render an encore.
Grateful could not even begin to describe what the audience felt, especially those who have not missed a single “Kapamilya Fiesta World”. Lolita Rafanan, a TFC subscriber and dealer beamed: “Enjoy na enjoy po kami sa Fiesta Dekada. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo, Regional at sa TFC (We enjoyed Fiesta Dekada a lot. Thank you ABS-CBN Regional and TFC)”.
An added treat came in the way of the launch of the new TFC online (www.TFC.tv). As an introductory gift, TFC gave away free premium access to audience members who registered online via the TFC.tv app.
With Kapamilya treats left and right, some kababayans pledged to what seems to be a commitment for life. Gina Rodilla said: “Hay naku, buong buhay ko, hanggang tumanda na ako, ABS-CBN TFC pa rin (I will be an ABS-CBN TFC fan all my life, even when I grow old)”!
For more updates about TFC shows and stars, visit emea.kapamilya.com or visit Facebook.com/TFCEurope.