Makeshift stalls at the Oval Plaza Ro
adside selling all sorts of fireworks and noisemakers enjoy brisk sales less than 7 hours before midnite today Jan 31st
. Best-sellers are the baby rockets, trumpillo, kwitis, roman candles and the torotot. Gone are the triangles, super lolos, sawa, judas belt and thelike due to the FIRECRACKERS BAN of the mayor.
One of the activities of Pasko-sa-Gensan 2007 was a little known activity spearheaded by Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio of the 1st District of South Cotabato called the PAMASKONG PAMBATA: Alay ng Kongreso.
An annual endeavor of the opposition solon, this event brought joy and laughter to a number of the city’s underprivileged kids.
This year the mascot of Jollibee was on hand to assist her in entertaining her young guests.
It is our first Christmas as full-fledged orphans. Mommy died in April 26 of this year while Daddy passed away in 2004. It was but fitting that we spend Christmas Eve at their resting place at the Forest Lake San Carlos Memorial Park. So for just this one time, I want to veer away from the usual pictorial “reports” I feed in this blog and instead, post this one picture I took that night… hoping that it relays to the reader the emotions of spending Christmas when some loved one is not there anymore to spend it with.
Merry Christmas Daddy and Mommy. Don’t worry about us anymore. The kids are fine. God is good to us. We just miss you so much. But other than that, we’re great! Always remember that we love you.
Only a few stars descended from the heavens at last Monday night’s 29th birthday party of People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao at the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center here in GenSan. Compared to his celebration last year when he was still a Kapamilya, I did not see a single GMA-7 bigwig in attendance this time.
Consider this.
Last year, ABS-CBN’s top honchos Gabby Lopez, Charo Santos were here. Plus they shot a TV special on the same day at the Lagao Gym (where they built a set worth P600,000) as a thanksgiving special of sorts which they showed on delayed telecast a week after.
As coordinator for that tv event which gave me full access to the venue and a ringside view of the happenings, they were all there right in front of me, the nation’s tv idols performing and paying tribute to the boxing champ – my fave, Angelica Panganiban (for her sexy pix, click here), Jason Abalos, Bayani Agbayani, Dominick Ochoa, Smokey Manaloto, Bituin Escalante, Kitkat and Andrew E, among others.
Abs-Cbn stars at their opening number for the taping of “Alay ni Idol sa Bayan” Special at GenSan’s Lagao Gym, last year, Dec. 17, 2006 where the stage and set alone costs P600,000.
They were joined on stage later by former Manila mayoralty aspirant Ali Atienza and former Manila congressman Miles Roces, coach Freddie Roach and other boxing personalities. Total bill for the whole TV special thing according to some ABS-CBN insiders– P6 million!
Manny joined & greeted onstage by his well-wishers from Manila at the taping of his 28th bday special at the Lagao Gym, GenSan last 2006.
At his mansion in the same barangay where the party is being held were the rest of his big-time guests including Governor Chavit Singson, Wilson Tieng of Solar Sports, San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Local personalities like GenSan Mayor Jun Acharon and a host of other business and political figures were also there. Very much visible at all four corners of the compound was a very busy and frantic Dyan Castillejo with co-host Marc Nelson who were taping the whole thing for Sports Unlimited.
Fast forward one year after, exactly the same day….
At his 29th bash last Monday… Manny is seated between (L-R) mother Dionisia, wife Jinky and Bob Arum.
Venue this time was at the garden of the more modest Family Country Hotel and Convention Center owned by Pacman’s wedding godfather and mentor, ABAP Gensan Chairman Rey Golingan.
Some of the visitors who were here last year were back: Governor Chavit, Mayor Leonardia and Freddie Roach joined this time by the likes of Amay Bisaya and Long Mejia. And oh yes, I did spot Bob Arum!
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Amay Bisaya & former Ilocos Governor Chavit Signson
As for Kapuso Stars, I only saw Kyla who performed with Nyoy Volante and comebacking Andrew E (who again brought the house down just like last year).
Kyla, Andrew E and Nyoy Volante all took turns performing at Pacquio’s 29th Bday party in GenSan.
Weird but, no major GMA executive was around. They only compensated this with the viewing of a pitiful video footage of taped birthday greetings from kapuso stars on a widescreen which was too small for such a large gathering that people had to flock closer to it including Manny.
Manny watching the GMA-7 Video Tribute to him.
Nonetheless, food (including a roasted calf and eat-all-you-can sashimi from two 50-kg giant tuna) and drinks overflowed. (I’ve never seen soooo much food at a party my whole life.)
A 15-minute fireworks display wowed the guests, courtesy of Manny’s wife, Jinky. And by night’s end, almost everyone had their chance to have their picture taken with the gracious champ and some of his few guest-celebrities.
Comparing how the two channels participated in Manny’s birthday celebrations in his hometown GenSan, I only have one thing to ask:
DID MANNY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION IN MOVING FROM ABS-CBN TO GMA?
Attended the Street Party at the East Asia Royale Hotel Arcade Parking Lot last night, Saturday, December 15th headlined by the hot sexy all-girl Pinay group MOCHA. It was I guess, ONE of the most attended street parties I have been to this year. Sponsored by Perfecom and SAMSUNG, it definitely raised the bar for the next party events in Gensan.
The next info is from the MOCHA website unless otherwise stated:
“MOCHA – the newest song and dance girl group under VIVA records. Five ladies determined to make a name for themselves in the music scene – lead singer Mocha, ballet dancer Bambie, bootyshaker Hershey, cheerleader Grace and jazz dancer Bez. Oozing with flavorful melodies and harmonies! Bursting with colorful dance moves that will surely wet your appetite!”
“The funny thing is most of the men were out infront of the stage leaving their girlfriends in their seats to gawk at the Pinay Pussycat Dolls.” – Bariles
GRACE, OF MOCHA
BEZ (pic from Mocha Website)
BAMBIE, OF MOCHA
HERSHEY OF MOCHA
More than 3,000 Party People of Gensan all came out for Mocha. Booze and barbecue overflowed. The crowd was an eclectic mix of yuppies, students and Rotarian-types. A good number of expats were with their girlfriends. Yes, Virginia, Gensan really knows how to party!
Even though I did not buy a single thing, I had fun at last night’s Midnight Sale at the KCC Mall of Gensan just people-watching.
This quarterly gimmick of Gensan’s largest mall seem to gather the most number of people from all corners of the Socsksargen Area enticed not so much by the promise of sales discounts of up to 80% but by the chance to watch for FREE a concert by Manila’s “teen stars” of the moment.
Last night was no different. Featured performers were ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother’s latest evictees, Victor Basa and Megan Young who were to perform at the mall’s sparklingly new Convention Hall which appeared ready to burst at the seams with a mostly young, very excited crowd who have been there since 7pm. Good thing, MOR DJ’s Mario Valentino, Cheenie and Joey C kept them occupied with some inane games and so-so performances by a local dance group.
At half past 10, all hell broke loose when the two artista’s came out, one after the other, the 17-year old 5’8 tall stunner Megan first, followed by the seemingly amazed “hunkish” Victor. It was obvious however the instance they opened their mouths to sing that they were just hired for the “kilig factor”, mangling their songs all the way. But did the crowd mind? Not by the hair of their chinny-chin-chin….no-no. They lapped it all up with glee, astonished at the presence of their “TV idolos” before them. Kuya’s boarders never had it so good.
And from where I stood, up in the director’s booth fronting the stage, is the sight down below of a sea of twinkling nokia’s, motorola’s and sony ericcson’s from numerous hands trying to video or shoot pictures of the two.
At the bargain area at the atrium outside the convention hall, there was still a steady stream of people coming in, some in their pajamas all ready for bed and some in their sunday’s finery apparently coming from their office christmas parties, rushing in to dig into the piles and piles of discounted clothing merchandise, scouting for the best buys, unmindful of the drained and sleepy salesclerks who were (am sure) trying their best not to dive into the inviting soft and fluffy displays. And, from the looks of it, it was still gonna be a long, long night for the workers and staff of the mall and its tenants.
The jampacked crowd inside the Lagao Gym watching a recent
Spongecola Concert.
WBC super featherweight champion
Manny Pacquiao’s
invitation to his birthday on December 17, 2007. Pacman
will be 29.
Two of the tricycle entries to the “ILAWAN ANG DAAN-Light Up Your Tricycle” Competition of Gen. Santos City’s “PASKO SA GENSAN 2007” Christmas Festival.
Pioneer Avenue at night.
Pioneer Avenue in broad daylight.
A portion of the marine-themed Holy Trinity College Pavilion at the Oval Plaza seen from one angle. This plus 3 other schools are competing for the Best Pavilion Award at the Pasko-sa-Gensan 2007 Festival. Theme for this year is “Kulay Pasko ang Dagat ng Buhay” roughly translated as “Christmas is the Color of the Sea of Life“.
“Come, they told me pa-ra-pam-pam-pam…”
Little drummer boys from Pedro Acharon Elementary School perform before a very delighted crowd at the “Tunog Tambol, Tunog Lira Drum & Lyre Competition” at the Oval Plaza during the opening of Pasko-Sa-Gensan 2007.
This group lorded it over 9 other competing bands and won the GRAND PRIZE.
5,000 or so spectators look up in awe at the Fireworks Display in the sky after the simultaneous lighting up of the Christmas displays and pavilions at the city oval plaza ushering in the start of the Christmas Festival or the Pasko-Sa-Gensan 2007 last night, December 3, 2007.
Some of the finished arches which are entries to the “Best X’mas Arch” Contest of the local government of GenSan at the Oval Plaza grounds. They will be graded and judged after the opening ceremonies of the Pasko Sa Gensan 2007 Festival on early Monday evening.
Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
The city boasts of the only “Tuna Festival” in the world celebrated every September 5 in commemoration of its charterhood anniversary.
Bariles is also the alias of this blog\'s author who would like nothing than to write about his beloved city by the bay and share it with his kababayans from all over.
He has worked throughout Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. Currently, he devotes his time, beauty, and talent in the fields of Communications, Marketing and Media.
He is also the unofficial leader of the \"Soccsksargen Bloggers\", a motley group of online journalists who share a common goal to share what\'s true, good, progressive and beautiful about their region and her people.
