Salamat Gid, Negros

Negrense audiences never had it so good. Last weekend, ABS-CBN continued its summer caravan with the network’s biggest stars visiting Bacolod and Iloilo for Salamat Gid, Negros. The event is part of the overall campaign of the network to bring its programs and talents closer to its provincial audiences, as well as to thank the viewers for making ABS-CBN the industry leader nationwide. The grand road trip also allows ABS-CBN stars to say hello to their fans all over the country.

The Negrense cities were treated to simultaneous events which saw the presence of the brightest TV talents who created a stir around the rural capitals and thrilled thousands of fans.

"If Mohamed cannot go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohamed," said Bacolod City Mayor Evelio "Bing" Leonardia, who presented a friendship key to the city to ABS-CBN Executive Vice President and Entertainment Head, Charo Santos-Concio. The mayor hosted a breakfast reception for ABS-CBN during the Friday morning courtesy call held at the network’s studios.

La Carlota Pasalamat Drumbeaters provided the fanfare to welcome the ABS-CBN stars and guests, while the La Paz Cultural Group entertained the visitors. The program was hosted by Jaclyn Aloha, anchor of TV Patrol Bacolod and Clifford Nolido, anchor of Studio 23’s News Central.

"Bacolod City government and ABS-CBN have been partners for years in the Masskara Festival and also in public service," said Charo. "This is also our way of reaching out to our Negrense audiences."

True enough, Salamat Gid, Negros reinforced ABS-CBN’s affinity with the Negrenses. In Bacolod alone, ABS-CBN gets an overwhelming 94 percent audience share and 36.8 percent rating against the competitor’s five percent audience share and 1.8 percent rating, as shown by the 2005 first quarter ratings from the Philippine Survey Research Group (PSRC).

The star-studded weekend spectacle had the full support of the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group (RNG), headed by Vice President Ron Valdueza, with Bacolod Station Manager Relaine Alvior, Iloilo Station Manager Charie Ginete-Ilon and Visayas cluster head Jerry Bennett.

ABS-CBN’s summer caravan started in early April with the game show Wowowee, which did a successful remote airing in Bicol. This was followed by the equally-successful Northern Luzon leg which covered Tarlac, Dagupan and Baguio City. Then came the star-studded Daghang Salamat Cebu, which created unbelievable euphoria among Cebuanos. Prior to the Bacolod and Iloilo visits, Kris Aquino’s Game Ka Na Ba? also did a week-long episode in Davao.

The Salamat Gid, Negros juggernaut kicked off with simultaneous late-morning motorcades. In Bacolod, leading the starry caravan was Charo Santos, more popularly known to Ilonggos as the host of the longest-running drama anthology on TV, Maalaala Mo Kaya. Thousands of star-crazed fans waited in the streets and endured the heat of the sun just to get a glimpse of their idols. More deafening shrieks and screams were heard when the pick-up truck of Okay Fine Whatever leads Aga Muhlach and Edu Manzano traversed the main roads of the city.

Star-power was further displayed by other ABS-CBN talents who joined the motorcade: Okay Fine Whatever mainstays Bayani Agbayani, Nikki Valdez, Tado, Ahron Villaflor and Erich Gonzales; My Juan and Only cast Ai Ai delas Alas, Randy Santiago, Vhong Navarro, Toni Gonzaga, with child stars Aaron Junatas and Nash Aguas; Showbiz No. 1 hosts Rica Peralejo, JC Cuadrado; Entertainment Konek hosts Joey Reyes, Derek Ramsey, John Lapus and Ogie Diaz; Nginiig hosts Spencer Reyes, Danilo Barrios and Jhong Hilario.

In Iloilo, Wowowee host Willie Revillame intensified the motorcade with his co-hosts and dancers, but were nonetheless given an overwhelming reception. As one local Iloilo writer veritably told Willie, "Daig mo pa ang presidente," comparing him to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In the press conference that same evening at Iloilo’s M02 Bar at Smallville, Willie showed the scratches in his arms brought about by the motorcade, but he hardly complained about his wounds. "Haplos ito ng pagmamahal ng mga taga Iloilo," he smilingly said. "It was my first time to do a motorcade and I was overwhelmed with the reception of Ilonggos."

Kapamilya talents also invaded the malls with simultaneous shows. Popular young love team John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo of Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin fame, made it to the live airing of Showbiz No. 1 at the Capitol Lagoon (fronting the provincial capitol), which attracted a huge throng of fans.

Saturday saw the live airing of Entertainment Konek in Bacolod. Some stars, including Charo, traveled by speed watercraft and crossed over from Bacolod to Iloilo to join the remote broadcast of Wowowee at the La Paz Plaza Football Field, where thousands had gathered to watch the show.

Despite the sexual harassment allegations against Willie, no amount of negative publicity apparently prevented the fans from trooping to the venue to see the Wowowee host, who was adored and received warmly by Ilonggos everywhere he went.

ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs Group (NCAG) also did its share in bolstering ABS-CBN’s lead in Western Visayas, by airing Magandang Umaga Bayan and TV Patrol World live in Iloilo.

Salamat Gid Negros wasn’t only a weekend of star-gazing and entertainment. It was also a time for reaching out and sharing blessings. Friday afternoon gave Charo a chance to listen to the tales of struggle and survival of the orphaned residents of Bacolod Girls Home Foundation. Saturday saw her interacting with the elderly at the Asilo de Molo home for the aged in Iloilo. The ABS-CBN executive even pledged to promote the value of caring for the elderly through her award-winning and long-running drama anthology, Maalaala Mo Kaya, thereby extending the benevolent public service that the network has been known to do through the years.