GMA 7's trade party unveils new faces, new shows

MANILA, Philippines - As part of its year-long 60th anniversary celebration, GMA Network recently hosted a grand, glitzy and glamorous trade party that launched new programs and new faces set to capture the hearts of millions of viewers, here and around the world.

Held at the SMX Convention Center, the successful GMA trade launch was anchored by the grandest and hippest party event on TV and the Network’s newest Sunday musical/variety show, Party Pilipinas.

The special celebration was attended by the Network’s top executives headed by GMA chairman, president and CEO Felipe Gozon, EVP & COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Abrogar, GMA marketing and productions, Inc. president and COO Lizelle Maralag; SVP for Sales Joel Jimenez and SVP for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante.

The trade party started with a blast with the grand production performances from Kyla and Jay-R, Mark Bautista, Aljur Abrenica, Frencheska Farr, Geoff Taylor, Kris Lawrence and Mark Herras.

Fast-rising Kapuso teen stars Sarah Lahbati, Steven Silva, Joshua Dionisio, Jhake Vargas, Bea Binene, Barbie Forteza, Julie Ann San Jose together with today’s youngest rapper Elmo Magalona, son of the late Master Rapper Francis M, pumped up the event with their colorful song and dance number.

New faces and segments were introduced by Party Pilipinas party jocks Raymond Gutierrez, Tim Yap, Bella Padilla and StarStruck V’s Ian Batherson together with Regine Velasquez, Jaya and Ogie Alcasid. These new segments and new members of Party Pilipinas will draw in more viewers to join the coolest partyphiles on TV.

Making the trade party more bubbly is comedy genius Michael V. who introduced his brainchild to the audience — the first-ever reality-sitcom and the newest multi-millionaire on TV — Pepito Manaloto.  The other cast members of Pepito Manaloto who all attended the grand event in character were Carmina Villarroel, Manilyn Reynes and Joshua Pineda. Allan K and Eugene Domingo were also introduced as hosts of the upcoming late-night Saturday program titled Comedy Bar.

Following the success of its primetime shows in the first quarter, GMA Network promises to deliver more riveting and heartwarming stories with the upcoming programs in the primetime block led by the much-anticipated Pinoy adaptation of the Korean series Endless Love starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.  

Viewers will surely enjoy the network’s other new programs presented in the trade fair like Pilyang Kerubin, Langit Sa Piling Mo and Odessa, The Legend of the Swan Princess.

Meanwhile, the GMA 7 News and Public Affairs headed by SVP Marissa Flores and VP for News Jessica Soho also presented their new shows like Aha! hosted by Drew Arellano and the much-awaited return of the reality-based Survivor Philippines.  Unlike the previous seasons, this year’s Survivor Philippines will be much more captivating at the same time intriguing since it will be a special celebrity edition hosted by Richard Gutierrez.

And since last year, GMA News and Public Affairs has been leading the Filipinos in its campaign for an honest and peaceful presidential election this May with their extensive awareness campaign of the automation system and unbiased news coverage of all the political candidates through Eleksyon 2010.

Q-11, GMA Network’s sister station, also unveiled their latest programming namely I Laugh Sabado, Sus Naman! May Solusyon Yan! and Tonight with Arnold Clavio.

More so, Dingdong and Marian thrilled the audience with their production number. Aside from their upcoming primetime show, Dingdong and Marian topbill the latest GMA Films’ offering titled You To Me Are Everything.

Aside from introducing new programs, GMA Network also gave the guests a chance to experience the newest dating game on television titled Take Me Out hosted by Jay-R. Brazilian-Japanese models Akihiro Sato, Daniel Matsunaga and Fabio Ide, who were stationed at the Take Me Out booth were swamped by the guests for photo sessions which went on the entire evening.

Adding more fun and excitement were the raffle prizes including IPADs, PSPs, other electronic gadgets and two brand new Mitsubishi Lancers won by Christina de Guzman-Lao of Golden Arches Development Corporation and Rommel Pentinio of Starcom Mediavest Group.

Activity booths with fun games and prizes set up by the various GMA programs and subsidiaries placed strategically at the SMX Convention Center added fun and merry-making to the event from beginning to the end.