One Kapamilya Go a success in the US

MANILA, Philippines - World-class Filipino entertainment with a thousand thrills, unforgettable experiences, engaging interaction with Filipino celebrities, and exciting launches and surprises for the whole family.

This has been the tradition of TFC’s annual One Kapamilya Go that started in 2008 and has continued yearly to become the most successful sustained TFC-produced event in North America. It also marked the climax of the summer season-long events campaign called TFC Sama Saya 2012 that took place from coast-to-coast in the US.

Last Sept. 16 at the Great America theme park in Santa Clara, California, the event lived up to tradition by drawing another sold-out crowd of almost 11,000, following the record attendance it set in 2011 with the first-ever Filipino back-to-back One Kapamilya Go concerts at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal Studios Hollywood. This paved the way for other Filipino organizations to follow the lead that TFC began at the said venue.

The promise of the campaign that started with on-air and online teasers in late July was to deliver the best of the best. The cast of Walang Hanggan, Pokwang (2012 FAMAS Best Actress nominee for TFC Films’ A Mother’s Story), Jed Madela, and Pinoy Big Brother winner Slater Young were flown into the US.

This year’s huge add-ons came in the form of meet-and-greet with the Walang Hanggan cast, the launch of the much awaited TFCtv, the North America TFCKat finals, auditions for The Voice Philippines, the launch of the global anti-piracy campaign (a partnership between the Philippine Optical Media Board and TFC), and the free screenings of A Mother’s Story and Cinema One Global’s independent film, Six Degrees from Lilia Cuntapay.

“Every year, we face the challenge on how to keep up with the legacy of Filipino excellence that Filipinos in the US have come to associate with One Kapamilya Go. It’s like hosting and preparing for an annual family reunion: How do you keep the concept fresh, the menu surprising and flavorful, the interaction engaging? How do you make it worth the family’s time? That’s the amount of delicate care we put into every One Kapamilya Go event because the Filipino deserves it,” said Ricky Resurreccion, One Kapamilya Go’s project leader who also heads the TFC North America’s Ad Sales & Trade Marketing.

Nadia Trinidad of Balitang America (which received Certificates of Recognition from California Sen. Leland Yee and Assembly member Fiona Ma) roved at the event to get the insights of performers and attendees.

“I once worked in Canada. I was a janitor there. I can relate to the loneliness and the hardships Pinoys experience abroad. So, I always think of how I can make them happy whenever I perform in events in different countries,” Coco Martin told Balitang America and media at the press conference held at the TFC Studios on Sept. 17.

Dawn Zulueta admitted that this is the first time she has performed before a virtual “sea of people.”

“In Manila, we just hear about the love and support you all have for the show. But wow, I didn’t expect there are so many of you,” she said addressing the crowd.

A lot of second-generation Filipinos auditioned for The Voice Philippines led by director Laurenti Dyogi and handled by Myx.TV. The auditions were held at the TFC Tambayan in Island Pacific, Panorama City and at the Showtime Theatre in California’s Great America.

TFCKat, the global talent search of TFC that highlights the best of Filipino performances all over the world, had its North America finals. The winners were Jean Marc Enriquez of Daly City, CA (second runner-up); Criselda Bernardo of Bronx, NY (first runner-up); and Daryl Ogalino of North Hills, CA (grand winner).

After its successful debut in Nice, France and Dubai, the much-awaited North America launch of TFC.tv — the latest platform offering from TFC — drew cheers and celebration from the attendees. As two TFC.tv blimps hovered over the crowd, everyone danced to the new, star-studded TFC.tv Click Tayo viral music video.

“With the Click Tayo! video, we wanted to express what TFC.tv is all about — a place online where Filipinos anywhere in the world can have a personal encounter with our Kapamilya celebrities, through TFC.tv’s large menu of homegrown TV shows and movies. Wherever you are in the world and whatever you may be going through, TFC.tv is just a click away to keep you entertained, updated and never alone in your own Filipino journey,” says TFC.tv GM Eugene Paden.

The TFC Pavilion also teemed with people who enjoyed the activities prepared by the marketing group and the authentic Filipino menu being offered.

Proving that entertainment and education go hand-in-hand, TFC also unveiled its global anti-piracy campaign in partnership with the Philippine Optical Media Board (OMB) under the Office of the President. Team Donaire, led by WBC Latino Flyweight and Super Flyweight Champion Glenn Donaire with his family and management group, together with Adobo Nation host Lee Robin Salazar introduced the Bawal Kumopya (literally, copying is prohibited) video with OMB chairman Ronnie Ricketts and the cast of Walang Hanggan explaining that “Piracy is Wrong” and that copying copyrighted materials is illegal and considered cheating and stealing. The Bawal Kumopya T-shirts were also given away to the audience. The campaign will roll out and air in multi-platforms and key events of ABS-CBN Global.