Celebrate Christmas ‘more than ever’

MANILA, Philippines - Two specials, one a timely musical documentary, the other the pilot episode of a singing talent-search, are blazing through TV screens this Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 14 and 15), respectively.

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid is the host of the one-hour musical special titled Awit Ng Pasko, which tackles traditions Filipinos embrace during this time of the year. She has recorded four famous Christmas songs with her versions deemed fit introductory themes to topics being dealt.

“Times are hard. But I think more than ever, kailangan natin mag-celebrate ng Pasko ngayon to uplift the spirits of those people affected by Typhoon Yolanda and the earthquake in Bohol,” expressed Regine in a chat with the press prior to the shoot of her hosting stint held at the famed Bamboo Organ Church in Las Piñas City.

Awit Ng Pasko features familiar tunes related to the Christmas celebration, namely, Kumukutikutitap, Noche Buena, Pasko Na Sinta Ko and Pasko Na Naman, the last regarded by Regine as the definitive Christmas tune for her. Thus, stories on parol which strongly symbolizes the decorations that distinctly project the season, and Christmas Eve party favorites like hamon, bibingka, puto bumbong, tinapay at keso, will be discussed, as well as some touching stories that fix broken homes and tighten distance relationships in the spirit of Christmas.

Program manager JM Cobarrubias said that they have also included case studies of people directly affected by the Yolanda calamity.

Regine related, “Sa mga taong pinalad tulad natin, we need not celebrate lavishly pero wag naman totally â€˜wag na mag-celebrate. We can downsize our celebration so we can still uplift the spirits of the calamity victims. Music heals and through this documentary we can help them get through all the emotions na nararamdaman nila sa ngayon.”

Meanwhile, Viva Records’ balladeer Marvin Ong raises the bar as far as versatility is concerned as he is set to co-host a reality TV show called Chinoy Star Ka Na. The program is actually open even to non-Chinoys with that gift for singing. 

This Ateneo communications graduate is this year’s Male Pop Artist of the Year awarded by the PMPC Star Awards for Music. His song Ayoko Na was nominated for Song of the Year honors.

“I look forward to seeing all those young talented singers on the show. Being part of Chinoy Star Ka Na is a big achievement for me and maybe I can share some of what I know as an artist.”

Marvin is into theater, too, having been part of the cast of the Philippine production of Sound of Music where he portrayed the role of Liesl Von Trapp’s love interest Rolf. Other local theater versions of stage plays he participated in include Sweeney Todd and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Awit Ng Pasko airs on GMA News TV at 8 p.m. on Dec. 14 while Net 25’s Chinoy Star Ka Na (which marks the third anniversary of Chinoy TV) opens its search the morning of Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m.