Dubai, UAE, January 29, 2014 – As the 19th edition of the internationally acclaimed shoppers’ paradise known as Dubai Shopping Festival reaches its final week, ABS-CBN TFC brought powerful Filipino sights and sounds to the 32-day festivities by way of back-to-back shows of “ASAP Live in Dubai” that drew thousands to Dubai Festival City on January 24.
The event also cements OSN, the largest pay-TV network in the region, as the new exclusive hub for TFC subscribers in the Middle East. The exclusive partnership highlights the efforts of both OSN and ABS-CBN TFC to provide Filipino viewers with the ultimate television experience backed by OSN’s award-winning customer service, state-of-the-art technology and the widest choice of premium Filipino and Western content.
Over 40 of the biggest and brightest stars in Philippine entertainment had the city pulsating to the vibes and musical flavors of the number one variety show in the Philippines. The shows touched on themes of patriotism, Filipino pride, popular love theme songs from classic teleseryes, the things from the homeland that OFWs miss most, giving back to the homeland, among others, plus a whole lot of sizzling dance numbers in colorful, dazzling costumes before a gigantic screen backdrop of images that visually transported the audience to amazing landscapes.
The historic, first-ever staging of “ASAP Live” in the Middle East – dubbed by Concert King Martin Nievera as “OSN – One Special Night” – showcased stunning musical repertoires in two different two-hour shows that featured performances of world-class Filipino entertainers, Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, Ultimate Showgirl Vina Morales, and Divine Diva ZsaZsa Padilla.
The event, hosted by Toni Gonzaga, Nikki Gil, Luis Manzano and Robi Domingo, further dazzled with stellar performances from Charice, Bamboo, Jed Madela, Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Yeng Constantino, KZ Tandingan, Jovit Baldivino, Marcelito Pomoy, Zia Quizon, ASAP Sessionistas composed of Aiza Seguerra, Juris, Princess, Richard Poon and Sitti.
Weaving their magic with spectacular high energy production numbers were heartthrobs Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson, Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, and John Lloyd Cruz, with teleserye sweethearts Kim Chiu, Julia Montes, and Erich Gonzales. ASAP Supahdancers Rayver Cruz, John Prats and Iya Villania, and the MASH duo of Maja Salvador and Shaina Magdayao raised energy levels with their high octane dance numbers.
Meanwhile, the presence of “Be Careful With My Heart” leading man Richard ‘Ser Chief’ Yap, “Maria Mercedes” star Jessy Mendiola, and “The Legal Wife” team-up of Angel Locsin and Jericho Rosales caused big-time swooning among the crowd.
TFCKat, TFC’s global singing contest, also held its regional finals. When the battle smoke cleared, it was Ana Blaza of UAE who won the Middle East crown, with her unique rendition of “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.
The board of judges was composed of ABS-CBN Head of Production Laurenti Dyogi, ABS-CBN Global Head of Customer Relationship Management Allie Dela Cruz, ABS-CBN News Bureau Chief for Middle East and Europe Danny Buenafe, and last year’s TFCkat Middle East Champion Cris Bernardo.
No less than Philippine Queen of All Media Kris Aquino, joined by Luis Manzano and Toni Gonzaga, announced before thousands the exclusive partnership between ABS-CBN and OSN, the region’s leading pay-TV network, in the presence of OSN Chairman and KIPCO Vice Chairman Faisal Al Ayyar, ABS-CBN Corporation Chairman Gabby Lopez and ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez. The three executives paid tribute to the Filipinos in the Middle East, praising their excellence at work that made them preferred employees, and agreeing that they deserve the best that the ABS-CBN TFC-OSN partnership has to offer.
Emad Morcos, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Strategy & Digital said: “Our vision of serving the Filipino community in the Middle East and North Africa region has led to the successful collaboration between OSN and ABS-CBN. Today, OSN offers viewers the largest and widest choice of must-watch Filipino TV entertainment in the region, headlined by six of the most popular channels from ABS-CBN’s portfolio. I am confident that in 2014 and beyond, OSN will continue to reinforce its credentials as the ‘home of premium Filipino content.’
ABS-CBN Managing Director for Middle East and Europe Edgardo Garcia said before thousands during the second show: “ABS-CBN through TFC in the Middle East has found a committed partner in OSN in pursuing our mission to serve the overseas Filipino community better, so expect us to be even more actively present in Filipino events and activities this year as we share with all Filipinos here the good news of the best TV viewing experience from two leaders in the region.”
Indeed, the luscious musical odyssey that was “ASAP Live in Dubai” reinforced the Filipino presence in the region and ABS-CBN TFC’s ever expanding global reach to bring a welcome slice of home to the fast-growing Filipino community overseas.
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