- Filipino community unite for Philippine Independence celebrations across Middle East and Europe
- TFC joins the community in honoring our centuries-old freedom by bringing its #JustLoveArawAraw TFC Hour with ABS-CBN stars Martin Nievera, Arci Munoz, and Morrissette plus more stars and promos
Whatever the reason and the season, Filipinos love to come together. And when it comes to the celebration of the Philippine Independence, the motivation becomes even greater because it is after all, the celebration of the country’s centuries-old freedom.
This June and July, Filipinos from south to west, from Middle East to Europe have gathered in multitudes to honor the milestone of our independence and as well as to find more motivation to be together in a country they consider as second home.
As part of its thrust to be a conduit for families and communities, ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) joined the communities in Dubai, Oman to Bahrain and United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Spain to France, bringing its #JustLoveArawAraw entertainment roadshow.
#JustLoveArawAraw caravan is the overarching theme for the summer entertainment roadshow of the biggest Filipino-owned media entertainment and information network, ABS-CBN, that first kicked off in Asia via The Filipino Channel (TFC) in June and which has traversed to West Asia and Europe to bring topnotch and endearing performances, and other homegrown extravaganzas that has made the caravan a trademark celebration, in various parts of the world.
The love was definitely felt in various ways from Dubai, Oman to Bahrain, and from United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Spain to France.
In the Middle East 120th Philippine Independence celebrations, Philippine Concert King Martin Nievera made the rounds to be with Filipinos longing for a piece of home and the company of a veritable family member or Kapamilya, a term of endearment extended to viewers of ABS-CBN and its international arm TFC, for which Nievera became one of the early brand ambassadors.
During his three-day stay, Nievera made his own rounds, guesting at Tag Radio 91.1 where he exchanged tête-à-tête with Dubai’s own DJ Chikai, paid a courtesy visit to Consul General Paul Cortes of the Philippine Consulate in Dubai , and shared his time with members of the press and Filipino community before the actual event on the 15th.
Among his trips, Nievera’s most memorable was his visit to distressed OFs in the territory. Singing his iconic hit “Be My Lady”, Nievera’s countrymen felt the love as the recently awarded Myx Magna (prestigious award bestowed to an icon by the music channel) also shared his talent to alleviate their condition and forget their woes even for a short while.
Nievera only had admiration for his countrymen who are working or living overseas and have left their families back home. “On behalf of Filipinos in the Philippines, we are proud of what you do: how you give up your life, your comfort zone, all the things you call home you give up just to bring pride to your country,” the award-winning singer said. The ANC “LSS” (Last Song Syndrome) host also added “I know that life is hard outside the Philippines but I have faith in the Filipino. Everything that has to do with people, you will see a Filipino at the forefront. I am proud to be a Filipino.”
On the day of the event at the Dubai World Trade Center Zabeel 1, the Concert King went all out for hardworking Filipinos as he joined Breakthrough Actress Arci Muñoz on stage. Muñoz showed the crowd that she could sing as well as she could act, singing a few rock hits.
In Bahrain, the unequivocal community love was felt in the air as Nievera delivered his concert-level performance at the Sheraton Hotel, serenading the winners of the “Search for Munting Prinsipe at Prinsesa 2018: A Philippine Independence Day Celebration”. Showing the values of a true Kapamilya, Nievera gladly obliged to each of 300 requests for photo opportunities. Tired but inspired, the world-class talent brought smiles to hundreds of kababayans.
During the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in the Middle East, the love was also felt as ABS-CBN Foundation, enabled Filipinos in the Middle East to finally be able to help less fortunate countrymen.
In Muscat’s “Likhang Pinoy: 120th Philippine Independence Celebrations”, the entertainment fare turned ballad as Philippine entertainment’s Next Big Thing Morrissette showcased her singing prowess at Al Falaj Hotel, talent that shot her up from “X Factor Philippines” to worldwide fame via TFC’s platforms.
The Philippine Independence celebrations in the Middle East were brought to Filipinos in the Middle East in partnership with FILCOM (Filipino Community Dubai and the Northern Emirates; The Filipinos in Bahrain and Media Circuit; and FILCOSOC in Oman).
Love from East to West
Community love was also felt westward as Philippine Independence Day celebrations were mounted in various cities:
- June 9 at the “Rock on Yorkshire” (Year 1) featuring Maja Salvador, Pooh and Daniel Matsunaga at Ripon Racecourse Boroughbridge Rd, North Yorkshire;
- June 10 at “Maja back to back showdown on stage with Pooh” with all three:
the Dance Empress Maja Salvador, comedian Pooh and Kapamilya Heartthrob Daniel Matsunaga at the Hammersmith Town Hall in King Street, Hammersmith W6 9JU; - June 10 at the Rome Philippine Independence Day Celebration;
- June 17 at the Kalayaan 2018 – Barcelona at MACBA Plaça dels Àngels, 1, 08001 Barcelona, and Madrid at Auditorio Pilar Garcia Pena Carretera de Canillas 1 28-43 Madrid, Spain;
- July 1 at Pista sa Paris 2018 at Stade de la Muette 60 Boulevard Lannes, 75016 Paris, France; and
- July 9 at the Fiesta Filipino 2018 at Et levende Youngstorget Youngstorget, 0181 Oslo, Norway
Crowds from hundreds to thousands trooped to the 120th Philippine Independence Day events for a chance to commune with fellow Filipinos, be with their favorite Kapamilya stars, and together, celebrate the country’s over centuries-old freedom.
At the #JustLoveArawAraw TFC Hour, exclusive TFC merchandise including the highly coveted #JustLoveArawAraw shirts were made available and were given as freebies for TFC online (www.TFC.tv) and IPTV registrants and renewals.
The #Philippine Independence Day celebration in Yorkshire and London Hammersmith were made possible through the partnership with Yorkshire Maharlika Filipino Club led by Lolita Boddy; while some events in across Europe were made possible with the support of various Filipino Community partners.
For more information on these events, visit emea.kapamilya.com, facebook.com/TFCEurope and facebook.com/TFCMiddleEast. You can also follow KapamilyaTFC and KapamilyaGlobalPR on Facebook, Instagram and twitter.
