battleground

FILIPINO-Americans in San Francisco were treated to a whole day of fun and entertainment over the weekend by the two giant broadcasting networks in the Philippines: ABS-CBN and GMA.

ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel staged the San Francisco leg of their Kapamilya Summer Caravan at the Monster Park Fairgrounds with an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 in attendance. They were treated to a back-to-back staging of the network’s top-rating shows: The Buzz and ASAP ’05.

GMA-7’s Pinoy TV brought the entire cast for their musical-variety show SOP to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in downtown San Francisco. An estimated audience of about 6,000 trooped to the auditorium to witness the launching of the newest player in the Filipino cable television business.

At the end of the day, it is us, the consumers who end up as the winners since both networks will be fighting fiercely for our attention and our hard-earned dollars.

The Filipino-American diaspora in the United States is big enough for two, even three or four networks. Quality programming will dictate which shows will be patronized and which shows will be dissed. In a competition this stiff, there is no room for haphazard work and sloppy products.

With more choices, Filipino-Americans will be more informed and more educated on the issues affecting the motherland. They will be more updated with the latest news, whether it is in politics, entertainment or sports.

With the entry of GMA to the U.S. market, Filipino-Americans will now have a wider choice. It’s like back in the days in the Philippines where we watched all the best programs that each station had to offer, whether it is ABS-CBN 2, GMA-7, ABC-5 or NBN-4 (available in the U.S. through Mabuhay Channel in the Dish Network)

Now it's as if we never even left home.

[Here are some photos I took from the GMA-7 event]

his name is richard gutierrez and he almost stole the show from the four main hosts because of the loud screams and shrieks from his fans

sop's four main hosts: janno, jaya, regine and ogie

jolina magdangal. nothing further, your honor.

kc montero, troy's brother and geneva cruz's beau.

mel tiangco, flanked by jaya and regine