GMA-7 warms Pinoy hearts with 'Pasalove'

Imagine a young girl sadly looking at her home that has been ravaged by the storm. A young boy hands her a teddy bear, and her face lights up with a smile. This is one of the vignettes from GMA’s Christmas station ID “Sama-sama Tayong Magpasalove," a scenario that proves the greatest gifts in life can be small acts of love. The creative team behind the station ID coined the term “Pasalove" to celebrate the Filipino’s immense capacity to spread love around, just as the nation had witnessed during the past calamities.
While watching the plug, it is immediately noticeable that there are no big stars or television personalities involved – a departure from the practice of previous years that featured Kapuso celebrities as well as News and Public Affairs reporters. The team said they excluded stars to enable viewers to focus on the real message of Christmas. The vignettes feature ordinary people, some of them actual victims recovering from the damage wreaked by Pepeng and Ondoy. Some scenes were also filmed in disaster-affected areas in Fairview, Quezon City and Baras, Rizal. While shooting the church scene in Baras, the team had to contend with Typhoon Santi blowing across Luzon at storm signal number 3, which gave a touch of verisimilitude to the segment. “It’s not the typical Christmas plug na masayang-masaya (that’s exultant). But when you watch it, when you pay attention to it, you will feel good after. ‘Yung maliliit na bagay (Those small things) can mean a world of difference to other people," said director Paul Ticzon, AVP of GMA’s Post Production Operations. La Diva member Aicelle Santos sang a heart-rending version of the theme “Sama-sama Tayong Mag-pasalove" that leaves the listener with a feeling of warmth and hugs the soul at the same time. In the end, the simple yet touching station ID conveys a message that should ring true, not only during Christmas but for all time: to continue helping and loving each other even after the storms have passed. Sing along to GMA-7's Christmas Theme with the lyrics: Mapapawi ang lungkot sa iyong mga mata Ng pagmamahal na aking ipadarama Dinggin mo ang himig ng aking puso Inaawit para sa iyo ang pag-ibig ng Pasko Nais kong magbalik ang iyong mga ngiti Ang masayang tinig mula sa 'yong mga labi Damhin mo ang yakap ng aking puso Handog ko para sa iyo, ang pag-ibig ng Pasko Hangga't pumipintig sa puso ang pag-ibig Sa pag-asa ito ay patuloy na mananalig Ipasa na, Ipasa mo, ang pagmamahal, mag-PASALOVE Sama-sama tayong mag-PASALOVE ngayong Pasko. - JAYME EMERALD GATBONTON, GMANews.TV