New shows unveiled during GMA-7's trade party

GMA Network turned the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City into one mega-party place last Thursday night (April 8), for its annual trade party. The Kapuso network unveiled its new shows and new faces anchored by the new Sunday musical-variety show Party Pilipinas. The whole gang of Party Pilipinas, led by Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, and Jaya, treated the advertisers and select members of the press with more than three hours of musical extravaganza. The party began with a grand production number from Kyla, Jay-R, Aljur Abrenica, Frencheska Farr, Mar Bautista, Kris Lawrence, Geoff Taylor, Rochelle Pangilinan, and Mark Herras. Adding color to the glamorous trade party were fast-rising Kapuso young stars like StarStruck V winners Steven Silva, Sarah Lahbati, Enzo Pineda, Diva Montelaba, and Rocco Nacino; First Time stars Joshua Dionisio, Barbie Forteza, Jhake Vargas, and Bea Binene; with Julie Ann San Jose, Yassi, Ynna Asistio, Popgirls, XLR8, and Elmo Magalona, son of the late Francis M. Other performers include the Glam Girls (Rhian Ramos, Carla Abellana, Bianca King, and Lovi Poe), Jennylyn Mercado, Glaiza de Castro, Gian Magdangal, Joshua Desiderio, Miguel Escueta, Eurasia, Akihiro Sato, Daniel Matsunaga, Fabio Ide, and the SexBomb Girls. The stars of the new and upcoming Kapuso shows also performed on stage. Michael V had a fun number with Ogie Alcasid to introduce his new reality sitcom Pepito Manaloto, which he co-stars with Manilyn Reynes and Carmina Villarroel. New Survivor Philippines host Richard Gutierrez performed a song number with Jennylyn Mercado, Rhian Ramos, Lovi Poe, and Sarah Lahbati. Eugene Domingo and Allan K had a wacky song number with Brazilian-Japanese model Fabio Ide to present their new show, Comedy Bar. While Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera sang the theme song of their upcoming GMA Films and Regal Films movie, You To Me Are Everything. Queen of Drama Claudine Barretto also graced the event to promote her first drama anthology on GMA-7, Claudine, which will premiere tomorrow night, April 10. Aside from the above-mentioned shows, the other Kapuso programs worth looking forward to are the following: Take Me Out, a dating game hosted by R&B Prince Jay-R; AHA!, an infotainment hosted by Drew Arellano; Ang Pilyang Kerubin, a primetime series starring Joshua Dionisio, Jhake Vargas, and Barbie Forteza; and the Pinoy version of the Koreanovela Endless Love, to be topbilled by real-life couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. Although it was not yet announced during the trade party, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) learned that Rhian Ramos and Aljur Abrenica will be teaming up for the first time in the primetime series Odessa. Carla Abellana will have two upcoming shows: the afternoon soap Basahang Ginto with Geoff Eigenmann and the pilot episode of the new weekly drama anthology Love Bug with Dennis Trillo as leading man. Maxene Magalona will also topbill an afternoon soap. The new faces and new programs of GMA-7 were introduced by Party Pilipinas jocks Raymond Gutierrez, Tim Yap, Bella Padilla, and StarStruck V's Ian Batherson, with radio DJs Gino Villamor and Rico Robles. Other celebrities spotted during the trade party were Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, Iza Calzado, Carmina Villarroel, Paolo Contis, Wendell Ramos, Isabel Oli, Paolo Paraiso, German Moreno, JC Tiuseco, Kiko Rustia, Amanda Cooll Van Cooley, Janna Dominguez, Stef Prescott, Gino dela Peña, Kevin Santos, Patani, Jan Manual, Dex Quindoza, among others. The men and women of GMA News and Public Affairs were also in full force, led by Jessica Soho, Mike Enriquez, Vicky Morales, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino, Doc Ferds Recio, Luanne Dy, and Drew Arellano. Of course, the top executives of GMA Network also attended the party, headed by Chairman, President and CEO Felipe Gozon, EVP and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar, GMA Marketing and Productions Inc. President and COO Lizelle Maralag, and SVP for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante. The night culminated with a raffle draw of two brand-new cars and other cool gadgets. Highlights of the Kapuso trade party will be shown on Party Pilipinas this Sunday, April 11, on GMA-7. -Erwin Santiago, PEP