“The Story Of Us” stars Kim Chiu and Xian Lim roused the laidback island of Saipan, as they kicked off their “TSOURISTAS Global Trip” at the Royal Taga Convention Center World Resort in May.
Through The Filipino Channel (TFC) and partner Philippine Airlines, the arrival of one of the most popular love teams on Philippine television came as good news for Filipinos in the capital of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), home to about 18,000 Filipinos (according to the Philippine Consulate General in CNMI).
As the dry season in the island also comes to a close, TFC excited kababayans in the island and continued to provide warmth to the thousands of Pinoys with a taste of Filipino entertainment they only previously saw on TFC and TFC.tv.
Chiu, a multi-talented performer, sang her famous hit “Mr. Right” and invited male members of the audience to apply as Chiu’s “The One” during the event. Winner Johnny Bohman was ecstatic as the teen superstar chose her over hundreds in the audience.
Lim, teasingly challenged Bohman to let the best man win, much to the amusement of the audience.
When it was Lim’s time to perform, he showed how one can have both talent and good looks at the same time. He sang “Harana” and Jireh’s viral hit “Buko,” which was also part of one of their movie’s soundtrack.
The day would not be over without a duet from the love team. The crowd swooned as the rumored couple sang “When You Say Nothing At All” by Lee Ann Rimes and revealed they will continue to travel the world as part of the “Tsouristas Global Trip.”
Chiu, dubbed the Philippines’ Chinita Princess, may have travelled the world but for her, the experience in Saipan is one of the most memorable.
Chiu said: “We’re very happy sobra kasi parang it feels like we’re still in the Philippines parang hindi kami lumalayo sa Pilipinas kasi andaming Pilipino, andaming nagha-hi samin. They’re very warm and lahat ng tao talaga tinatawag kaming Macoy at Tin so parang nakakatuwa.”
(We’re very happy because it feels like we’re still in the Philippines, like we were never apart. There were a lot of Filipinos who welcomed us. Everyone was warm and everyone was calling us Macoy and Tin.”
Xian could only agree. “Lim observed, “Walang katumbas iyong aura na binibigay talaga ng mga tao dito dahil napakabait, napaka-happy lahat, parang walang problema. Ang saya-saya dito and hopefully, when we get back, sana makita po namin ulit kayo.” (The vibe was incomparable. Everyone was kind, happy and cool. It was very different. When we get back, we hope to see the same people).
The “Tsouristas Global Trip” trended at no. six during the week of the event with over 20,000 tweets using the hash tag #KimXianSaipan.
ABS-CBN Managing Director for Asia Pacific Ailene Averion said that the Filipinos’ attendance, the trending on social media and the feedback the team received were proof of how receptive Filipinos are of ABS-CBN content, stars and engagements. “Saipan may be one of the most compact regions we serve, but what it does not have in terms of geographical size was made up for the bigness of the people’s hearts. I am not just talking about the Filipinos but also the locals who also watch our content,” she adds.
She ends, “It gladdens me to know that our stories resonate with them, proof that wherever we go, there will always be our Kapamilyas just waiting for us.”
Guests who were met by TFC with the trademark Kapamilya treatment were Honorary Consul of the Philippines to the CNMI Eli Arago. Performers include Revive Band who sang “Love On Top” by Beyonce and “It’s Too Late” by Carol King; the Saipan Music Dance Studio who moved the attendees to their feet; and viral sensation, Bernice Shane Sabino who sang Sia’s “Flashlight” a take-off from her Smule video with Jessie J which has earned over 12 million views since posting.
“Tsouristas Global Trip” in Saipan was made possible by Philippine Airlines’ launch of the maiden flight to Saipan on June 15. PAL gave away two round-trip tickets (Saipan-Philippines-Saipan) where Filipinas Shirley Kim and Aira Joy Velasco won.
Catch the next destination of the “Tsouristas Global Trip” leg via TFC’s Facebook pages worldwide. For more updates via facebook.com/TFCGuamandSaipan
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Kim Chiu at Xian Lim nagpasaya sa mga kababayan sa Saipan via “Tsouristas Global Trip”
Lead stars ng “The Story Of Us” mainit na tinanggap ng mga Filipino sa major event ng TFC at PAL sa capital ng Northern Mariana
Nagmistulang isang malaking pagtitipon ng mga Filipino nang tumungo ang pamosong love team nina Kim Chiu at Xian Lim sa capital ng Northern Mariana Islands para sa kauna-unahang leg ng “Tsouristas Global Trip” sa Saipan kamakailan.
Para sa mga Filipino sa Saipan, kung saan may 18,000 na mga Filipino (ayon sa Philippine Consulate General sa CNMI), isang magandang balita ang major event ng The Filipino Channel (TFC) at Philippine Airlines (PAL) dahil hatid nito ang ilang oras ng kantahan at kasiyahan mula sa dalawa na mas kilala bilang KimXi, para sa mga sabik sa Filipino entertainment.
Patapos man ang dry season sa Saipan, patuloy pa rin ang init ng pagtanggap ng mga Filipino sa isa sa pinakasikat na Philippine loveteams, na nakikita lamang nila noong una sa telebisyon via “The Story Of Us” sa cable at (TFC.tv).
Kumpletos recados ang “Tsouristas Global Trip” dahil si Chiu at Lim ay multi-talented performers. Si Chiu ay isang recording artist at inawit niya ang kaniyang famous hit na “Mr. Right.” Naghanap siya ng “the One” niya sa araw na iyon sa audience kung saan panalo si Johnny Bohman.
Laking tuwa ng audience nang magkunwaring nagseselos si Lim at hinamon ang winner sa isang laban para makita kung sino ang karapat-dapat.
Nang si Lim na ang nag-perform, ipinakita niyang may good looks na siya, may talent pa. Inawit niya ang “Harana” at “Buko” na kinanta rin sa isa sa pelikula nila ni Chiu.
Hindi natapos ang event nang walang duet ang dalawa. Kinilig ang audience sa kanilang duet ng “When You Say Nothing At All” na orihinal na awitin ni Lee Ann Rimes at nang ibinahagi nila na may kasunod pang legs ang “Tsouristas Global Trip.”
Si Chiu na tinaguriang Chinita Princess ay naging bahagi na ng TFC events worldwide ngunit para sa kaniya, ang event sa Saipan ay hindi niya makakalimutan. “We’re very happy sobra kasi parang it feels like we’re still in the Philippines parang hindi kami lumalayo sa Pilipinas kasi andaming Pilipino, andaming nagha-hi samin. They’re very warm and lahat ng tao talaga tinatawag kaming Macoy at Tin so parang nakakatuwa.”
Pagsang-ayon ni Lim, “Walang katumbas iyong aura na binibigay talaga ng mga tao dito dahil napakabait, napaka-happy lahat, parang walang problema. Ang saya saya dito and hopefully, when we get back, sana makita po namin ulit kayo.”
Nag-trending din ang “Tsouristas Global Trip” na may humigit-kumulang 20,000 tweets gamit ang hash tag na #KimXianSaipan at naging no.6 pa pagdating sa trending topics noong linggo ng event.
Ayon kay ABS-CBN Managing Director for Asia Pacific Ailene Averion, ang daang Filipinong dumalo, ang tweets at feedback na natanggap ng team ay patunay na bukas at tanggap na tanggap ng mga Pinoy sa Saipan ang mga program, artista at events mula sa ABS-CBN, sa pamamagitan ng TFC. “Saipan may be one of the most compact regions we serve, but what it does not have in terms of geographical size was made up for the bigness of the people’s hearts. I am not just talking about the Filipinos but also the locals who also watch our content,” ayon sa kaniya.
Pagtatapos niya, “It gladdens me to know that our stories resonate with them, proof that wherever we go, there will always be our Kapamilyas just waiting for us.”
Kapamilya welcome naman ang ibinahagi ng TFC sa mga VIP guests tulad nina Honorary Consul Eli Arago. Nag-perform naman ang Revive Band na inawit ang “Love On Top” ni Beyonce at “It’s Too Late” ni Carol King; Saipan Music Dance Studio na nagpasayaw sa mga Filipino sa venue; at ang viral sensation na si Bernice Shane Sabino na umawit ng “Flashlight” sa Smule video niya na naging viral nang samahan siya ni Jessie J. sa video na sa ngayon ay mayroon ng 12 million views.
Ang “Tsouristas Global Trip” sa Saipan ay hatid ng Philippine Airlines na naglunsad ng maiden flight nito sa Saipan noong June 15. Nagpakulo rin ang top airline player ng Pilipinas at namigay ng dalawang round-trip tickets (Saipan-Philippines-Saipan) kung saan panalo ang mga Pinay na sina Shirley Kim at Aira Joy Velasco.
Abangan ang susunod na “Tsouristas Global Trip” via TFC’s Facebook pages worldwide. Para sa karagdagang updates sa TFC sa Saipan, bisitahin ang facebook.com/TFCGuamandSaipan
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About ABS-CBN Asia Pacific
The Filipino Channel (TFC) started to reach out to Filipinos in the Asia-Pacific via its satellite service in Guam in 1996. Since then, it has reached out to Filipinos across the Asia Pacific through entertainment, information, and special events. Under ABS-CBN Australia Pty Ltd., TFC is currently distributing ABS-CBN channels and content through various business partners in countries in Asia such as: Guam, Hong Kong, Singapore, American Samoa, Marshall Islands, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Taiwan. TFC also provides Filipinos a piece of home through Filipino movies’ theatrical releases in Guam, Singapore and other parts of Asia.
Reference:
Marianne de Vera
global_corporate_affairs@abs-cbn.com