Thousands of Filipinos overseas felt right at home as GMA Pinoy TV kicked off a month-long celebration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Bannered by some of GMA’s brightest stars, the series of events was full of entertainment, laughter, food, and a sense of community. GMA Pinoy TV, along with GMA’s other international channels GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International, served as exclusive media sponsors of the events abroad.
Kapuso star and 2013 Miss World Megan Young started the worldwide festivities with “Kalayaan sa Kuwait,” organized by Filcom, a group composed of various Filipino organizations in the country, along with the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait last May 29.
Filipinos who came to the Qadsia Sports Club in Hawally, Kuwait warmly welcomed Megan as she entertained the crowd with musical numbers and met with Kapuso fans at the end of the show. The Conan My Beautician lead actress also paid a courtesy visit to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
The regal Kapuso beauty then flew to California where her presence drew one of the largest crowds ever in the history of the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Carson City.
After her performance in Veterans Park on June 11, Megan was presented awards and commendations by the California Senate, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Carson, and the Philippine Independence Day Foundation of Carson, which organized the event.
Over in the United Arab Emirates, Premier Actress Lovi Poe bannered the “118th Philippine Independence Day in Dubai” at the spacious Dubai World Trade Center last June 3, spearheaded by the Philippine Independence Day Celebration Organizing Committee and the Philippine Consular Office in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Kapuso actress Andrea Torres was in Doha for “Kalinangan 2016” organized by the United Filipino Organizations Qatar, in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Qatar.
Continuing the celebration in Canada, the wacky pairing of Tom Rodriguez and comedian Betong Sumaya kept audiences amused at the “Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show in Toronto” organized by the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation, last June 18.
GMA Pinoy TV’s Philippine Independence Day celebrations closed with the “Birmingham-Sandwell-West Midlands Fiesta Celebrations” in the United Kingdom featuring Dingdong Dantes, and presented by the Birmingham Filipino-British Community Volunteers last July 3.
Over 5,000 people gathered at the biggest Filipino fiesta celebration in the West Midlands, which took place at the scenic Lightwoods Park.