FEATURE: Kapuso Stars’ Culture Experience in Bacolod City

Hosts of GMA Network’s TiktoClock show were here last October 22, 2023, to corroboree with the Bacolodnons’ culminating celebration of the world-famous MassKara Festival. They brought with them exciting Kapuso Fiesta fun treats at the Bacolod Public Plaza where thousands spent unforgettable moments with the award-winning comedienne Ilongga Marrietta “Pokwang” Subong, favorite triathlete and trivia-man Kuya Kim Atienza and comedian, entrepreneur, vlogger Jayson Gainza.

At a media conference held earlier at the Sugarland Hotel, the triumvir TikTropa thanked the “bongga” accommodation of their present mother station GMA Network, a few times they mentioned “nang galing sa kabila” and shared their appreciation and knowledge of the Bacolod-Negros culture despite the limited period spent so far from the time of the airport touchdown to the time of the conference.

Gleaned from their narratives is that little longing for a break from the culture overfamiliarity and the “grey and frenzied hurly-burly of the Manila City life”.

Pokwang recalled that she was the first showbiz personality to have landed in the newly opened Bacolod-Silay International Airport 15 years ago; she forgot what show to grace that was, but clearly remembered the 1,328-year-old gigantic Balete Tree that will take 42 grown men to encircle the entire diameter of its trunk. Locally called Dalakit, the natural pride of Lumapao, a far-flung barangay of Canlaon City and standing tall in the middle of a rice and coffee plantation “even before Magellan stepped upon the shores of the Philippines”.

Unlike the folklore of abomination and the urban legends surrounding the unseen Balete Trees lining up the Balete Drive in Quezon City, Pokwang experienced the “mariit” positive energy when she entered the middle portion of the Dalakit. She asked permission to cut some drooping portion of the humorous intertwisting branch, kept it back home, and claimed that the twigs brought her lots of good fortune.

Kuya Kim, meanwhile, recalled his interactions with multi-awarded, Sagay-based Nunelucio Alvarado and Bacolod-based Charlie Co. These artists are known for their socio-politico – realist-impressionist-themes and thus co-founded the Black Artist of Asia in the 80s.

Nunie and Charlie had left their marks not just locally but internationally and together with fellow Negrense Black Artists, according to Kuya Kim, they continuously exerted their influence on the community through the medium of art-paintings. Nunie Alvarado founded the Pamilya Pintura and Pintor Kulapol, as recalled, while Charlie Co founded the Orange Gallery and the Orange Project, home of visual arts, film, and media-based practices.

Pokwang, Kuya Kim Atienza, and Jayson Gainza were at the historic Bacolod Public Plaza in a hubble-bubble with thousands of Bacolodnons, spreading joy, touching lives, adding colors and vibrance to the celebration rooted in tragedy and resiliency, among the stories behind each and every MassKara.

Catch them on GMA Television “Kapuso” Network’s “TiktoClock”, weekdays from 11:15 AM to 12:00 NN.* (Gil Alfredo B. Severino)