In celebration of the GMA flagship international channel’s 16th anniversary, GMA Pinoy TV gave the sweetest treat to the Kapuso fans abroad through back-to-back events bannered by today’s biggest and most sought-after Kapuso stars.

While ensuring everyone’s safety in the comfort of their homes, GMA Pinoy TV successfully held another string of Pinoy Abroad Fun Connect events (FunCons) with Kapuso Royal Couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian-Rivera Dantes last August 25 and was followed by new Kapuso star Bea Alonzo last September 1.

DongYan #StrongerTogether Part 2

Coming from their highly-successful FunCon last April, Kapuso Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera-Dantes once again gladly heeded the fans’ request to bond with them through the virtual event fittingly dubbed, “DongYan #StrongerTogether: GMA Pinoy TV 16th Anniversary FunCon.”

Hosted by Comedy Concert Queen, The Clash judge, and Marian’s good friend whom she fondly calls ‘kambal’ – Ms. Aiai delas Alas, this FunCon was a triple celebration since the month of August marked GMA Pinoy TV’s anniversary as well as both Dingdong and Marian’s respective birthdays.

The fans participated in the first game called “Drawing Ka,” where the couple had to draw clues for the title of their hit movies and TV series together. A lot of fans and even Aiai were impressed at how talented Marian actually was in drawing figures.

Dingdong and Marian were happy to answer the fans’ questions from the shows they have recently binge-watched, their fitness routines, Marian’s dream role where Dingdong even revealed that she is secretly crushing on Korean actor Hyun Bin, up to the serious ones about how they keep their marriage strong especially during the pandemic which has affected every aspect of people’s lives.

When asked about how GMA Pinoy TV impacted their lives as a couple and as artists, the couple expressed nothing but words of gratitude to both GMA Pinoy TV and the Kapuso Network.

“Halos kasabay ng growth namin as actor and actress ‘yung GMA Pinoy TV, pati ‘yung GMA na rin. And very very privileged kami na kami ay Kapuso kasi bukod sa GMA ko nakilala ‘yung napangasawa ko, lahat ng mga milestone sa buhay namin, ay may kinalaman ang GMA. That’s why very very grateful kami. The Network is already part of our lives and we really see ourselves growing old with the Network. Kung anuman ang gawin namin, mapa-negosyo man, acting, producing, or directing, talagang nandyan sila to empower us, support us, and to always be there for us. Talagang true to their word na Kapuso sila dahil ‘yung pagmamahal nila sa amin ay obvious na obvious at talagang impactful sa buhay namin,” Dingdong said.

Marian, on the other hand, shared how thankful she is to GMA for trusting her with big projects even when she was still starting in showbiz. “Bilang naging unang sabak ko sa GMA eh, laking pasasalamat ko na nagtiwala agad sila sa akin na ibinigay nila ang pinakamalalaking roles para sa akin na parang kahit ako, nasha-shock ako pero nang dahil sa pagkakataon na yun, nabigyan ako ng maraming oportunidad na gampanan at gawin ang mga hindi ko nagagawa. At sila ang nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob na kayanin ko lahat ng ibibigay nila sa aking characters. Very thankful. At syempre ang pinaka-bonus d’yan ay matupad ko ang pinaka-isa sa mga pinapangarap ko, ‘yung mag-asawa at magkaroon ng anak nang dahil sa nakilala ko sa GMA si Dong.”

The couple was even treated to several surprise video messages where their closest family and friends revealed some of their secrets from when they were still starting as a love team until they eventually became husband and wife.

Marian, who got teary-eyed at some point from the surprises, thanked GMA Pinoy TV for organizing the virtual reunion with Kapuso fans abroad, “Sa GMA Pinoy TV at GMA, salamat sa effort ninyo sa mga video greetings na ito. Malaking bagay sa amin ito. At nagpapasalamat kami na binigyan ninyo kami ng pagkakataon na makasama kayo at maging parte ng inyong 16th anniversary.”

“It really means a lot na kahit na sa ganitong paraan ay nagkakasama tayo. Nagkikita tayo kahit virtual lang. Sa GMA Pinoy TV, thank you for this episode. Sixteenth anniversary na ng GMA Pinoy TV pero pakiramdam namin parang anniversary namin ang sine-celebrate,” Dingdong added.

A Beautiful Day with Bea Alonzo

GMA Pinoy TV continued the anniversary celebrations and opened the ‘ber months’ with no less than GMA’s newest star Bea Alonzo with “A Beautiful Day with Bea Alonzo FunCon,” which was hosted by Kapuso comedienne and Bea’s friend, Kakai Bautista.

Thanks to the fans’ overwhelming support, Bea’s FunCon was quick to become the trending online event last September 1. In the opening game “How to BEA you?”, the chat boxes on Zoom and on the livestream pages were quickly flooded by the fans as they eagerly answered the trivia questions that tested how much they know about the well-loved Kapuso star. In the following activity, Bea candidly played in the “Dugtungan Na!” game where she finished the sentences using titles of GMA shows.

Bea also got to watch surprise video messages from DongYan, Derek Ramsay, Iya Villania, Camille Prats, Xian Lim, as well as her brother James and sister-in-law.

Kakai, who has been her friend since her early days in showbiz, shared so many fond stories of Bea during her childhood that the fans really enjoyed listening to. Through her friends and family’s fond memories, the fun-filled event showed the many facets of Bea which further proved how genuine and humble she is in addition to being one of this generation’s highly-accomplished actresses.

One of the highlights of the FunCon was GMA Pinoy TV’s sweet gesture for Bea where GMA International First Vice President and Head Joseph Francia presented their early Christmas gift – an oil on canvas portrait of her by visual artist Isaac Sion. In awe of their touching surprise, Bea was all smiles and said that the artwork already has a special place in her heart and in her house.

“My hope is that this pandemic would end para maka-libot din ako sa iba’t ibang bansa to represent GMA Pinoy TV because that would be an honor,” Bea gratefully expressed.

“Salamat dahil talagang sinamahan nila tayong lahat ngayong hapong ito, maraming maraming salamat po again for making it trend in the Philippines today. I’m very very excited to create a show for GMA so you can watch me sa GMA Pinoy TV. Sana hindi ko kayo mabigo. I will do my best to create a good show for all of you to watch and be entertained,” Bea ended.

Stronger together with the Pinoy fans all over the world

The fans, on the other hand, likewise shared their appreciation for GMA Pinoy TV’s continuous initiative of making Filipinos abroad closer to home and to each other through these virtual Fun Connect events.

Marvin Aban of Palau Micronesia commented, “It was nice being part of #GPTVBeaAlonzoFunCon. We love you Miss Bea!”

“Salamat din GMA Pinoy TV sa walang sawang pagbibigay tuwa at saya sa amin sa pamamagitan ng Zoom with Kapuso artist[s],” said Tess Cruz from Saudi Arabia.

“Watching from Japan! Grabe ganda ni Marian at pogi talaga as always si Dingdong. Stay safe and healthy!,” Mae Sugai wrote.

Loyal GMA Pinoy TV subscriber Elvira Tecson from Elk Grove, California also commented on Facebook, “Wishing to have more years to celebrate. [M]ore power and be safe and blessings to everyone. Kapuso for 16 years.

Francia, on behalf of the GMA Pinoy TV team, expressed his gratitude to the fans and Kapuso artists who continue to put the ‘fun’ in their FunCon. “We are equally thankful to our artists – Dingdong and Marian as well as Bea —who wholeheartedly joined us in our Fun Connect events, and of course to all the fans from across the world who did not mind the different time zones just to bond with us. We hope that through our fun-filled events held virtually while everyone remains safe at home, we keep bringing happiness in your hearts that would somehow help ease the difficulties that we are facing with the on-going pandemic. Maraming salamat po and we share this milestone of reaching 16 years with all of you, our beloved Kapuso abroad.”

A TV special of the “DongYan #StrongerTogether: GMA Pinoy TV 16th Anniversary FunCon” was aired on GMA Pinoy TV last September 12 while “A BEAutiful Day with Bea Alonzo FunCon” is also set to air on September 19. For program schedules, visit gmapinoytv.com/programguide.

Pinoys overseas can continue to watch Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes on “Endless Love,” “Tadhana,” “Amazing Earth,” and “Temptation of Wife” on GMA Pinoy TV! Visit www.gmapinoytv.com/subscribe for more details or follow their social media accounts.