MANILA—The GMA Thanksgiving Gala 2022 is still trending days after it was held at Shangri-La The Fort on July 30. This is just a sign that the star-studded occasion was a huge success as it really caught the public’s attention, with a parade of all the biggest, brightest, and rising stars under the network’s talent arm, Sparkle.
Despite the late afternoon rain, and as the night grew colder, some hot Kapuso artists kept the temperature rising as they paraded their stuff in glamorous baring outfits on the red carpet.
Maxine Medina looked shiny and sleek as she bared her midriff and a subtle amount of cleavage in her Bella Borromeo noir gown.
The Frontrow Female Icon of the night, Rhian Ramos, was a goddess on Earth as she donned a bejewelled translucent dress.
A certified runway slay, Max Collins’ two-piece Michael Cinco ensemble adorned with diamonds, gave apt exposure of the collarbones, upper arms, waist, and left leg.
Sanya Lopez’s custom Michael Leyva gown was reminiscent of the Flapper era—a time when elaborate jewelry and accents, feathers, and faux fur were all the rage.
Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi pulled off in her bold and beautiful Anthony Ramirez gown with high-rise slit and torso cut-outs.
Another showstopper was beauty pageant titleholder Michelle Dee’s sexy white gown designed by Francis Libiran, who infused an eye-catching minimalist architecture statement into his design.
Myrtle Sarrosa’s black ensemble was a head-turner. With the short crinoline cage, full leather bodycon, drape, and boots, she was a badass lady on the red carpet.
Rufa Mae Quinto left little to the imagination in her Nat Manilag dress.
The 72nd Thanksgiving Gala celebration invited all the popular and newbies of the Kapuso Network. Netizens reacted like “The who?” towards the aspiring stars who were given the chance to walk on the red carpet, but they obviously prepared for this big event despite the tagged “the who?”
The netizens might have forgotten that popular stars like Alden Richards, Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera also passed that newbie stage.
Sidelights
There were two sets of host at the Thanksgiving Gala— Sophia Senoron and Martin Javier, Tim Yap and Gianna Llanes.
Sophia and Martin hosted Rise Up Stronger: The Road to NCAA but they made a big difference in Thanksgiving Gala.
Sophia might have forgotten that they were being watched live on Facebook page and YouTube Channel of GMA-7 that she looked so comfortable and mindless as she kept looking at herself on the mirror which is part of the backdrop. She was also seen fixing her lipstick using her finger in front of the camera.
Martin seemed not to be updated with the current events as he repeatedly mentioned “Mayor Lani” as he called actress-politician Lani Mercado-Revilla who is now the newly-elected representative of the lone district of Bacoor City.
He was able to correct this when somebody whispered to him that what he was calling “Mayor Lani” is now a congresswoman.
Apparently, Martin doesn’t also know the senior showbiz news reporter Lhar Santiago, who features his news on the news program of GMA-7 daily, it was only Sandra Aguinaldo-Ropica whom he introduced when they both came.
There was also a problem with the one who was in-charge of the graphics regarding the names they placed on the TV screen to recognize the arriving guests.
An example was, instead of Harlene(Bautista), it was spelled “Herlene,” the name of the comedienne and Binibining Pilipinas 2022 candidate Herlene Budol.
The graphics operator didn’t know the National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee so his name was not included when he walked on the red carpet.
The host also repeatedly mentioned “red carpet” but there was no red carpet at all. The floor was slippery that Rere Madrid and Chariz Solomon almost lost their balance.
The aluminium foil backdrop set used during the red-carpet interview even distracted the old Hollywood black and white theme of the Thanksgiving gala.
Alice Dixson was a standout among the veteran stars who attended the party because she was the only one who wore a yellow gown when the theme of the Gala was black and white.
“I heard it was black and white but we decided to go with the bright canary yellow,” Alice explained.
Tim Yap only said “Okay lang, the resolution of the Facebook page is in black and white.” Tim Yap and radio DJ-television host Gianna Llanes hosted the second part of the event.
Gianna was good for a new live host as she made their interviewees feel that they are the stars of the night and not the hosts.
Since Tim is not really a comedian, his punchlines were not effective and he looked like he was the only one who understood what he was saying.
When Michael V said that his inspiration for his outfit was Hollywood actor Dick Tracy, Tim blurted out “Dick Tracy Garcia” as he referred to an executive of GMA Films.
Benjie Paras reacted, “Huwag naman,” on the hair-loss-but-hair-growth joke of Tim just because Andre took it after him.
It was also obvious how Tim asked the name of the actress he was supposed to interview but didn’t know the name— Kylie Padilla, who donned a black, high slit sexy gown with a fishnet mask matching her fashioned gloves.
As they talked, Tim released a joke but it looked like, again, he was the only one who laughed at it.
The netizens commented, GMA could have just assigned a good host from its homegrown artists, they could have avoided those booboos. (ECD/MTVN)
