“MBP Cast guested at the 9th World Bazaar”

The ABS-CBN is one of the organizers of the on-going 9^th World Bazaar at the World Trade Center located at the corner of the President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue and Senator Gil Puyat Avenue in Pasay City.Last saturday, some of the members of the cast of May Bukas Pa were invited to grace the Bazaar in a program held at the entertainment a of the World Trade Center.

I made a very wise decision to be near the area as early as 3:00 p.m., two hours before the calltime at 6:00 p.m. I went to the Mall of Asia at 3:00 p.m., having in mind that at least I will not have a hard time going to the venue later. It turned out, there was a scheduled activity inside the Mall of Asia, a filipiniana parade set at 5:00 p.m. I learned it at 4:30 p.m., when I saw some of the participants of the parade wearing filipiniana costume inside the elevatator. So, I told myself that before I could be trapped by vehicular traffic, I have to leave the Mall soonest. The distance from the Mall of Asia to the World Trade Center is only two kilometers. The traffic was smooth from the Mall of Asia up to the HK Sun Plaza which is incidentally now under the management of our office – the Asset Management Department of the Social Security System. After the HK Sun Plaza however, the movement of the traffic of this portion of the President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue became very slow as cars are being parked on the sidewalk on both sides of President Disosdado Macapacal Avenue near the World Trade Center. I felt I was lucky, a car left and I immediately parked my car in the space it vacated.

Just when I went out of my car, Ruben Gonzaga who brought his son got off from a taxi. They also came from the Mall of Asia. He left his back pack inside my car. However, when we were already near the WTC, Ruben realized that he left his camera in his pack back. He went back to my car to get it.

We had to pass the exit to get in as there was a long line of shoppers at the entrance. The crowd was large and we found it very difficult to walk towards the stage.

We were the first to arrive at 5:30 p.m., sharp – the call time. Slowly, those who confirmed to join the personal appearance came in. Zaijian “Santino” Jaranilla, Jaime Fabregas, Tonton Gutierrez, Jerry O'Hara, Michael Conan, the kids, Rico and Joy, Tony Manalo, Andre Tiangco, Robin Tolentino all uttered the same words: they were caught in a heavy traffic from as far as the Magallanes area on EDSA and along Buendia!

However, I later learned that there was a reserved free parking for us inside the World Trade Center. I could have not parked my car on the sidewalk!

The program started at 6:30 p.m. There were curtain raiser performers including magicians and some some local singers.

Our number started at about 7:30 p.m. Kyle Balili sang May Bukas Pa with a choir as back up singers. Then Jerry O'Hara (Hepe) and Michael Conan (Dante) went to the stage followed by us – the priests, then followed by Tonton Gutierrez with Rico and Joy and finally Zaijian “Santino” Jaranilla. Poemela Barranda who was the host introduced the entire cast one by one.We were given the chance to great the audience.

Slowly, the kids from the audience went up the stage and before we knew it, there was a large group of kids who went close to Santino. They treated Santino like he was an image of a saint: they touched the boy's hands and were kneeling in front of him. The crowd control and event marshall hd to politely move the kids back to the audience area otherwise Santino would be hurt.

The cast were then giving out christmas bags to the kids. We enjoyed greeting the May Bukas Pa fans who visited the World Bazaar.