Annual star and float parade draws bigger, more excited crowd
“ALL YOU Need is Pag-ibig” stars Kim Chiu (left) and Xian Lim Richard Reyes
It isn’t out of the ordinary to see hundreds of people milling around the streets before the onset of the customary Parade of Stars. This year’s event, however, which officially kicked off the ongoing 41st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), drew a noticeably bigger and more pumped-up crowd.
The parade, held on Dec. 23, did promise to gather some of today’s most popular young actors and love teams, and most bankable veterans: Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas (“My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore”); Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, James Reid and Nadine Lustre (“Beauty and the Bestie”); Kris Aquino, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Jodi Sta. Maria and Ian Veneracion (“All You Need is Pag-Ibig”); Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales (“#Walang Forever”); John Lloyd Cruz and Meryll Soriano (“Honor Thy Father”); Cesar Montano, Meg Imperial and Maria Ozawa (“Nilalang”); Janella Salvador and Marlo Mortel (“Haunted Mansion”), and Vhong Navarro, John “Sweet” Lapus, Rayver Cruz, TJ Trinidad and Janine Gutierrez (“Buy Now, Die Later”).
“Buy Now’s” float—fashioned after a quaint antique shop—was adjudged the best.
The only thing as intense as the searing midday heat was the fans’ dogged persistence to get up close to their idols.
They arrived in groups—big and small, some of them toting banners. Many camped out on the sidewalks of Coral Way, JW Diokno Blvd. and Edsa extension in Pasay City, where not a few laid out mats on which they sat down to eat lunch.
Others crammed a nearby overpass to get a bird’s-eye view of the glitzy motorcade, which set off for Quirino Grandstand in Manila—via Roxas Blvd.—at 1 p.m.
The most dedicated selfie-seekers, meanwhile, visited each float and inspected surrounding cars, just in case there were celebs inside. A group of girls chanced upon the white coaster that carried Rayver. They marched toward the vehicle, but was expectedly stopped by the strict security team.
But the more creative diehards used the kids they had in tow as passes of sorts to get past minders—who would refuse a toddler? One parent succeeded, getting her daughter’s photo taken with the event host, Roxanne Barcelo, who interviewed the stars before they mounted the floats.
Deafening cheers
Finally, at about half past 2, the floats began inching forward and, promptly, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers. The decibels shot up even higher when the artists—smiles plastered on their beautiful faces—proceeded to toss T-shirts, candies and posters to the crowd.
All eight floats were enthusiastically received, but it was that of “My Bebe Love” that caused quite a commotion. A lot of fans made a mad dash toward the center of the road, and tailed the blue-and-yellow float covered with red hearts, ribbons and roses. The security responded accordingly: “Let’s behave ourselves!”
Some stars regaled the crowd with waving and air kisses, while others went the extra mile: Coco elicited laughs with his cheeky little dance; Bossing Vic peeled off his shirt and flexed biceps.
Celebrities see the event as a way to connect with loyal fans.
“Seeing stars and having a photo taken with them is a huge thing for them,” pointed out Cesar, who last headlined an MMFF entry in 2006, “Ligalig,” which won for him the best actor trophy that year.
“People made the effort to wait along the road, just to see their favorite artists,” added Kris. “We want to give them that happiness!”
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