One staple in Filipino holiday culture is the annual Christmas Station ID from major media networks ABS-CBN, GMA, and TV5.
Related: How The Christmas Station ID Became An Important Part Of The Filipino Tradition
A Filipino Christmas is not a Filipino Christmas without a few things: parol shops all lit up on the sidewalks, eye-catching in the night, classic Christmas songs, and of course, Christmas Station IDs from our major media networks.
Highly-anticipated, star-studded, and always heartwarming, station IDs are often anticipated events that bring out the holiday spirit in more ways than one. This year, these station IDs brought something magical in the way they celebrated not just their own networks and staff, but also all the people across networks, industries, and lifestyles. As groundbreaking collaborations and partnerships this year marked a new era of media in the Philippines, these station IDs featured special appearances and crossovers, and made sure that we learn that the holidays are all about sharing the blessings and celebrating with each other.
ABS-CBN – PASKO ANG PINAKAMAGANDANG KWENTO
ABS-CBN’s 2023 station ID wove their affinity for storytelling all throughout. From highlighting their roster of Kapamilya stars to featuring Filipinos from all walks of life, Pasko Ang Pinakamagandang Kwento clearly aimed to put stories front and center.
The station ID also highlighted ordinary people who have done or achieved extraordinary things, such as mental health and animal welfare advocates and Queer Safe Spaces founders Roanne Carreon and Tina Boado (who are also the first queer couple to make an appearance on an ABS-CBN Station ID) and Eleazar Begornia who works as a janitor while pursuing a college education.
Media outlets that have partnered with ABS-CBN after their franchise shutdown such as GMA Network Center, TV5 Media Center, A2Z and the networks’ employees also made appearances with the casts of It’s Showtime, Pira-Pirasong Paraiso, Nag-Aapoy na Damdamin, and TV Patrol. The almost-15-minute video is a cheerful celebration of stories of hope, perseverance, and joy.
GMA – FEELING BLESSED NGAYONG PASKO
For GMA Network, appreciating and sharing blessings are central to their interpretation of the holidays. Right from the start, the Feeling Blessed Ngayong Pasko video put stories of those blessed in their lives front and center. From delivery rider Elmer Mallanao celebrating his daughter graduating cum laude to creator and pharmacist Arshie Larga giving medicine to those in need, nursing students and lifesavers Angyl and Kristianne to generous jeepney driver Tatay Michael, the daily lives of Filipinos are given appreciation, inspiring us to share our own blessings with each other.
But not just a showcase of different forms of blessings, the station ID telling these stories opens our eyes to the lives of Filipinos beyond ourselves—how no matter how much we have or what we’re doing with our own lives, there will always be opportunities to share our blessings with each other.
TV5 – FEEL NA FEEL ANG PASKONG KAPATID
Featuring stars across networks like DonBelle, Vice Ganda, and Maine Mendoza, the TV5 Christmas station ID was a merry and bright music video with a catchy song and joyful, homey vibes. The hand-drawn effects overlaid on the video, all the dancing, and the family-centered scenes were all a fun touch, truly exuding their central theme: Feel Na Feel Ang Paskong Kapatid.
TV5 has truly stepped up as a network. With TV5 airing shows and featuring stars that were formerly of “rival” networks, long gone are the harsh lines between competing media giants, and instead, like in this station ID, a welcoming, unifying sense of celebration is felt as we go into the season of giving and love.
Continue Reading: Turn Up The Holiday Feels With The 2022 Christmas Station IDs