Love in Full Bloom:
Partners and Performers Bring Heart to the GMA Valentine Fair
By Sarah Joy Tenorio
Corporate Affairs & Communications
Love doesn’t always arrive with roses. Sometimes it shows up at a shared table—warm paella passed between colleagues, handwritten notes tucked into a book, milk tea carried between meetings, or a song that makes you pause mid-email.
Sales and Marketing Group's Abby Tomoling, Iza Frias, Stephanie Japay, Moira Manilao, and Cyril Valenzuela
At the two-day GMA Valentine Fair, love found many vibrant expressions as employees enjoyed food, books, perfumes, flowers, and live performances.
Held last February 12–13, the fair brought a busking-style charm that made the celebration lively, memorable, and full of warmth. Mounted by Corporate Affairs, the fair was thoughtfully staged as a pause within the workweek — a reminder that even in the busiest newsroom, even in the middle of deadlines and meetings, there is space for the Valentine spirit.
Employees indulged in a wide variety of food options—from freshly baked puffs, cookies, and crinkles by Hungry Sans, rice meals and viands by FIVE Private Dining, pizzas from Angel’s Pizza, ice cream by DNA Creamery, to refreshing beverages from Gong Cha and Jamba Juice. The fair offered something delicious for everyone to share.
For Hungry Sans owner Awi Sanchez, the atmosphere spoke volumes:
“Nakita namin dito how GMA values the employees din, they gave them this venue para makapag enjoy, makapagrelax kahit nasa work setting.”
Beyond food, the GMA 7 Coop added sweetness with fresh blooms and chocolates perfect for Valentine’s gifting. Bouquets were reimagined into something practical as PLWM Caloocan Church offered a vegetable bouquet, fondly called a ‘veggie/sangkap bouquet,’ alongside traditional kakanin while stalls from BIBLIO and Papemelroti offered books, stationery, handcrafted gifts, and nostalgic paper treasures. Fragrance Factory added a touch of romance to the Valentine Fair with its perfumes, diffuser oils, and room sprays that delighted guests with captivating scents.
Employee from Integrated News shared their experience:
“Ice cream and ‘yung books na enjoy po namin dito sa fair. Enjoyable siya kasi somehow interested ako sa books so nakikita ko ‘yung mga napanood ko [films] na nasa book na.”
Sinta Essentials by Ashley Ortega was also present, marking her first time joining this kind of event — bringing her own signature fragrance line to the celebration and adding to the fair’s vibrant showcase of love and lifestyle. An award-winning Kapuso actress and accomplished figure skater, Ashley currently stars in the GMA Afternoon Prime drama Apoy sa Dugo. Each candle reflects Ashley’s quiet rituals of calm and reflection, carrying with it a little light and a little love—offering Kapuso employees a sensory experience of peace and intention.
The Valentine Fair was made even more special with Kapuso artists dropping by to greet employees and spread joy. TikTokClock hosts Wacky Kiray, Jayzon Gainza, Allen Ansay, and Sean Lucas brought laughter and energy, while Faith Da Silva and Renz Verano gave a short song sample. Dance stars Rocco Nacino and Paul Salas joined on Day 1, happily trying out the food stalls, while Sparkle’s P-pop girl group Dollypop energized Day 2 with their youthful presence.
Two days were filled with employees happily buying flowers, chocolates, and thoughtful gifts for their loved ones. The Valentine Fair became more than just a workplace event—it was a space for celebration, relaxation, and heartfelt expression. Proof that the spirit of love was alive and thriving at GMA.
Closer look at the
people and partners
Let’s take a closer look at the people and partners who made the GMA Valentine Fair truly special—
through food, gifts, and performances that brought joy to employees.
GMA 7 Coop
The GMA 7 Coop offered chocolates and bouquets perfect for Valentine’s gifting. As the long-standing cooperative serving employees, it continues to provide thoughtfully curated essentials and treats for the Kapuso community.
Sinta Essentials
Thoughtfully crafted scents inspired by familiar comforts, Sinta Essentials is Sparkle artist Ashley Ortega’s new venture. Branded as “Scents that speak the language of love,” the collection was born out of passion, patience, and countless nights perfecting every detail.
Biblio & Papemelrotti
BIBLIO is owned by a husband whose wife is one of the owners of Papemelroti. They added meaning to the fair with curated pre-loved books across genres and charming stationery, handcrafted gifts, and nostalgic paper finds.
Hungry Sans
Food stalls also played a big role in making the fair vibrant. Hungry Sans, born out of a pandemic passion project by flight attendant Nikki, offered handcrafted puff pastries like Guava & Cheese Puffs and 3-Cheese Spinach Pockets.
Fragrance Factory by Chemworld
Fragrance Factory is a trusted destination for fragrance enthusiasts and creators. Also under Chemworld is Aeromark, which provides professional scenting machines.
Philippine Light
Way Mission
PLWM (Philippine Light Way Mission) – Caloocan Church is a Christian community that brings a thoughtful selection of handmade bouquets and gift items for the Valentine Fair. Crafted from fresh vegetables and locally sourced ingredients—many from the farms of Benguet—each arrangement celebrates creativity and nourishment.
FIVE Private Dining
Among the most sought-after stalls was FIVE Private Dining, led by Chef Paolo Bustamante. At the fair, dishes like paella, tapa with fried egg, chicken inasal, and richly seasoned pork drew long lines of employees, making FIVE a clear favorite.
DNA Creamery
Also much loved was DNA Creamery, which delighted with its Sorbetes Gelato—a creamier, smoother take on the Filipino classic. DNA Creamery has earned recognition for its small-batch creations, and at the fair, its colorful scoops provided a refreshing finish to hearty meals.
Angel's Pizza
Angel’s Pizza served its well-known specialty pies topped with generous layers of cheese, meats, and sauces. Among the crowd's favorites is the creamy spinach pizza, a rich combination of spinach, white sauce, and cheese.
Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice served its signature fruit smoothies made from blended fruits, juices, and yogurt. Founded in California, the brand is known for brightly flavored smoothies built around combinations of tropical and seasonal fruits.
Gong Cha
Gong Cha served its signature milk teas built on freshly brewed tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. Founded in Taiwan, the brand has grown into a global name in milk tea, known for drinks that can be customized with different sweetness levels and toppings.
Kraken Takoyaki
Kraken served Japanese street-food favorites, including takoyaki—golden batter balls filled with diced octopus and topped with savory sauce and shavings of bonito flakes. Also on the menu was Kraken Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake layered with rich toppings and cooked until crisp at the edges.
But the Valentine Fair wasn’t just about food and gifts—it was also a stage for Kapuso talent.
First on the list is GMA Integrated News Senior Correspondent Vonne Aquino—someone many Kapuso viewers would instantly recognize from our newscasts, bringing both credibility and calm to the stories she tells. This time, she stepped away from the field and onto the stage, showing a voice just as clear and compelling—only this time, set to music. Teamed up with talented multi-instrumentalist Peter Joshua Revis (PJ) from Admin, they opened the program with a heartfelt set that moved from “Mahika” to an acoustic “You Got It All,” before easing into the well-loved refrain of “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.” PJ later returned for a solo set, moving through songs such as “Alipin,” “Palagi,” and “Mahal na Mahal,” along with an original composition.
Row 1: Milen Flores | Kapuso employees on centerstage | Vonne Aquino with Peter Joshua Revis
Row 2: Nadj Zablan with the Gazzingan Band | Genrev | The crowd enjoying the set
Row 3: Kapuso employees showing the love | All smiles in the audience | SMG Spicy Girls
The Sales and Marketing Group (SMG) drives GMA’s connections with brands, linking advertisers to audiences and turning ideas into impactful campaigns for the Network. At the Valentine Fair, SMG’s Spicy Girls—Abby Tomoling, Iza Frias, Stephanie Japay, Moira Manilao, and Cyril Valenzuela—emerged as a crowd favorite, lifting the energy of the open space with a well-loved mix of pop hits, including “Easy to Fall in Love,” “Babalik Sa’yo,” “Dive,” “Tala,” “Same Ground,” “Only Reminds Me of You,” and “Crazy in Love.”
Representing Public Affairs, Milen Flores delivered a heartwarming performance of “I Just Fall in Love Again,” “Dive,” and “Valentine” while Nadj Zablan of Engineering, joined by his band Gazzingan, performed cover songs and his new single “Luntian” from the EP “Isang Bagong Kinabukasan” proudly released under GMA Music in partnership with GMA Kapuso Foundation.
Day two continued the music program with colleagues from different parts of the Network. Miguel Saludes of GMA Worldwide stepped from global distribution to center stage, while Sarah Joy from Corporate Affairs and Communications sang songs of love and faith, accompanied by PJ on guitar. Lyka Bendanillo of Corporate Communications shared her musical side, connecting audiences through “Pag-ibig,” a romantic ballad that draws from the well-known biblical passage on the nature of love.
Among the performers were two young artists currently interning with GMA International. De La Salle University student and independent OPM artist Thomas Ortico shared his original song “Tanawing Pagtingin,” along with “Libu-Libong Buwan” and “Palagi.” Fellow student Stephen Del Rosario followed with renditions of “Ikaw Nga,” “Ako’y Sa’yo at Ika’y Akin Lamang,” and “Nangangamba.”
Row 1: Siena Distura | Myra Gamis | Miguel Saludes
Row 2: Stephen Del Rosario | Thomas Ortico | Sarah Joy Tenorio
Row 3: Lyka Bendanillo | Jhoalyn Nieva | Jerrold Subire
From GMA New Media, Jerrold Subire brought his creativity live on stage with an acoustic set featuring songs such as “Out of My League,” “Ngiti,” “Sa Bawat Sandali,” and “Without You.” Jhoalyn Nieva of Public Affairs revealed another side of her craft. Beyond her work behind the camera, she wrote and performed “Ikaw Pala” for Reel Time, now streaming on Spotify, she sang the timeless hits “Urong Sulong” and “Ligaya,” in a set the audience received with warmth. She was followed by Siena Distura, who stepped into the spotlight, her voice distinct and beautiful from the first note as she moved through “Valentine,” “Make You Feel My Love,” and “Pretty Little Baby."
Finally, Myra Gamis of Barangay LS 97.1, Mega Manila’s #1 FM station, closed with a personal and soulful performance with “Valentine,” “How Did You Know,” and “Nandito Ako.”
Over two days, the Valentine Fair became more than a celebration. It became a stage for the many voices that make up the Kapuso community — from partners who brought flavor and craft, to performers who stepped out from behind desks and into the spotlight.
“For us, Kapuso Month is about recognizing
the people behind the programs, the talent
beyond the titles, and the connections that hold the Network together,”
Ms. Angel Javier Cruz, Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications shared. “In the middle of deadlines and daily demands, moments like this remind us that the Kapuso community is not just built on work, but on love.”
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