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#KMJSBalikbayan: There’s no place like home
Mapanonood ang Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho tuwing Linggo ng gabi sa GMA-7. Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa programa, sundan kami sa Facebook, Twitter at Instagram. Para naman sa impormasyon tungkol sa mga paborito n’yong Public Affairs program, sundan ang GMA Public Affairs.
There's nothing like coming back to the familiar arms of your hometown – and celebrities know this feeling all too well after having to work on tight schedules from months on end.
Now that it is officially the start of summer and the Lenten season break is also near, “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” offers a deeper take to the word “vacation” by taking a few celebrities back to the place where they grew up.
Because, as they say, there’s no place like home.
Tisoy explores Laguna
Although he was born in Quezon City, Alden Richards was raised in Sta. Rosa. “[Sa Laguna] na ako nagkaisip. Dito ako lumaki, nagkaroon ng mga kaibigan. Basically, all my life, I was here. Dito lang ako, paikot-ikot sa Laguna."
But despite being a certified Laguna Boy (he won the Ginoong Laguna contest in 2010), Alden confessed he has never been to one of its top tourist destinations: the Pagsanjan Falls!
Alden’s homecoming coincided with the Bangkero Festival, so instead of opting for a staycation, he tried his hand at paddling a boat and see what he’s been missing for 23 years.
TRIVIA: The popularity of boat rides in Pagsanjan dates back to the Spanish era. This long tradition has produced many bangkeros who are trained to brave the waters through any weather.
It took Alden more than an hour of navigating through two rivers and raging rapids before he reached Pagsanjan Falls. It was a tiresome trip, but when he got there, all he could say was, "It was worth it!”
Cebu for the Wyn!
When Teresita “Winwyn” Marquez entered showbiz, she had less time to spend with her grandmother and other relatives in Talisay, Cebu. That is why this summer, Winwyn decided to do a Lenten tradition in her hometown: go on a church visit or Visita Iglesia!
History dictates that Catholicism in the Philippines started in Cebu – and to this day, it remains a hub for devotees. There are more than 30 churches in the city alone, some of which date back to the mid-1800s!
Aside from her Visita Iglesia, the beautiful morena also had a blast with the Cebu Dancing Inmates! Winwyn’s dancing skills, like her mom Alma Moreno’s, is superb!
CAMOn, Mindoro
The King of Novelty songs Lito Camo shows KMJS around his province Bungabong, Oriental Mindoro. Bungabong was his home back when his family had a furniture business and when he led a comfortable life.
CAMOn, Mindoro
The King of Novelty songs Lito Camo shows KMJS around his province Bungabong, Oriental Mindoro. Bungabong was his home back when his family had a furniture business and when he led a comfortable life.
But fate wasn’t so kind. Lito’s parents eventually lost their furniture business. Being the Kuya, Lito tried his luck in Manila where his dreams to sing and write songs was finally realized. Anyone who knows Otso-Otso, Spaghetti Pababa, and many other of his songs will attest that he did indeed succeed.
In Lito’s homecoming, he was (and we were) reminded that sometimes the smallest dreams could lead to the greatest victories.
Local Venice
Local Venice
Malabon is known for almost always being submerged in water, especially during the rainy seasons. Because of that, it was dubbed as “Local Venice” – sans the gondolas.
Luckily, like Venice, Malabon also boasts of its own culinary spread that will make your vacation more satisfying. After all, what is a holiday without a little more food?
Malabon might not have canoes but it does have tricycle tours that can take you around the city! What a way to make your visit truly Pinoy! The best part is, the drivers get to have a little extra income because they will also serve as your tour guide.
One proud Malabonyan is actress Angelika Dela Cruz. She took a break from showbiz to focus on her family and to focus on her duties as the Kapitana of Barangay Longos.
Aboard a tricycle, Angelika showed KMJS around to taste the best of Malabon’s specialty dishes. Yum!
Sun, sea, and SANDbales
When Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991, one of the most heavily devastated areas was Zambales. The ash from the volcano buried a huge portion of the province, making a lot of its beaches look like the Sahara.
But the province rose up from the disaster and slowly, Zambales became a go-to place for tourists who want to enjoy the sun, sea and sand – and who wouldn’t want to visit it when its beaches can cater to swimmers, surfers, snorkelers, and adventurers?
Norman who? Norman “Boobay” Balbuena is a very proud Zambaleño!
One of the houses that Pinatubo destroyed was that of comedian Norman "Boobay" Balbuena’s family. They were forced to live in a housing facility provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
But like his hometown, Norman stepped out of the ashes and created a name for himself in show business. Now, he brings life to GMA-7 shows as the one and only Boobay!
Boobay is very proud of his roots. “Bukod sa mga nagsasarapang produktong puwedeng ilaban sa buong mundo, e talaga namang palung-palo ang Zambales sa mga magagandang tanawin!” he said.
To prove his point, Boobay and his childhood best friends Raymond and Jeremy tried camping out in the Camara Island, one of the closest islands to Pundaquit, Zambales. Camara is known for its beautiful rock formations that are so big, you can see the vastness of the ocean when you climb on top.
The island is also very private, which was just fine since Boobay and his friends enjoy breaking the silence with their own laughter.
Almost 80 percent of the population in General Santos City is Catholic, and it is known that Mommy D is one of them. According to her, her devotion paid off. She has a successful son, her family is stable, and her heart is in the hands of a man she truly cares about. Though they had to catch fish for dinner and they had to stay in a tent, the warmth of having close friends nearby made Boobay’s homecoming truly memorable.
Hometown of the Champs
Hometown of the Champs
The Philippines’ greatest fighter will not be where he is today if not for one of the most important women of his life, his mother. While Manny Pacquiao rolls with every punch, Mommy Dionesia grabs a crucifix and prays for his son at the sidelines.
Now, with her son in the USA to prepare for the fight of his life, Mommy D found the time to go back to the community where she raised all her eight kids alone. There, she reconnected with her amigas and shared stories of how they were back then – young, a little reckless, but always strong.
After her separation with her husband, Mommy D had to learn to be strong for her kids. She worked at a fish cracker company in the mornings and sold fried peanuts at dusk, among others – now that fortitude packs a punch!
Not everyone is blessed with a happy past, but everyone has a say on what would become of their future. With everything Mommy D went through, she proves that what others saw as painful, she saw as an opportunity for strength.
Every homecoming is a story waiting to be told – because truly, vacation is much more meaningful when you spend it with the ones you love.
Where are you going to this summer, Kapuso? Tell us in the comments. ---Princess Daquigan / BMS
