(estrella_coven@yahoo.com) 

This is to express my opinion and sentiments about “ASAP 07.” We are always waiting for other artists to showcase their talents in the show, but instead it’s always Sarah Geronimo. I’m sorry to say this since I’m a certified Kapamilya, but I’m very much disappointed with what “ASAP 07” has been doing. I’m not accusing them but it’s pretty obvious that halos wala ng exposure ang mga Visayan artists na sina Jed Madela, Mark Bautista and Sheryn Regis on “ASAP 07.” I hope Jed, Mark and Sheryn’s managers would do something about this—even the staff and directors of “ASAP.”

Even if Sarah is flying high in the Philippines, still Jed and Sheryn are soaring high abroad and favorite pa rin ng karamihan dito. I think what ABS-CBN is doing—giving almost all airtime to Sarah—is unfair. ABS-CBN, if you believe so much in Sarah and you want her to showcase her capabilities as a singer, why don’t you give her her own musical variety show similar to “ASAP”? That way she won’t monopolize “ASAP’s” airtime. There are also fans of other artists who watch “ASAP” not because of Sarah.

As for the Music Room segment last Sunday, I could not understand why the Four Champions who were taken out of Music Room to have their own segment would be thrown back to MR to take the spotlight away from those who were left behind. Take the case of Jed and Sheryn. Wasn’t it bad already that they were asked to sing a duet again when some of the artists at MR were singing solos? The song that was assigned to them was the simplest song there was. They could have been assigned powerful songs, but instead they were then given to Erik and again to Sarah, who already had their chance to shine via the Grand Face Off segment with Rachelle Ann Go and Christian Bautista.

I also think Jed and Sheryn deserve so much more than the Music Room. In all fairness, sila ay nakapagdala na ng dangal para sa bansa sa mga international competitions na sinalihan nila. World Champion and Crystal Voice of Asia lang naman ang laging pine-pair sa pagduduet. They are among “ASAP’s” best singers. But the exposure is too short for them to showcase their singing abilities. “ASAP” would be more commendable if we knew that these talents been given enough exposure. Many are CEBUANOS here in California, and many of the TFC subscribers are avid fans of Sheryn, Jed as well as Mark Bautista. I am one of them.

I have heard many of them saying that they subscribe to TFC just to watch these great Visayan talents. The way “ASAP” treats these Visayan artists is an insult to these subscribers. We don’t want to lose the subscribers, don’t we? “ASAP,” please make the show worth our TFC subscription and worth-watching. I myself only subscribe to TFC for “ASAP” and to watch Jed and Sheryn. But “ASAP” has not been giving them what’s due to them. Same with Mark. Why? Kasi Bisaya ang tatlong ito? I hope it’s not the reason, but please note that in the Visayas and Mindanao, ABS-CBN is #1—unlike in Luzon wherein palaging kulelat ang ABS-CBN in the ratings.

Please take care of these people. They are one of those MANY reasons why
OFWs subscribe to TFC. They deserve more. Aren’t they just wasting their make-up and get-ups by singing for two minutes only? Underrating such talents is not acceptable to us!

I know that ABS-CBN respects their viewers and I hope that my remarks are taken seriously. We also know that the rival network is now marketing their International Channel in the United States and gradually marketing worldwide. I have dedicated myself to defend the Kapamilya network for the more than six years that my family, relatives and friends have been subscribing to TFC. I hope I will still be able to keep my loyalty to ABS-CBN. Ako po ay dumudulog lamang para marinig ang panig ng mga TFC Subscribers. Sana po ay panindigan ng ABS-CBN ang “Naglilingkod sa inyo, Saan man sa mundo.”