With every timeless song and video painting the heartwarming beauty of family, faith, and love – the essence of yuletide for every Filipino – ABS-CBN Christmas station IDs are no doubt a big part of Pinoy Christmas traditions. As we anticipate this year’s theme, these Kapamilya stars recount the past station IDs that make them feel giddy and nostalgic to this day.
The songs used in Kapamilya Christmas IDs can evoke memories and turn up the cheer. It’s been more than a decade since “Bro, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko,” or simply “Star Ng Pasko,” was released but the song remains on repeat in everybody’s minds and hearts to this day.
The track is highly associated with inspirational series “May Bukas Pa,” that year’s most talked about teleserye, which popularized the term “Bro” in reference to Jesus Christ. Dominic Ochoa, one of its key players, turns sentimental whenever he stumbles upon that music video on the internet.
“Ang gaan-gaan niya pakinggan. Ang saya-saya ng vibe niya when you hear the song. ‘Yung vibe ng ABS-CBN dun, we’re all wearing red, dancing altogether – iba ‘yung aura na mararamdaman mo,” he said.
Besides the exciting reunion among Kapamilya artists, Dominic loves to take part in Kapamilya Station IDs because of its mission to spread hope and joy. “I think the purpose of our Christmas IDs is to uplift. Lahat naman tayo may pinagdadaanan pero kahit paano, ingingiti lang natin ‘yan. Ang Pasko, it’s about giving and celebrating ‘yung birthday ng ating Panginoon. Kailangan natin maging maligaya and share our blessings,” he added.
The act of giving is a Filipino love language that’s deepened during the Christmas season. Dominic wants to establish this custom, as well as the value of contentment, within the family. For him, these are the true meaning of Christmas.
There’s something so magical about “Bto, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko” that it can make you sentimental any time of the year. Miles Ocampo shared, “Kahit hindi Pasko, pero ‘pag narinig mo siya, parang ang emo-emo mong tao. Parang lahat ng emotions bubuhos sa’yo.”
2009 was a lucky year for Enchong Dee’s career, and he can speak for the company as well. At that time, he had just finished Katorse, the teleserye that launched his tandem with Erich Gonzales. All these make “Bro, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko” a lot memorable to him. “It was a good year for all the shows of ABS-CBN. Nando’n ‘yung time ni Santino. Kakatapos lang namin ng Katorse. ABS-CBN was doing a lot of donations.”
Next to the 2009 theme, last year’s “Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya” is a popular choice among Kapamilya stars. It was released at a time when everyone was confronted by critical situations – the pandemic and its consequences and the ABS-CBN shutdown. All these led to the theme “Liwanag at Ligaya,” a fitting reminder that light shines in darkness, and joy in despair.
Maymay Entrata shared, “Iba ‘yung impact ng kantang ‘yun kasi lahat tayo nakaranas ng sobrang hirap. Nung time na ‘yun, hindi pa pwedeng lumabas. Nag-iisa lang ako nung Christmas.”
“Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya” brings her back to a wistful Christmas time away from her family. Last year was her loneliest celebration as the lockdown halted their annual family reunion. “Yun ang pinakamalungkot kong Christmas. Tapos pag naririnig ko yung kantang yun, bumabalik ako doon sa feeling na, ‘Ito yung unang pasko na hindi ko nakasama ang pamilya ko. Ito ang pinakamalungkot kong Pasko.’” Now that things have gotten better, Maymay said the memories also remind her to appreciate her family more.
Her most unforgettable shoot, on the other hand, is the “Just Love Ngayong Christmas” in 2017, her first as a Kapamilya. The Pinoy Big Brother housemates had the opportunity to participate in the music video while inside Bahay Ni Kuya.
Michelle Vito said people wondered how the network could beat the odds last year. It managed to survive and that makes “Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya” special to her. “Nagka-pandemic, ang daming nangyayari but still nakagawa pa rin ng Station ID ang ABS-CBN. Malaking bagay sa akin na napakita pa rin namin ‘yung station ID na ‘to.” She was part of the music video together with her co-stars in “Bagong Umaga.”
For Danica Ontengco, “Bro, Ikaw Ang Star Ng Pasko” sends her to a nostalgic mood while her love teammate Renshi De Guzman picked “Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya.”
Besides being the bearer of touching messages, Kapamilya Christmas Station IDs are also visual feasts for loyal fanatics as the network’s brightest stars gather together for the music videos. Even longtime artists like Miles still get starstruck each time, “Masaya every time na gumagawa ng station ID at Christmas special kasi ‘yun lang din yung time na nagkakasama-sama kayong lahat, nagkikita-kita kayo.”
The Kapamilya ID is a Christmas staple that lets you feel the meaning of the season more! This year, ABS-CBN continues the tradition with “Andito Tayo Para sa Isa’t Isa.” Check out the teaser for the 2021 Christmas ID produced by ABS-CBN: