Allea Mae Orjeta Dec.

4 2022
11 Fortitude Mr. Cyril Tañada

REACTION PAPER
on
ABS-CBN’S 2019 CSID - Family is Love

ABS-CBN’S Christmas Station Id has always been a part of our Christmas growing up,
Christmas is incomplete without the essence of their music. They set the standard since early
2000 from ‘Isang Pamilya, Isang Puso Ngayong Pasko’ to “Tayo ang Ligaya ng Isa’t Isa', their
songs has been a source of inspirations and hope for Filipinos. In their 10 anniversary and
65th year in the industry they launched ‘FAMILY IS FOREVER’, the ABS-CBN’s Christmas
Station Id of 2019. Family is Forever is exceptional for it is a combination of past songs namely
‘Bro ikaw ang star ng pasko’, ‘Just love ngayong pasko’ ‘Family is love’ and ‘Thank you for the
love, denoting the undying hope that is brought by the past circumstances that Filipinos came
across with. The ABS-CBN’S Christmas Station ID 2019 was created by ABS-CBN Creative
Communications Management Division headed by Robert Labayen, Johnny De Los Santos
and Patrick de Leon, and COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes. Directed by Paolo Ramos with
second unit directors Lorenz Roi Morales and Peewee Azarcon Gonzales. Lyrics written by
Robert Labayen and Lloyd Oliver Corpuz and brought to life by composers Thyro Alfaro and
Lloyd Oliver Corpuz. The new anthem is a medley of past songs performed by The voice kids
finalists and coaches Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo and Lea Salonga. Family is Forever is further
more special for the reason that it is ABS-CBN’S first time to mashup their past songs, it is also
their first time to make such song that features a reunion of some of the real Kampamilyas
from different sectors singing live to ones of their music video. The song is about the Filipino
spirit, and is indeed a nostalgic song that wakes up the essence of our Christmas.
In every Christmas Station Id that they launched over the years, ABS-CBN never
forgets to tell the inspiring stories of Filipinos. The ABS-CBN themselves said that they believe
in the idea of forever though unlike any other they consider it as a continuing journey filled with
love and meaning if spent with the most important person in our lives – our families. And
because of it, their 2019 Christmas SID reunited various Kampamilyas that once touched the
heart of people and through this song, together with hundreds of artists and employees, ABS-
CBN pays tribute to – the Noblezeda “Keribels” family from Iloilo who always has a happy
disposition amidst life’s obstacles; Marielle Hernali, a Typhoon Yolanda survivor from Tacloban
who graduated as valedictorian in her class; Arnel Aba, a one-legged swimmer who won a
gold medal in the ASEAN ParaGames; Jan Aure Gascon, the student from Abra with a simple
dream of owning a pencil; El Gamma Penumbra, the shadow dancing group from Batangas
who won the top prize in Asia’s Got Talent; and the Garcia brothers from Pangasinan whose
love for their country as soldiers is as strong as their love for their family.
For them, family is not by blood but it is those that makes us feel like we’re at home, and home
is where we feel loved and belong. ‘Family is Forever’ is a song particularly about the Filipinos
spirit. The uplifting spirit that each of us feel and shared with our fellow country men in the
midst of hardship and difficulties. The spirit that we get from our families when we needed
them the most, and the love that they made us feel are the reason why we get up and have the
courage to stand again. ABS-CBN looked back throughout their service for 65 years, in their
2019 Christmas Station Id they did not just encompasses how they withstand several
circumstances together with Filipinos but they also gave highlights to the heartening stories of
ordinary citizens of our country. This song is a story of how we find our light, our strengths and
our spirit in the darkest times in the heart of our families, families are those who are willing to
hold our hand and accept us in the midst of crucial moments. It also addresses the reasons
behind the continuation of our journey despite the inevitable challenges that will either destroy
our hope or build the stronger version of ourselves.
 While watching the music video, one thing that really caught my attention was the
scenes where they portray that there is happiness in simplicity. The music video flashes a wife,
beneath a tree, similingly feeding her husband with her daughter beside her(2:35 – 2:36), the
scene illustrates that a simple life can be a source of joy and meaning if spent with our loved
ones. It also showed the contentment in life. Another scene that has the same message were
the construction workers laughing together(4:11), it made my heart delighted to see and
remember through those scenes that we can find happiness anywhere but mostly in the
presence of whom we considered as family.
I cannot deny how some part made me emotional, those scenes from the first 1 minute of the
music video hooked me really hard, maybe because I’ve already forgot that there is faith in
humanity. Seeing someone smile during their hard times just like the ‘Ale’, which was I believe
a volunteer, smiling in the video in the midst of a flood and a soldier taking care of his
colleague made me melt (0:20 – 0:23). It affects me that much knowing that any of it is not
scripted, it awakens the hope that I already forgotten to exist. Maybe the kindness of people
really do brighten more during the dark times. The video showed how the hidden kindness of
people break free during the needs of their fellow men. And somehow it is symbolized by the
parol, a Filipino ornamental lantern displayed during the Christmas season that is seen by
many as a symbol of hope. (1:03- 1:22) In the crucial time as a nation, often during typhoons,
we can see clearly our country men’s spirit. Like what is seen in the video, our fellow Filipinos,
lower or upper class, do whatever they can to help those who’s in need and that’s how a family
is made.
Anyone can be a family, from our biological family to our friends, to our colleagues, and to the
once that cares for us when we needed one. Family is where we get our strength, in the end
they will always be the home we will run into. (0:35- 0:36) Their embrace is what we only need
to calm the war inside us, there is peace by their side. (0:29) Our heart will always find its way
to our loved ones, because they are our home, and home is a place that we will always return
to. (3:57- 4:00)
The Philippine flag has a special place within my heart. I’m not that patriotic but seeing my
country’s flag swaying by the wind brings me so much nostalgia, that’s why I can’t stop myself
but to smile while sobbing after seeing our flag being raised after a tragic typhoon. (0:33) For
me, it signifies that we’ll arise each time as a nation even after falling apart many times, as the
line goes by, after a storm comes a rainbow.
After the music video is the lyrics, as we all know every Christmas Station ID of ABS-CBN has
a weighty message behind its every lyrics.
Sa mundong maingay
Ikaw ang aking pahinga
Sa yakap mong kumakalma
Lahat ay nagiging payapa
I believe that this verse is pertaining to God. It is my favorite verse among all because I’ve felt
it in his presence, I have experienced it and I can confidently say that it is true. Listening to this
part reminisce the moments in my life where I get to endure pain alone together with him and
how I survived those lonely nights.
Sa pamilya mo ang tunay na pasko
At first, I cannot relate to this line, because I spent my Christmas boringly many times, it got
me questioned my decision of not spending Christmas with my parents certain times and if
Christmas will really be meaningful with them. It also saddens me to think about those who
don’t have a family or those who are already alone in life, it questions me of how do they
celebrate Christmas with their situations. This line brings up many question. I think some
people are okay to spent their Christmas alone or some maybe don’t even celebrate
Christmas, although I agree to this line because really, even a normal day can be a special day
when we are with our loved ones, what more if it’s Christmas.
Sa lahat ng taong nagdaan
Kasiyahan o kalungkutan
Always there for each other
Kinaya natin together
Forever, forever, family is forever
This verse makes a lot of sense after the denial of renewal of ABS-CBN’S franchise. They’ve
been servicing the Filipinos for over 65 year, all through out they’ve stand with the people.
They are family to their employees, they are family to the one’s they’ve helped, and they are a
family to Filipinos. Kinaya natin together, I love this line for it reminds me that one can survive
their battles with someone, and that we don’t need to always face circumstances alone. In my
perspective, it tells us that every challenges is lighter when we have support from other people
and that we can always overcome battles together. We’ve survive and will survive again
together as seen in these lines..
Sa lahat pang darating
Ano man ang harapin
Always there for each other
Kinaya natin together
Lastly, the line that gave me goosebumps the most were ‘palagi akong uuwi sayo’, this
touching line together with its soothing tone is remarkable. Somehow, it gave me the feeling of
assurance that in the end I’ll always have my family beside me.
I don’t see Christmas anymore as an exciting event that I always look forward to as a
kid. The essence of Christmas fade in me when pandemic happen, I didn’t know that one song
can bring up so much nostalgia. I love this song for many reason. First, because it is a
combination of their past CSID which made the it a song that brought up many memories that
I’ve already forgotten like how we play cards during typhoon and how we fired up lusis
fireworks as a family once. Second, the lyrics of this song is well written and the message that
it holds were touching. Third, the combination of Sarah, Lea, and Bamboo’s voice perfectly fits
together and on the official music video they let the people sing some parts, which was I really
loved. And lastly, because it is really dedicated for Filipinos, anyone can see that they focused
on the message of the song and not particularly to the actors or to the singers. Many scenes
are not scripted, it reminds me that such thing can happen in real life, those only made the
whole video more tearful. It is a song that can uplift us and waken up the hopes that are just
within us, and because of that I’ll recommend it to anyone. They pays tribute to Kampamilyas,
they highlighted the story of Filipinos and that’s very powerful, they earn respect from me doing
so.
In conclusion, Family is Forever is a very nostalgic song maybe because it is some of
their past CSID in a nutshell. It made me tear full even after watching it for two times because
it made me remember and realized things. I remembered while listening to it how I spent my
Christmas during my childhood days and made me realized again that such kindness of people
can also happen in real life. There’s a lot of message portrayed through the music videos, like
how simplicity can bring us so much joy and that we can find family anywhere but I think my
favorite part was when the Philippine flag was being raised after a typhoon for the reason that
it brings so much hope in me. The lyrics of this song is meaningful, it has so much sense when
you relate to it or you know the stories behind it. Overall I think that it is a very unique song and
a special one because it is truly devoted to Filipinos, everyone can understand that the focus
was on the song’s message rather than the actors or singers in particular. Most important
scenes are unscripted and it reminds me that that level of kindness do not only happens in
movies. ‘Family is Forever’ tells us story of how people fall apart, hold each others hand, trust
God, and gets up together, in other word, it is a story of how we find our light, our strengths
and our spirit in the darkest times in the heart of our families. It is indeed a song that can lift up
people in their darkest times. ‘Sa pamilya mo ang tunay na pasko’, may we spend our
Christmas meaningfully in our homes – where we feel loved, belong, and accepted, and where
we will always return to.

Citations

Description [ http://abs-cbn.com/amp/newsroom/news-releases/2019/11/19/family-is-
forever-abs-cbn-christmas-station-id?lang=en ]
Family is Forever, official music video [ https://youtu.be/NvRQf_Lb1_Y ]
Family is Forever, Lyrics [ https://philnews.ph/2019/12/11/family-is-forever-lyrics-abs-
cbn-christmas-station-id-2019/ ]
Portrayal of simplicity is seen at [2:35 – 2:36] and [4:ll] in the music video, where a
family and a group of construction workers gets featured.
Volunteering of helping people can be seen in these span time; [0:20-0:23]; [0:40-1:03]
Parol, A symbol of hope as seen at [1:04-1:20]
We hold unto our family as seen at [0:29]; [0:35-00:36] and will always return to them at
[3:57-4:00]
We uprise together as a nation as symbolized at [0:33]
Verses:
[1] Sa mundong maingay, Ikaw ang aking pahinga, Sa yakap mong kumakalma, Lahat
ay nagiging payapa
[2] Sa lahat ng taong nagdaan, Kasiyahan o kalungkutan, Always there for each other,
Kinaya natin together, Forever, forever, family is forever
[3] Sa lahat pang darating, Ano man ang harapin, Always there for each other, Kinaya
natin together
Lines:
[1] Sa pamilya mo ang tunay na pasko
[2] Kinaya natin together
[3] Palagi akong uuwi sayo