ABS-CBN vs. GMA vs. TV5: Which network has the best Christmas station ID for 2024?

GMA — Ganito ang Paskong Pinoy: Puno ng Pasasalamat

Of the three station IDs, GMA’s was undoubtedly the most traditional. Here, Kapuso talents, executives, and crew come together to decorate a Christmas tree and showcase iconic Pinoy holiday party fare such as lechon, pancit, bibingka, taho, and sorbetes. True to the title of the video, the station ID’s theme is one of thanks, shining the spotlight on the network’s multiple public service programs and outreach initiatives. 

Talents such as Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, and Beauty Gonzalez can be seen partaking in the festivities alongside the likes of seasoned journalists Jessica Soho and Howie Severino as well as GMA executives Gilberto Roy Duavit Jr. and Atty. Felipe L. Gozon to spread a message of charity, togetherness, and love. All told, Ganito ang Paskong Pinoy: Puno ng Pasasalamat is a great chance to see some of our favorite stars in a video that’s direct to the point and delivers its message without belaboring it in a relatively brisk four minutes.

On the musical front, GMA’s titular song underscores the feeling of coming together and being grateful for blessings, with multiple vocalists assaying solos that coalesce into an undeniably catchy chorus that comes closest to making the viewer want to dance along. The family party vibe is real, perfectly complementing the onscreen visuals of celebs at play, and the mood is definitely infectious. 

The GMA station ID was remarkable for its restraint, opting for an almost-intimate approach that made the viewer feel as though they were part of the gathering, rather than being told one was happening. With the stars appearing relaxed, comfortable, and decidedly less glammed up than we usually see them, one can almost imagine that this is how they’d be in their everyday lives as well. All in all, the video does everything a station ID is meant to do, and GMA accomplishes it with class.

TV5 – Hatid-Saya ang Paskong Kapatid

TV5’s holiday video takes on a touch of the surreal, as a child in a star costume enters the station’s headquarters. Upon seeing a video of Eat Bulaga! hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, the child enters an elevator and transforms into a literal star, to the bewilderment of the lift operator. Freed from his earthly form, the former child proceeds to fly through the homes of regular people as they showcase the products of the sponsors of TV5 and its sister companies. The networks’ main shows then launch into the titular song, complete with a hitherto unknown star-inspired dance, performed by TV5 talents Willie Revillame, Dabarkads, Ted Failon, and Maja Salvador. ABS-CBN’s partnership with the network helps to bolster the star power, with the likes of Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, and Coco Martin making appearances. 

The end of the video has the magical star returning to the TV5 building, reverting to human form, and entering a seemingly-empty studio, where he is greeted by his favorite TV5 talents for a final round of choruses and star dances. To its credit, the video does an effective job of showing its talents participating in the station’s various charity programs in between all the surrealism. 

The title song, Hatid-Saya ang Paskong Kapatid, opens with the prerequisite sleigh bells that denote holiday tracks followed by lyrics that bring festive cheer—completed with a radio-friendly bop that communicates the feel of the season well with a light, inoffensive tune that exudes positivity.

But for as much fun as we had with the song, the intended wonder and whimsy are undermined by the blatant product placement. While the marketing was probably thrilled, the in-your-face way nearly every brand gets its own beauty shot makes the endeavor feel like an extended commercial. It’s a shame, too, as the actors seem to genuinely be having a good time—star dance and all. The energy and intent may be on full display, but every time the product placement rears its head, it takes the viewer out of the intended holiday feels.

ABS-CBN — Our Stories Shine This Christmas

The Kapamilya station ID loses no time in going for the heartstrings, highlighting ordinary Pinoys who’ve faced extraordinary hardships despite facing some of the most difficulties circumstances life has to offer. A number of tear-jerking interviews are shown, including those of a child with cancer, a homeless man caring for dogs, and MMFF 2024 entry And The Breadwinner Is… star Vice Ganda meeting with actual breadwinners. These are intercut with the titular song, as rendered by Kapamilya icons such as Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Anne Curtis, to Sharon Cuneta, and many, many more. As in past years, the star power on display is impressive, with ABS-CBN sparing no expense in their ability to attract talent.

The video continues in this vein until no less than Coco Martin leads a contingent of his castmates to Quiapo Church to attend mass and engage in gift-giving. It’s at this point that sponsor brands make their appearances as their products are distributed to families across the country. 

The entry arguably hits its energetic peak with the appearance of P-pop girl group BINI, putting their spin on the titular tune alongside their iconic choreography. It closes on a montage of Kapamilya stars wishing everyone a Merry Christmas before a last round of choruses takes us through the ELJ Communications Center to a closing group shot.

Unlike the other stations’ entries, the ABS-CBN video goes to great lengths to present the song as being sung by pretty much everyone onscreen. What starts out as a straightforward holiday ballad that puts the spotlight on inspiring stories quickly becomes an overwhelming audio experience with the sheer repetition of its excessively sentimental chorus. On the other hand, good luck getting this one out of your head.

Look, we love Christmas as much as anybody, but given that the ostensible idea behind a station ID is to let people know which channel or platform they’re watching, a 25-minute runtime may be too much to ask of the average viewer. Granted, there was likely an impetus to make the most of the in-house talent, but by around the 11th chorus of the titular song, one wonders if there wasn’t a less mind-numbing way to go about it. As it is, the 25-minute version is something you’re only going to watch once to spot all the cameos.

The inherent value of any station’s Christmas ID will probably depend on your affinity for the actors being showcased, so individual mileage will vary. In terms of balancing star power with a traditional Christmas message through clear optics, focused messaging, and a minimum of crass commercialism (and/or musical repetition bordering on psychological warfare), GMA’s got this one in the bag for 2024. That star dance did look fun, though.