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| L-R: Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson Hon. Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, GMA Afternoon Prime series Born To Shine's fictional P-Pop girl group YUMI, GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia (Image Source: GMA Network) |
GMA Network, through its international arm, GMA International, proudly participated in the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) 2026 Filipino Diaspora Summit, underscoring GMA Pinoy TV’s role as “The Heart Of Global Pinoys”. Held last June 16, 2026 at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, the summit gathered 350 participants including non-resident Filipinos (NRFs), government officials, and private sector leaders from 30 countries. Organized by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) led by Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, the event carried the theme “Transformation Through Diaspora Engagement: Harnessing Filipino Global Power In Advancing The Philippines' Cultural, Economic, And Political Goals”.
Representing GMA International were GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia, GMA International Business Development and Carrier Relations Manager Jose Bernardo Flores, and GMA International Activations Manager Mae Trono alongside the activations and digital teams. As a key media partner, GMA International played an active role in amplifying the summit’s message on diaspora engagement, strengthened through its on-air and digital platforms, which connect Filipinos worldwide to stories, news, and entertainment that reflect their identity and shared experiences. Francia emphasized the importance of these partnerships, stating, “This collaboration with the CFO reinforces our shared mission to empower Filipinos worldwide. With GMA Pinoy TV as ‘The Heart Of Global Pinoys’, we continue to build meaningful connections that support the global Filipino community and its contribution to the nation.” A highlight of GMA’s participation was its showcase of GMA Sparkle talents through the stars of Born to Shine, one of GMA Afternoon Prime’s newest dramas, available to global audiences via GMA Pinoy TV. Representing the series’ fictional P-Pop girl group YUMI, Zephanie as Jeni, Olive May as Megan, Naya Ambi as Alfea, Gaea Mischa as Nancy, and Mitzi Josh as Yuna performed one of their songs from the series “Ikaw Ang Dahilan”, showcasing their talents in singing and dancing.
The segment also aligned with the summit’s Panel 4 on youth empowerment and leadership in diaspora engagement and national development. As a group formed through a GMA series, YUMI represents the next generation of Filipino talent — demonstrating how young Filipinos can shape cultural identity and strengthen global connections. Their visibility also highlights how Filipino youth can inspire non-resident Filipino youth to embrace their heritage and engage more deeply with Filipino culture. In his message to Global Pinoys, shared in an interview with GMA Pinoy TV’s digital team, Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II expressed his appreciation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with Filipinos worldwide: “Nagpapasalamat po ang CFO sa lahat ng tulong niyo, sa pag-ambag niyo sa pagpapaunlad ng Pilipinas. I just want to assure you that the Philippine government wishes to remain connected with you. We know you never turn your back on the Philippines, and the least we can do is to enable you to help our country to achieve and realize our collective aspirations for a better future. Maraming Salamat po.”
Through its participation, GMA International reaffirmed its role not only as a media partner but also as a storyteller and cultural bridge — bringing Filipinos closer together wherever they are in the world and continuously living out its mission as “The Heart Of Global Pinoys”.
