PRESS STATEMENT FROM GMA-7:
"It's going to be Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz vs. Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali vs. Ervic Vijandre and Heart Evangelista in the hair-raising finale of GMA-7's PUSO NG PASKO Artista Challenge this Friday, Dec. 31.
"The three pairs emerged as the top celebrity challengers from their respective groups - Red, Blue and Green - after a series of challenges, which range from the death-defying to the heart-warming.
"Hosted by award-winning broadcast journalist Vicky Morales and Kapuso star Richard Gutierrez, together with challenge hosts Rhian Ramos and Drew Arellano, Puso ng Pasko Artista Challenge features 24 Kapuso stars playing in pairs as they perform the challenges to win over five million in cash and prizes for their partner family and the family's community.
"Red Group members include Heart and Ervic; Bianca King and Aljur Abrenica; Rachel Ann Go and Kris Lawrence; and Jennica Garcia and Carl Guevarra. Blue Group has Sunshine and Cesar;Ynna Asistio and Mark Herras; Kris Bernal and Rocco Nacino; and Fabio Ide and Gwen Zamora , while the Green Group members include Raffy and Mariz ; Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann; Paolo Contis and Sam Pinto; Bubbles Paraiso and Benjie Paras.
"Cash and other prizes such as motorcycles, scholarships, a Kabuhayan Showcase worth P150, 000 and thousands of gifts for an entire community have all been given away in the biggest, most exciting and heart-warming way to give back to those who have given so much.
"Among the partner families and communities are that of Teresa Martinez and the community of San Jose Montalban Rizal which already won P100,000 and an STI scholarship (for the partner family), and 1,000 pairs of shoes (for the partner community) through the efforts of celebrity challengers Aljur Abrenica and Bianca King;
"Jonathan Manaois' family and the community of Banaba, San Mateo Rizal which won P100,000 and one motorcycle (partner family), and 100 bikes (partner community) through celebrity challengers Carl Guevarra and Jennica Garcia;
"and Alex Jesus Bautista's family and the community of Joan of Arc, Gulod, Novaliches Quezon City which won P100,000 and P150,000-worth of Kabuhayan Showcase (partner family), and 500 half-sacks of rice (partner community) through celebrity challengers Ervic Vijandre and Heart Evangelista.
"Other winners include Violeta Guevarra's family and the community of Purok 4, Zone 8, Cupang, Antipolo City which will receive P100,000 and an STI scholarship (partner family), and 1,000 pairs of shoes (partner community) through the efforts of celebrity challengers Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali;
"and Tess Carolino's family and the community of Talipapa, Novaliches Q.C. which will receive P100,000 and one motorcycle (partner family), and 100 bikes (partner community) through celebrity challengers Mike Tan and Sam Pinto.
"The celebrity challengers selected their partner families from among hundreds of entries that comprise of the "most deserving" families—those that have done good deeds for others or their community.
"Which celebrity pair will emerge to win it all for their partner family and community? Don't miss the Final Challenge on Friday, Dec. 31, after Beauty Queen on GMA Telebabad."
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