GMA International—the business unit which manages the distribution of GMA Network’s international channels, GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV International—capped off another banner year filled with several successful events last 2012.

“Our efforts to carry out our mission of making Filipinos abroad closer to home were certainly seen and felt by Kapuso viewers from different parts of the world,” said GMA International Vice President and head of Operations Joseph Francia on the different 2012 activities that his team spearheaded and participated in.

“Along with our continuous expansion efforts, we remained actively involved in all kinds of festivities reminiscent of Filipino traditions and culture,” added Francia.

Through GMA Pinoy TV, the country’s longest-running noontime variety program Eat Bulaga held shows in San Francisco and London in March and November, respectively. The show brought its trademark games and segments that were well received by the game audience.

In September, GMA Pinoy TV celebrated its seventh anniversary by bringing Manny Many Prizes to Los Angeles, California. Around 5,000 spectators filled the Gibson Amphitheatre at the Universal Studios to see the MMP barkada led by the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao together with Paolo Contis, Pekto, Onyok Velasco and Gladys Guevarra.

GMA International was also recognized last year by the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) after winning six EMMAs (Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing Awards) for its marketing initiatives. This was the most number of awards won by GMA so far in the competition, and the first time that it brought home two first place trophies.

“We are overwhelmed by the continuous support of our subscribers and valued industry partners from all over the world. We look forward to sharing more successes and milestones in 2013 with them,” ended Francia.

 GMA’s international channels now have an estimated audience of over 2 million viewers worldwide, and the Network’s expansion efforts in 2013 will take the three channels to even more territories in Canada, the US mainland, Europe and Asia.