With over a hundred of Kapamilya stars and a great crowd of fans gathered from all over the metro, ASAP totally gave its anniversary a bang! Are you among us who partied the day out at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday?
As early as 7o’clock in the morning, people who yearned to get FREE tickets started to swarm and line up outside the arena. Well, who would not want to get a live experience of the country’s longest-running noontime concert?
There had been a great need to get there early because of the massive number of expectants, with tickets running out that those who were not able to get one even implored to buy it from those who did. But that is a no-no since selling free tickets is illegal. Of course! I’m lucky to get mine days ahead.
Different fans club arrived in uniform color carrying banners and balloons, and wearing excited smile on their faces. At around 11 o’clock we started to make our way inside the arena with an ambience, which I would say, was very party-ready! Though there had been a great struggle in owning a seat, we did our best to get to the best spot. By seating just a meter away beside the backstage, we had a closer view to the production and the performers.
Off live-set, ASAP started by promoting their newest offering to the Filipino community – ABSCBN’s TVPlus: Ang Mahiwagang Black Box! They even gave away 10 free sets to the audience by attaching promo envelopes under ten random seats. As the clock comes close to 12 o’clock, the excitement is uncontainable especially when the dancers started to come up the stage, which signalled the start of the program.
A festive performance depicting different nationalities opened the program, which featured ASAP’s casts like Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Maja Salvador, Enchong Dee, KC Concepcion, Shaina Magdayao and Rayver Cruz. With Sarah Geronimo, Gary Valenciano, Toni Gonzaga, Piolo Pascual, Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford doing the opening spiels, in light with the ASAP 20 airways concept.
The whole ASAP casts and the biggest Kapamilya stars owned the stage with astounding performances. There had been performances reliving the best moments of trademark ASAP groups reuniting The Kantoboys, The Maneuvers and of course the Streetboys where Vhong Navarro ang Jhong Hilario were popular members. Throwback performances featured the best teen segments during the ‘90s like the Ang TV. And the ASAP It Girls featuring Liza Soberano, Julia Baretto, Kathryn Bernardo and Janella Salvador didn’t fail to wow their audience with their hot performance of Pussycat Doll’s Don’t Cha, along with the former ASAP It Girls Toni Gonzaga, Nikki Gil and Karylle.
A more soulful Sessionistas lulled their audience with sweet song numbers, from members Princess Velasco, Aiza Seguerra, Richard Poon and Kean Cipriano. Nina and Juris rendition of ‘Love Moves in Mysterious Ways’ was my personal favorite!
ASAP’s divas gave a very astounding performance which sent goosebumps all over, especially that of Lani Misalucha, Bituin Escalante, Angeline Quinto, Juris and the newest addition to ASAP family, Kyla.
There’d been a great reunion of the Asap main hosts through the years—Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Ariel Rivera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Richard Gomez, Kuh Ledesma and Gary Valenciano. Dayannara Torres, one of the original hosts congratulated the show for its 20th year via video presentation.
Maja Salvador and Gerald Anderson’s Chandelier dance number was totally breath taking, along with the world-renowned Cirque de soleil with all that bending and gymnastic stunts!
Kapamilya love team powers KathNiel, LizQuen and KimXi sent kilig vibes to the audience with their love song performance, along with ‘90s most popular love team – Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal. Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla also promoted their newest movie, Crazy Beautiful You and of course the KathNiel fans are overwhelming with supports.
Governor Vilma Santos-Recto accepted the Asap Grand Karaokey Challenge of Luis Manzano, Alex Gonzaga which gave the crowd a good laugh! Network President Charo Santos was present and even played joke with the Star for All Season. The show ended with a closing number where all the stars gathered in the stage patterned to a giant 20-figure.
ASAP has been giving Filipino community a wonderful deal of entertainment since 1995 that it had been a big part of today’s television and of people’s memory while growing up. Twenty years is not long enough – especially if ASAP still has a lot to offer to people expecting for something bigger and better from them. Good job ASAP and happy, happy 20th anniversary!
