MANILA, Philippines - When asked to describe in one word what ASAP Live in LA would be at the packed press conference that was livestreamed on TFC.tv and TFC20.com/ASAP recently from the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the following cast members said: Gerald Anderson, “Awesome”; Maja Salvador, “Spectacular”; Yeng Constantino, “Astig” (Super cool!); Bamboo, “Class Act”; Zsa Zsa Padilla, “Powerful”; Martin Nievera, “Unforgettable”; Enchong Dee, “Memorable”; Kathryn Bernardo, “Fun”; Daniel Padilla, “Intense”; and Gary Valenciano, “Blessed.”
Indeed, the words of TFC’s 20th anniversary ambassador Gary V and his nine presscon co-panelists were veritable harbingers of what ASAP Live in LA turned out to be.
Not the power-packed joint concert of Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull in Staples Center, or the multi-cultural, multi-act Super Sonico Festival brought by the teams of LAMC and Coachella to Shrine Auditorium, or the touring and local culinary stars of James Beard Foundation’s Taste Los Angeles in Vibiana could distract 12,000 Filipino fans from trooping to historic Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena to take part in the day-long festivities climaxed by a one-of-a-kind three-hour, live, world-class Filipino entertainment.
When ABS-CBN and TFC North America promised 40 stars would perform at ASAP Live in LA, they actually meant at least 40.
Believing in always putting great value for the money that TFC subscribers and fans pay, ticket buyers did not only get a star-studded complement of talented cast members from the Philippines; they were treated to spectacular on-stage collaborations with US-based Filipino singing greats like Jam Morales, Ella Mae Saison and Tootsie Guevarra and international Fil-Am superstars like apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas and Jessica Sanchez of American Idol fame. Also acknowledged at the show were well-known Fil-Ams from the Hollywood industry like Tia Carrere, Reggie Lee, Mark Nicolas and Fritz Friedman.
Through the assistance of Los Angeles Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera Lim, Filipino American Service Group, Inc. executive director Susan Dilkes and West Valley Area representative Max Reyes, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a Proclamation making Oct. 11, 2014 ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel’s ASAP Live in LA Community Empowerment Day.