For six years, making people happy has been It’s Showtime’s raison d’être. And last Sept. 26 at its ANIMversary Kick-off at the Araneta Coliseum, the noontime program did not hold back in giving back to its loyal viewers and fans by showcasing the best of the best of ABS-CBN.
The event, also dubbed It’s Showtime Kapamilya Day, was not just a celebration of the program’s six years on air, but also a celebration of ABS-CBN’s popular programs, love teams and stars that people love and watch.
Leading the celebration were the country’s hottest and most sought-after love teams, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (KathNiel), James Reid and Nadine Lustre (JaDine), and Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil (LizQuen), who for the first time performed together on one stage.
Kilig filled the air as fans of each tandem came in full force for their idols, who, through their projects, bring kilig to people and make them believe in love. And looking at the Araneta crowd, one could only imagine how the power of kilig seemed to have put a spell not only on teenagers, but also on people of all ages.
Before the highly-anticipated performance of the trios, Kathryn and Daniel, who continue to draw viewers every night in the top-rating Pangako Sa ‘Yo, sang the teleserye’s theme song to the delight of fans.
Also performing to the shrieks of the crowd were Nadine and James, who have built a cult following after the launch of their kilig-serye, On the Wings of Love.
Liza and Enrique, who were made unofficial ambassadors of everlasting love in their teleserye Forevermore, also surprised the crowd by announcing that they will again team up in Forever and More, a series for ABS-CBNmobile.
Kim Chiu and Xian Lim (KimXi) also had their fans squealing with their almost-kiss during their duet of Mr. Right. And if that was not enough to send their fans to a frenzy, the tandem announced that their StarFlix hit Must Date the Playboy will have a movie version.
Of course, It’s Showtime’s very own hosts Anne Curtis and Vhong Navarro also gave their fans something to gush about long after the event. But one of the most outstanding moments was when Vice Ganda, who dressed as his alter ego Viceral, stole two surprise kisses from Karylle.
Kicking the kilig factor up a few notches was Coco Martin, who pretended to be an admirer of Pastillas Girl right before he went out on stage and serenaded the online sensation, who literally shook in excitement after the Ang Probinsyano star revealed himself.
Love teams were not the only ones who entertained the Araneta crowd as the cast of ABS-CBN’s dramas Pasion de Amor and Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita (NKNKK) engaged in a lip sync battle in the Lipswak segment. Pasion star Jake Cuenca capped his team’s performance by making his signature pose to the delight of the fans, while NKNKK leading man Richard Yap charmed spectators with goofy antics.
Meanwhile, the It’s Showtime hosts also impressed the crowd by impersonating the icons of their choice as if they were in Your Face Sounds Familiar. Doing their best impressions, Billy Crawford came out as Gary Valenciano, Vhong as Ely Buendia, Teddy Corpuz and Jugs Jugueta as Pepe Smith and Mike Hanopol, Jhong Hilario as April Boy Regino and Karylle as Gloc-9.
Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 1 grand winner Melai Cantiveros, meanwhile, reprised her impersonation of Rihanna.
The ANIMversary Kick-off was just a taste of what It’s Showtime has in store for the madlang people for the program’s month-long celebration.
The most anticipated event, as with every year, is the Magpasikat Week where each host pulls out all the stops to showcase their talents and impress the audience. In the last five years, the competition produced some of the show’s most memorable moments — mind-blowing acts, sometimes with death-defying stunts — and this year will not be any different as they face off again to make the madlang people happy.
What are the hosts going to do this year? Will there be new twists in the competition?
Find out more about the program’s anniversary celebration as it brings the fun, love and laughter to Biñan, Laguna today at the Alonte Sports Arena.
And if the hosts’ explosive opening number of the Araneta concert was any indication, the program’s ANIMversary celebration is off to an exciting start.