Fans swoon, shriek over their favorite Kapuso stars

‘Sikat ka, Kapuso!’ stars get the show on the road. Photo by Troi Santos

‘Sikat ka, Kapuso!’ stars get the show on the road. Photo by Troi Santos

By Lindy Rosales

The doors opened at 5 p.m. to festive music as guests streamed into the Newark Symphony Hall for GMA’s “Sikat ka, Kapuso!” concert. They were offered ice cream samples on their way in.

Merilyn Abiva and her husband, who are members of the Ilokano-American Association, were giddy with excitement. So were Nancy Malulan, her sister Melody Malulan and friend Estelita Thibodau who traveled all the way from Albany, N.Y. They were ready with their meet-and-greet tickets and wristbands to have their pictures taken with Alden Richards of AlDub fame. The other stars of the show — Dennis Trillo, Jennylyn Mercado, Dingdong Dantes, Lovi Poe and Betong Sumaya – had their own legions of fans waiting to see them.

The front act alone was already spectacular. Kirby Asunto’s lyrical voice, Jared Babushchak’s cool confidence, Angel Ram’s bouncy number and Alyssa Jade Shoemaker’s performance were warmly received by the crowds.

In the preshow hosted by Grace Rustia, guests who correctly answered questions won prizes. Comedian Betong Sumaya asked, “Did you know that New Jersey is considered the diner capital of the world?” Part of his antics was checking out people’s clothing labels. Gasp! “Can I see your label? Oh my…oh my…Balenciaga…Gary Balenciaga!” or “Can I see it, Sir? Oh my… it’s a new brand… DiVi … Divisoria!” And so on. This funny man able to hold his audience with his jokes.

Fans swooned as actors Dennis Trillo, Jennylyn Mercado, Alden Richards, Dingdong Dantes, and Lovi Poe performed musical numbers, individually or as a group.

The newest member of the Kapuso team, Dantes wowed the crowd by singing pop songs and dancing, a different kind of act for this talented drama actor. Fresh from a two-week vacation with his actress wife Marian Rivera and their little girl, he gushed when they were mentioned.

“Nakakamiss, but lahat naman nito para sa kanila,” he said, adding how it is “such an inspiration” to be on stage with fellow GMA artists. “I get to work with them on screen as actors, but to be performing on stage is a different thing.”

One of many entertaining dance numbers. Photo by Troi Santos

One of many entertaining dance numbers. Photo by Troi Santos

Several times during the show, the stars went down the stage to be closer to the audience. But they only made it a few steps as the people came rushing toward them for pictures and selfies.

Two men and three women were picked to come on stage to be serenaded by each of the Kapuso stars. There was a moment of surprise when Sumaya was slapped, twice, on the face by one of the overly excited women. It was obviously unscripted, and you could see the shock in Sumaya’s face. “Sinasaktan ako,” he said. There was a pause from the crowd before they cheered him on, and the show went on like nothing happened.

Toward the end of the show Dennis Trillo’s voice wavered a bit. Only then I realized he was singing live and not lip-synching. He and Jennylyn Mercado sang a duet and had a moment where she said, “Bakit ba mahal na mahal kita,” and he responded with an “I Love you” to which the fans roared with approval. Mercado looked marvelous in her blue sheer gown with spaghetti straps.

Trillo also did a duet with Lovi Poe, promoting their teleserye “The One That Got Away.” Poe, the daughter of movie legend Fernando Poe, looked beautiful and resplendent in her sequined black gown with slits that go way up.

Another number that brought the house down was Sumaya — wearing a long curly wig, red bra, his tummy exposed — dancing and singing to his song “Despacito” with Mercado and Poe dancing along. That number generated a lot of laughs and thunderous applause. Clearly, Sumaya held the show.

Gloria Saguin-Montecer from Bridgewater, New Jersey, a Jennylyn Mercado fan, said this is her second time to see Mercado perform live. She is a member of the Jennylyn Mercado Facebook club, which allows her to communicate with the star. She is looking forward to watching the actress’s latest teleserye, “The Cure.”

The show ended with fans, still high from the adrenaline rush of the concert, making their way to the photo ops with their favorite stars.

© The FilAm 2018

A packed hall. Photo by Boyet Loverita

A packed hall. Photo by Boyet Loverita



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