The Kapamilya musical-variety show has hit another milestone.
On Sunday, February 2, ABS-CBN’s longest-running weekly noontime variety show ‘ASAP’ marked the start of another decade in its storied run.
This, as the program will finally (and officially) turn 30 years old on Wednesday, February 5.
Featured during the special episode are some of the network’s biggest and brightest stars, led by mainstays Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Erik Santos, and original ‘ASAP’ queen Pops Fernandez.
Angeline Quinto, Yeng Constantino, Jona, Belle Mariano, Darren Espanto, Kyle Echarri, Robi Domingo, Donny Pangilinan, Janine Gutierrez, Edward Barbers, and Maymay Entrata were also present at the special.
Some of the other names that appeared in the show were BINI, Joshua Garcia, James Reid, Andrea Brillantes, Maki, Supah Dancers led by AC Bonifacio and Gab Valenciano, ‘PBB Gen 11’ housemates Fyang Smith, JM Ibarra, Jas Scales, and Kolette Madelo, and P-pop boy group BGYO.
A special tribute was also given by ‘ASAP’ to the late ‘Queen of Philippine Cinema,’ Gloria Romero, where Regine, Zsa Zsa, and Angeline sang their moving rendition of the song ‘Tanging Yaman.’
‘ASAP,’ an acronym for ‘All-star Sunday Afternoon Party,’ was first launched on February 5, 1995 as a replacement for ‘Sa Linggo nAPO Sila’ — which was reformatted as the Monday-Saturday program ‘Sang Linggo nAPO Sila’ after the switch of ‘Eat Bulaga’ from ABS-CBN to GMA.
During its debut year, it was led by the first roster of main hosts composed of Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Ariel Rivera, and Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres.
In the early 2000s, it was caught in a fierce competition with GMA’s ‘SOP,’ which boasted its own powerhouse roster of mainstays led by Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, and Jaya.
‘ASAP’ was then relaunched as ‘ASAP Mania’ in 2003, with the offshoot teen-oriented program titled ‘ASAP Fanatic’ premiering the following year.
Between 2005 and 2009, the program used the last two digits of the year as its subtitle (i.e. ‘ASAP ’08’).
The annual change of title was also carried over in the early part of the 2010s, with ‘ASAP’ getting the respective subtitles ‘XV’ (for its 15th anniversary), ‘Rocks,’ ‘2012,’ ’18,’ ’19,’ and ’20,’ from 2010 until 2015.
In 2016, it finally reverted to its original title after 13 years, although that was short-lived as the program once again took on a new title upon its 2018 relaunch.
Coinciding with the transfer of Regine Velasquez to ABS-CBN and her joining the musical-variety show, ‘ASAP’ was officially retitled as ‘ASAP Natin ‘To’ and incorporated people-centric segments, on top of its usual production numbers.
In September 2024, the show reverted to their original title, in time for their nearing anniversary.