ABS-CBN’s star-studded special unveils exciting 2024 line-up

ABS-CBN kept the festive holiday spirit alive with its Christmas special marking its return at the Araneta Coliseum for the first time since 2019. The two-part TV special featured showstopping performances by over 300 Kapamilya stars and teased the exciting line-up of shows for 2024.

With the theme “Forever Grateful,” the ABS-CBN special showed gratitude for the unwavering support of the audiences worldwide and celebrated the various partnerships forged with the different streaming platforms and TV networks.

Kathryn Bernardo has a surprise reunion with former reel and real-life partner Daniel Padilla.

The Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda set the stage abuzz with a Madonna-inspired opening, while the surprise reunion of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla brought the house down.

It was the first public appearance of Kathryn and Daniel after the announcement of their breakup. Their duet of the hit song I’ll Be There for You stirred social media into a frenzy, with the KathNiel tandem and the 2023 Christmas Special topping the global trending topics chart.

Kapamilya tandems (clockwise, from top left) Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz, Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino, and Kyle Echarri and Andrea Brillantes.

More Kapamilya stars gathered on stage to thank viewers for the unwavering support of their programs, with the cast of the hit noontime show, It’s Showtime, plus teleseryes Can’t Buy Me Love, Senior High, The Iron Heart, Pira-Pirasong Paraiso, and Nag-Aapoy na Damdamin, among others going full-force to bring yuletide cheer.

ABS-CBN leading men (clockwise, from top left) KD Estrada, Zanjoe Marudo, Gerald Anderson, Jake Cuenca, Sam Milby and Joshua Garcia.

Coco Martin, Ivana Alawi, and their FPJ’s Batang Quiapo co-stars also shared the stage to deliver a series of engaging performances as a way to thank Kapamilyas for helping make the action-serye the No. 1 primetime show on Philippine TV and achieving record-breaking viewership feats online.

Love filled the holiday breeze as audiences gushed over the all-loveteam act from today’s talked-about Kapamilya tandems like DonBelle (Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano), FranSeth (Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin), KyDrea (Kyle Echarri and Andrea Brillantes), among others.

ABS-CBN leading ladies (from left) Angelica Panganiban, Kathryn Bernardo, Kim Chiu and Anne Curtis

The Christmas special also made way for a surprise appearance of Miss Universe 2023 Philippines’ bet Michelle Marquez Dee belting out songs alongside Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Darren and more proudly Pinoy acts.

Among the most applauded production numbers were the empowering all-women performance of Kapamilya leading ladies, the serenade from the Kapamilya leading men, a showcase of Star Magic’s roster of talents, Kathryn and Daniel’s solo acts, and a grand collaboration of OPM legends.

Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee.

One of the main highlights of the night was the reveal of ABS-CBN’s shows for 2024. These include the Pinoy adaptations of Kim and Paulo’s What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim and It’s Okay Not to Be Okay topbilled by Joshua Garcia, Carlo Aquino, and Anne Curtis.

Also announced were Pamilya Sagrado, starring Kyle Echarri, Grae Fernandez, and Piolo Pascual, the international series The Bagman headlined by award-winning actors Arjo Atayde, John Arcilla and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, the third season of The Voice Teens Philippines, and the newest installment of Pinoy Big Brother.

Batang Quiapo stars Coco Martin and Ivana Alawi.

Closing with a grand production number, ABS-CBN executives shared the stage with the Kapamilya stars to express their heartful thanks to the audiences and committed to continuing ABS-CBN’s service.

Relive the highlights of Forever Grateful: The ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2023 on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel.

It's Showtime host Vice Ganda.