The week-long “It’s Showtime” 15th anniversary celebration has officially kicked off yesterday, October 21, with the highly anticipated “Magpasikat” talent showdown among its beloved hosts. Leading the Monday group was the power trio of Vice Ganda, Karylle, and Ryan Bang, whose performance, centered around stories of hope, not only trended online but also resonated deeply with viewers and netizens alike. Their touching concept served as a timely reminder for everyone to keep holding on during these challenging times.

While the live theatrical act dazzled audiences at home, the off-cam moments revealed heartfelt emotions and genuine camaraderie that truly made the “Magpasikat” Day 1 unforgettable. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes video from ent.abs-cbn.com, we get an insider’s look at what happened in the studio during and after the production number.

In the clip, we see spectators moved to tears, including Karylle’s mom, Zsa Zsa Padilla, who couldn’t hold back from getting sentimental as she watched her daughter pour her heart into the performance. Karylle opened up about the pain of losing her father recently, and her vulnerability was felt by everyone in the studio.

Yet, there were also plenty of smiles. Special guests, including Olympic 2024 double-gold medalist Carlos Yulo and actor Awra Briguela, shared their inspiring “kwento ng pag-asa.” The globally acclaimed P-Pop group SB19 also contributed to the soulful showcase by lending one of their songs and rewording it to fit the performance’s overall theme.

We also get a glimpse of this year’s panel of judges—director Rory Quintos, actress Alice Dixson, Kapamilya heartthrob Donny Pangilinan, Kapuso star Gabbi Garcia, and former ABS-CBN President Freddie ‘FMG’ Garcia. Their faces reveal how happy and content they are with Team ViceRylle and Ryan’s presentation and their participation in this year’s “Magpasikat” tradition.

As the video ends, we see the entire team behind the Monday prod, proving that it really takes a village to mount such a performance. So, be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming eyy-mazing ‘pasabog’ from the other teams! Today, Tuesday, Kim Chiu, Ogie Alcasid, MC and Lassy’s group will take the stage!