Can't Help Falling In Love With KathNiel

What I consider one of the most unforgettable moments I had during my promo days for Pangako Sa 'Yo was the siksik, liglig at umaapaw na series of mall shows we did during our finale weekend. Estimated total of 24,000 were in attendance, meaning roughly 6,000 people were in each of the 4 malls we visited. At hindi biro ang mga numerong 'yun. Record-breaking. Yung isa pa sa mga yun, muntik na naming hindi ituloy sa sobrang dami ng tao. We were scared of the possible stampede and/or damage sa mall. Proof that Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla's magic, individually and as a pair, remained still and strong, amid the words then spreading that the 6-year old loveteam's popularity was already waning, given the rise of other hit onscreen teamups, especially that one from the other network.  

I had the chance to check out KathNiel's first mall show for their upcoming film, Star Cinema's summer offering, "Can't Help Falling In Love". in Trinoma yesterday. Not to my surprise, jampacked at punung-puno ang Activity Area ng mall. Parang deja vu lang from the last one I saw featuring the two. Ang sigawan, tulakan, siksikan, kilig... Walang pinagbago. Na kahit anong gawin nila, level na ngumiti o kumaway lang si Daniel o magsalita lang si Kathryn on stage, o kahit naglalakad lang sila o paalis, matinding reaksyon na from the audience ang kapalit. May mga humabol pa talaga sa parking lot para makahabol sa dalawa.

Present pa rin ang mga fans na ginawang moshpit ang pwesto near the stage, na hindi na talaga napigilan o nagawan ng paraan ng security. Yung mga umiiyak at nagmamakaawa na makapag-selfie lang o makahawak lang sa kamay nina Kathryn at Daniel. Ang mga placards, posters at tarpaulin na kung anu-ano, pero mostly entertaining at amusing, ang statement at laman. Yung may gumagawa ng paraan, makalusot lang at makapasok sa siksikan ng venue. Yung mga sigawang hindi mo na maririnig ang kinakanta o sinasabi ng KathNiel on stage. Buti na lang at walang hinimatay... Muntik lang. I also saw familiar faces - mga supporters na since "Princess and I" ay masigasig nang sumusunod sa lahat ng ganap ng KathNiel, kahit saan, kahit kailan. May mga galing pa nga sa malalayong probinsya. Masulyapan lang ang paborito nilang loveteam, sobrang happy na nila.

Ang maganda naman e, gumagawa talaga ng paraan sina Kath and DJ na mag-reach out sa mga tagahanga nila, kahit gaano pa kadami. Kaya siguro they can't help but fall in love with the two... Mababait at appreciative talaga sila sa suporta at pagmamahal na nakukuha nila all these time.

These sights only proved one thing: that KathNiel magic lives on. They're still the country's premiere love team. And it may really take a while bago mawala ito o humupa ito. I mean, 6 years is no joke. Ang ibang loveteams, after one project, or maximum of three years, naghihiwalay na. Kanya-kanya na, at may iba nang kapareha. Ang KathNiel, may movie at serye pang parating, at inaabangan. At ang support system nila from their fans, very solid. One of, if not the most solid in this generation. More importantly, once I described it, sabay naggu-grow sa industriya ang fans at ang KathNiel.

This Summer, muli tayong pakikiligin ng King and Queen of Hearts sa takilya - ang kanilang pagbabalik sa romcom genre na somehow na-miss natin nilang gawin. Marami na ang naiintriga sa kakaibang kwento ng "Can't Help Falling In Love", even some of my friends are asking kung bakit naging ganun ang kwento, at ikinasal sina Gab at Dos nang hindi pa naman sila nagkakakilala o nagtatagpo at all. Well, kahit ako ay excited nang malaman ang sagot. Kaya 'wag nating palalampasin ito, as the film opens in cinemas on April 15, Black Saturday. This is directed by box-office and kilig director Mae Cruz-Alviar kaya for sure, mage-enjoy tayong lahat!