The ABS-CBN Ball 2023 was a grand affair with all the hottest Kapamilya celebrities.
Held last September 30, 2023 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, the likes of Kathryn Bernardo, Vice Ganda, Andrea Brillantes, Belle Mariano, Donny Pangilinan, and Darren Espanto were dressed to the nines, following the red carpet’s black-tie dress code.
Read: Netizens burst into laughter watching Melai Cantiveros's bag raid at ABS-CBN Ball 2023
P-pop idol groups BINI and BGYO, both under ABS-CBN’s talent management arm Star Magic, were also present and decked out at their best.
One of the fun sidelights during the event was the bag raid of PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at the media area.
Here, PEP.ph asked celebrities to spill what's inside their clutches and show their must-haves when partying with their fellow stars.
BELLE MARIANO
Belle Mariano stood out for having the shortest bag raid, confessing that she didn't carry anything inside her clutch.
Her perennial leading man and date for the night, Donny Pangilinan, was standing next to Belle and jokingly interjected, "Marami. Buong bahay niya nandiyan.”
When Belle finally revealed the contents of her clutch, we saw that she actually brought one thing with her: mouth spray.
@pepalerts Bag raid with @bellemariano at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
DonBelle fans, upon seeing PEP.ph's bag raid, expressed their kilig over the lovely pair's cute dynamics.
Donny and Belle also emerged as the big winners for the ABS-CBN Ball 2023 special awards as they won Star of the Night respectively, while DonBelle won first place for the People’s Choice: Couple of the Ball.
Read: Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano big winners for ABS-CBN Ball 2023 special awards
AC BONIFACIO
AC Bonifacio brought with her a medium-sized white clutch to match her glittery one-shoulder gown.
From her bag, she pulled out her Chanel travel perfume, an ABS-CBN QR code for her photos, a sponge for fixint her makeup creases, a tin of mints, two lippies for her gradient lips, and eye drops.
@pepalerts Bag raid with @ac at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Thrilled with the bag raid, AC even asked PEP.ph if she can also show what's inside her pocket. Yes, her gown had pockets!
Beaming, the Kapamilya singer dug into her gown’s pocket and brought out her flip phone, which didn't bulge when placed in her pocket.
AC's look for the ABS-CBN Ball was styled by Ica Villanueva and Frances Torres, with her sleek bob done by Cristine Benoman and her gorgeous makeup done by Celine Co.
The amazing dress with pockets—every girl's dream-—was designed by Irene Lee.
The official music video for AC's catchy single "4 Myself" was released last July 21, 2023.
MAXENE MAGALONA
Meditation for make-up retouch? Why not?!?
Maxine Magalona, when asked “ano dalang pang retouch tonight?”, the actress-model's reply was a simple, “Wala, wala akong dala.”
Then she proceeded to open her bag and show that the only thing inside it was her phone.
Because if she ever needed to do a retouch on her makeup, she would just “meditate para maging fresh ulit ang aura!”
@pepalerts Bag raid with Maxene Magalona at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
She does have a good point—meditation is normally for achieving a mentally and emotionally stable state.
If haggard ka nga naman, one of the few things you can do is meditate. Who’s to say the same logic on meditation doesn’t apply to makeup?
ALEXA ILACAD
Alexa Ilacad’s bag raid video garnered attention from netizens and fans not just because she was with her partner KD Estrada, but also because of her KIKO Milano lipstick and the friendly way she agreed to the raid—a casual "oh sure!"
Does that make it less of a raid and more of an introduction?
Alexa has always been well-known as a consistent fan of Marian Rivera, and this shows in her choice of makeup!
Marian Rivera recently joined the KIKO Milano family as the first-ever Philippine ambassador for the Italian cosmetic brand.
It was fun to note how when she mentioned the brand, laughter could be heard from behind the camera, and Alexa’s wide-eyed “why are you laughing?” amused netizens. Allegedly, according to the comment section, it was Darren Espanto.
While KD was with her in the video, he, unfortunately, did not have a bag to be raided. Aside from her KIKO Milano lippie, she also has breath spray, a Dior lipstick, and eye drops in her tiny green studded bag.
@pepalerts Bag raid with Alexa Ilacad at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Alexa and KD are starring in ABS-CBN Entertainment and TV5's co-production series, Pira-Pirasong Paraiso.
KALADKAREN
KaladKaren proves that she is truly a vibe from how real she is in her bag raid video.
While her bag is super cute—a bedazzled popcorn box shaped sling bag—she good-naturedly complains about how heavy it is, despite carrying only two items: a powder compact and a lipstick!
She continues, drawing out a large bout of laughter, "Gusto ko nga sana magdala ng chocolates. Nagugutom na ako!
"Ang dami pa namin pagdadaanang interview, pag-rampa… Jusko, ang nasa isip ko ngayon spaghetti, manok…"
She hams it up by extra dramatically pretending to faint, before letting out a good-natured “charot!”
@pepalerts Bag raid with @KaladKaren at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
But let’s be real: Who doesn’t want to go straight to the buffet table when at any event?
MARIS RACAL
One should never underestimate what exactly a clutch can hold.
Maris Racal managed to fit breath spray, a powder compact, a spoolie brush, and a film camera into her flat clutch.
But it’s safe to note that she was unable to immediately return it inside the clutch, and had to ask her partner, Rico Blanco, to hold it while she introduced her most important item, the spoolie.
For the bangs, of course!
@pepalerts Bag raid with @mariesteller at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Maris Racal recently trended once again on social media after posting an Instagram video of herself crying after accidentally giving herself micro bangs.
MELA CANTIVEROS
Right off the bat, upon being approached for a bag raid, Melai Cantiveros jokes while holding her very studded bag that compliments her black dress, "This is not my bag, nanakaw ko lang ‘to."
She reveals the simple contents of her bag—lipstick, perfume, charger, and candy—in her signature witty way that makes everyone laugh, including the PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) team behind the camera.
Holding the perfume, she jokes that the celebrities usually beso in greeting, and yet, no one has beso-ed with her so far, at the time the video was taken.
Then for the candy, she says, "Alam mo na, sa sobrang diet, baka nangamoy na!"
@pepalerts Bag raid with Melai Cantiveros at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Melai Cantiveros revealed last July that she was working on an international filming project in South Korea. Details regarding said project have yet to be announced.
FRANCINE DIAZ
The contents of Francine Diaz’s bag were nothing out of the ordinary, with her lip balm, compact mirror, and lip tint—until she pulled out a wad of tissue, just a wad of it, outside of the packet.
She was with her loveteam partner Seth Fedelin when PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) approached her for the bag raid.
He was coolly standing beside her the whole time until she pulled out the tissue wad and said, "Para sa kanya ko, yung alaga ko po", when he smiled in acknowledgment and put his hand over his heart, showing off their chemistry.
@pepalerts Bag raid with @Francine Diaz at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
ESNYR RANOLLO
TikTok star and content creator Esnyr Ranollo looked amazing in a black and gold getup with a matching bag at the ABS-CBN Ball.
The one and only thing he took out of his bag is lo and behold, a whole digital cam. He shares, amusing netizens, “Kasi siyempre di ba, minsan na lang tayo dito, maraming artista, Magpa-papicture ako siyempre, as a fan pa rin ako dito.”
Talk about being relatable! Who doesn’t want to get pics with their favorite celebrities?
@pepalerts Bag raid with @Esnyr at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
CASSY LEGASPI
Cassy Legaspi and Darren Espanto drew amusement from netizens through Cassy Legazpi's bag raid at the ABS-CBN Ball 2023.
The contents of Cassy’s bag are nothing out of the ordinary: phone, inhaler, lipstick, mints, eye drops.
What amused netizens and fans, in particular, was Cassy’s detailed commentary and the way Darren was checking out everything she handed to him to hold while she introduced what was in her bag.
When Cassy had Darren hold her lipstick and her inhaler, he chimed in, "Very tita!"
And when she described her Bangkok-bought mints as going “all the way to the lungs!”, Darren could be seen shaking and sniffing the tin beside her.
He even sneakily got a piece.
@pepalerts Bag raid with @CASSY LEGASPI at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Comments under the video could be seen praising Darren for the caring way he treats Cassy.
Through an ABS-CBN interview at the Ball, Cassy and Darren gave an update on their relationship status, with Cassy saying they're "special friends" and Darren saying that Cassy is "very special" and practically irreplaceable in his life.
BARBIE IMPERIAL
Who brings a wad of cash to a black-tie event? Barbie Imperial. And for what, you may ask? Barbie jokes, with a straight face, "Pambayad sa alak. Charot!"
Thinking about it, though, a wad of cash seems like the perfect thing to bring when you have a small bag!
You never know what will happen, but at least you’re prepared for anything. Aside from cash, Barbie also had lipstick, powder, and perfume in her bag.
Netizens were particularly amused by the cash in Barbie’s bag.
@pepalerts Bag raid with Barbie Imperial at #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Some also said that they’re reminded of her recent role, Lizzy in I Love Lizzy in which she stars alongside Carlo Aquino as a Bicol tour guide.
VIVOREE ESCLITO
Singer and actress Vivoree Esclito might have one of the more unconventional, yet still necessary, items in her little black clutch at the ABS-CBN Ball 2023.
Right from the beginning of the bag raid, she was laughing as she pulled out two phones from her surprisingly spacious bag, "Nandito yung phones namin ni Brent."
This is because, they say, Brent Manalo’s OOTD didn’t have any space for him to keep his phone. Nor did he have a bag.
But after showing off the other contents of her bag—the likes of nail glue and small perfumes which are essential for one to freshen up—she suddenly says that she doesn’t want to show what else is inside her bag.
Eventually, she reveals, laughing, “May dala akong floss, e."
@pepalerts Bag raid with @vivoree #PEPatABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBall2023 #ABSCBNBallRedCarpet2023 #PEPNews #NewsPH #EntertainmentNewsPH ? original sound - PEP.ph
Vivoree Esclito and actor Brent Manalo are romantically linked, after a Magandang Buhay appearance in May 2023 where they said they are “getting to know each other”.
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