IN true showbiz fashion, the buzz began days ahead of the GMA Gala 2025.
Online timelines turned into red-carpet prep diaries as young stars shared date proposals and glam team sneak peeks, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect at the year’s biggest entertainment event. From Facebook to TikTok and even X and Instagram, the talk of the town was what everyone would wear and, more importantly, who they’d show up with.
By the time the actual night rolled around, social media was ablaze. And it hasn’t stopped since.
Held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, the annual black-tie affair gathered the biggest names in Philippine showbiz for a night that proved the Kapuso brand is still a powerhouse—this year made more meaningful by the network’s 75th anniversary and Sparkle GMA Artist Center’s 30th.
We caught up with one of the network’s prized stars, Dingdong Dantes, who turned 45 on the night of the gala. Dressed in a deep green coat and black trousers, he shared his wish for the night—not for himself, but for the network.
“More than my birthday, we’re celebrating GMA’s 75th. I hope the network will have more years to come,” he said. “From our values and programs to the camaraderie among talents, solid pa rin.”
And the celebration wasn’t just for show.
A few days before the main event, GMA executives, talents, and partners gathered at Okura Manila for a pre-gala reception, where a donation of P2 million was handed over to the GMA Kapuso Foundation to aid victims of recent typhoons and monsoon floods. The donation was made by GMA Network and Sparkle, turned over by Attorney Annette Gozon-Valdes and Joy Marcelo to GMAKF EVP and COO Rikki Escudero-Catibog. BingoPlus Foundation also pitched in with P500,000.
The gala served as a reminder that beyond the glamour and red-carpet spectacle, it was also a night dedicated to making a difference. While the spotlight shone on designer gowns and star-studded arrivals, the heart of the event lay in its commitment to giving back. It was a celebration with substance, proving that showbiz and social responsibility can go hand in hand.
In his keynote, GMA president Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. looked back on the network’s journey from a small radio station in 1950 to a multimedia leader that has endured and evolved through decades of change.
“We gather to celebrate a legacy built on excellence, integrity, and service,” he said. “For 75 years, GMA has brought truth through journalism, hope through teleseryes, pride through world-class entertainment.”
But beyond the programs and ratings, Duavit emphasized that the real strength of the network lies in its people: “To the men and women of GMA, both in front of and behind the cameras—kayo ang puso ng GMA.”
After 75 years, the GMA Gala showed that being “Kapuso” is a legacy in itself. And if that night was any indication, the next chapter of Philippine television is only beginning, with even bigger things on the horizon.
