Flonique Guimary

Alexa Ilacad on friendship with Darren Espanto

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Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Kapamilya star Alexa Ilacad took to social media to express her appreciation for her best friend, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/itsshowtime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>It’s Showtime</em></a> host and singer Darren Espanto.</p><div> </div><p>On her official X account, Alexa reposted a fan video showing the two sharing a hug behind the scenes after Alexa’s performance at the finale of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/your-face-sounds-familiar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Your Face Sounds Familiar Season 4</em></a>.</p><div> </div><p>“get you a friend like @Espanto2001 🥹 I love their friendship so much huhu 🥹🫶🏻,: a fan said in the caption.</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2043292544658981131&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-04-13T19%3A41%3A51.999983%3Af31a80ec-76a5-4e6f-8a80-c4eba9c528fb%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=c6a2859683f2b0876012a6b84a8fbe0fdeab8c07&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:1011px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2043292544658981131"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Alexa then revealed how Darren stayed by her side throughout the taping of the final episode, where she impersonated the Queen of Latin Pop Shakira.</p><div> </div><p>“Mula umaga palang hanggang sa matapos yung buong show, Darren stayed to show his full support and to cheer me on. Papasok nalang ako ng iconator, nandun pa rin siya sa tabi ko, distracting me from my anxiety attack,” Alexa wrote.</p><div> </div><p>Having a friend who has stayed by her side, Alexa added, “He’s a gem &amp; I’m so lucky to have a best friend like him. 🥺.”</p><div> </div><p>Darren later reposted Alexa’s message, writing, “ALWAYS ROOTING FOR YOU!!!  @alexailacad”</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2043365494699503695&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-04-13T19%3A41%3A51.999983%3Af31a80ec-76a5-4e6f-8a80-c4eba9c528fb%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=c6a2859683f2b0876012a6b84a8fbe0fdeab8c07&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:369px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2043365494699503695"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Fans and netizens also expressed admiration for the duo’s friendship, with many praising Darren for being a steady source of support in Alexa’s life.</p><div> </div><p>“Thank you @Espanto2001 for being such a consistent presence in Alexa’s life,” a fan said.</p><div> </div><p>Another one expressed, “The true friend is the person that can see the truth and pain in you,sana all may ganyang kaibigan.”</p><div> </div><p>“Aww..yes,a best friend like Darren is a indeed a gem!! Super genuine and supportive!! So proud of youu Darren!!🙌❤ Stay best of friends Darren and Alexa!! 💚.”</p><div> </div><p>Darren and Alexa have long been known for their close bond, often sharing lighthearted moments, behind-the-scenes banter, and travel adventures together. They are also frequently seen spending time with fellow artists AC Bonifacio, Ken San Jose, Angela Ken, and Hadiyah Santos, among others.</p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776134678309608152079_18553626193031220_1013226728120938323_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">alexailacad IG</span></span></span></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>On their respective birthdays, the two wrote heartfelt messages expressing how they have been a big part of each other’s lives.</p><div> </div><p>“Ending the night celebrating this girl right here! Proud of you always, @alexailacad! Continue to shine, figuratively and LITERALLY. Kasi lagi kang may glitters,” Darren told Alexa.</p><div> </div><p>Alexa, on the other hand, wrote on Darren&#x27;s 24th birthday: “Happy birthday, @darrenespanto You&#x27;re one of the most important people in my life &amp; I&#x27;m so thankful that even though our friendship is quite lowkey, it still gets stronger as time goes by. Magkasama tayo sa lahat ng eras natin and we&#x27;ve always supported one another. Mahal kita- alam mo yan!!”</p>

Alexa Ilacad on friendship with Darren Espanto: 'He’s a gem'

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Alexa Ilacad on friendship with Darren Espanto: 'He’s a gem'

Nikka Sabio,

Push Team

Published April 14, 2026 10:48 AM PHT

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