For many Filipinos, Sundays are sacred. It’s that one day of the week dedicated to family bonding, deepening one’s faith, or simply taking a well-deserved break from the hustle of everyday life. But for Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sundays have always meant one thing—"ASAP.”

It’s been 29 years since she joined the musical variety show (which marked its 30th anniversary last February), so calling it a ‘routine’ would be an understatement. It’s more of a way of life she has embraced over the decades.

Zsa Zsa vividly remembers watching “ASAP” when it first aired in 1995, secretly wishing she could be part of it. As a singer, the idea of joining a musical variety show felt like a perfect fit. The opportunity eventually came knocking, thanks to Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, “ASAP”’s pioneer director. Having worked with him on concerts since 1983, Zsa Zsa believes Mr. M played a huge role in opening doors for her in "ASAP." 

She initially joined the program as a pinch-hitter for Puerto Rican beauty queen Dayanara Torres, one of the show’s original four hosts. She would step in whenever Dayanara had to travel. And before she knew it, she became a regular on the show in 1996. 

"Every Sunday, naging parte na 'to ng buhay ko at nakapag-adjust na ang aking pamilya," she laughed, reminiscing. "Right after 'ASAP' 'pag nagla-live kami noon, 'yung pamilya ko with Dolphy and my two kids noon, magsisimba kami right after 'ASAP.' Tapos after mass, late lunch na 'yun na parang dinner na. Nakasanayan na namin na gano'n ang aming routine." 

Since Sundays are all about family for most Filipinos, it’s no surprise that “ASAP” has become exactly that for Zsa Zsa—a second home. For her, that's the best part of being in “ASAP”—the sense of family that has only grown stronger with time. 

And if “ASAP” is a home, then Zsa Zsa is definitely one of its pillars. Like any proud parent watching their children thrive, she takes great pride in seeing "ASAP" become instrumental in taking Filipino artists to greater heights. She calls them “mga laking-ASAP,” performers who have honed their skills right on the “ASAP” stage and went on to become some of the industry’s brightest stars.

"Imagine witnessing that growth. Isa 'yun sa mga naaalala ko talaga. Parang, nando'n ka, nawi-witness mo 'yun, that's a privilege for me na makita mo silang maging successful na gano'n, kaya lahat kami natutuwa para sa isa't isa," shared the Divine Diva. 

One of the artists closest to her heart is Sarah Geronimo. She recalls how Sarah joined “ASAP” as a teenage belter fresh from a singing competition. “ASAP” became the training ground where her versatility flourished as a full-fledged performer. From a shy, soft-spoken teen, she transformed into the fierce Popstar Royalty we know today, slaying both vocally and on the dance floor.

Zsa Zsa also has a soft spot for Maymay Entrata, whom the “ASAP” family witnessed blossom from a small-town girl into the 'kabogera' she is now. 

They’ve been part of each other’s journeys, and, of course, shared a lot of fun times along the way. Zsa Zsa used to be 'one of the boys' when she was new to the show. She shared a dressing room with Ariel Rivera, Richard Gomez, and the gang. The guys would come up with harmless pranks backstage, like when someone's shoe would suddenly go missing, only for them to discover Ariel had hidden it. But beyond the jokes, everyone was tight-knit because they knew that a strong bond backstage would make for smoother performances onstage.

Because they've become a solid team, they’ve mastered how to cover for each other when things go wrong, especially back in the day when live productions weren’t as high-tech. Sometimes power interruptions would happen at Delta Theater, where “ASAP” was originally broadcast before moving to one of the studios at ABS-CBN. Sometimes the wrong song arrangement would play, which was extra challenging since they always performed with a live band back then.

Performing isn’t an exact science; technical glitches are part of the job. As Zsa Zsa puts it, “Magkaka-error. Hindi mo naman 'yan hundred percent mape-perfect, but you strive for excellence, you still strive for perfection.”

In the pre-digital era, things were tougher, but in some ways, they were also easier. Less high-tech, but at least there was more room for mistakes. Then social media happened, and suddenly, every little slip-up became fair game for bashing, as if messing up in a live production was no longer an option.

Of course, as the years went by, productions leveled up. For instance, they ditched the paper idiot boards for teleprompters. But teleprompters can mess up too. And when they do, performers are left figuring things out on the spot. It would be easier to recover when they're a group onstage, since "ASAP" performers are all team players and they know how to ‘save’ each other. But if you were alone, then you must learn to think on your feet. Either way, no matter what, you can always count on your "ASAP" family to have your back.

The good thing about the digital era, Zsa Zsa believes, is that Filipino artists now have a wider reach. But at the same time, this also means that industry icons like her need to step up their game and keep up with the trends. She points to Gary Valenciano as the perfect example. Mr. Pure Energy stays relevant because he always finds ways to reinvent himself and his music. Just look at how many versions of Gary’s classic hit “Sana Maulit Muli” exist to cater to different generations.

"Kailangan alam mo pa rin kung ano 'yung uso, not necessarily gagawin mo siya. Pwede i-rearrange mo 'yung kanta mo to a more modern one," she explained. "Kailangan talaga napupulsuhan mo kung ano 'yung gusto ng tao."

That’s why Zsa Zsa stays updated on the fresh wave of OPM, especially on Spotify. She makes sure to familiarize herself with the latest sounds, and she’s genuinely impressed by today’s artists. One that stands out to her is Maki, the voice behind “Dilaw,” whose musicality amazed her when she watched him perform on “ASAP.” With talents like him, she’s confident that the future of OPM—and the ASAP stage—is in good hands.