Arzen Rose Dulzura

‘It’s ya boi, Maui Wowiespanto!’ Darren Espanto reacts to viral ‘ASAP’ performance as celebrities and netizens join the trend

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Darren Espanto has unexpectedly become the center of an online frenzy after his performance of Kid Cudi’s 2008 hit “Maui Wowie” on <a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><em><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></em></a><em><strong><u></u></strong> </em>last November 30 turned into a viral sensation.  </p><p>Known for his powerful ballads and clean vocals, the Asia’s Pop Heartthrob surprised everyone when he hit the <a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a> stage in a simple black shirt and pants, and delivered a playful, nasal-toned take on the song that immediately caught the attention of the internet. </p><p>The performance quickly took on a life of its own. Netizens began mimicking his expressions, his tone, and even his swag, launching a hilarious trend that spread across platforms. And instead of shying away from it, Darren leaned into the fun and joined the joke himself. </p><p>On December 5, the singer posted a compilation of impersonations on Instagram, laughing along with everyone who joined in.  </p><p>“It’s ya boi, Maui Wowiespanto!” Darren playfully wrote. </p><p>“Salamat sa pag tangkilik sa version ko, guys. It means a lot. WOW HAHAHA,” he added, even tagging the original artist with a playful request. </p><p>“Hi, @kidcudi! Collab soon? 😂 #MauiWowie.” </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DR3_f_8CcVK/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A482410.7000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="864" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Apart from netizens, his friends in the industry also could not resist putting their reactions front and center. Alexa Ilacad proudly commented, “i’m so proud to be your friend.” </p><p>“👏😂😂 Teka hahabol ako,” said the nation’s mowm and fellow <a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><em><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></em></a> mainstay Klarisse de Guzman.  </p><p>Darren himself joined the impersonation madness by recreating the performance on TikTok, this time hanging from a door fixture that broke halfway through.  </p><p>“Ah gusto niyo ah HAHAHA Sasali na ako sa ginawa niyong trend!” </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@darrenespanto/video/7580275429936762120" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7580275429936762120" id="v97373103387301340" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v97373103387301340" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7580275429936762120?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-05T11%3A34%3A37.974188%3A86d1c2c2-4b40-4d5d-bfe1-2ad0058c2541%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:758px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>From online users, the trend quickly snowballed into a full-blown celebrity movement. Pambansang Dyosa, Anne Curtis, posted her own version while Darren stood right beside her, giving fans a double dose of the Maui Wowie moment.  </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@annecurtissmith/video/7580251508680215829" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7580251508680215829" id="v92214183634867970" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v92214183634867970" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7580251508680215829?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-05T11%3A34%3A37.974188%3A86d1c2c2-4b40-4d5d-bfe1-2ad0058c2541%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:740px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>BGYO’s JL Toreliza followed with his own take, even jokingly asking Darren to rate his effort, captioning his post with, “pasado va idol?” while flashing a “98.99% accuracy” score in the clip. </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@bgyo_jl/video/7580290054732500231" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7580290054732500231" id="v54365957569557010" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v54365957569557010" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7580290054732500231?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-05T11%3A34%3A37.974188%3A86d1c2c2-4b40-4d5d-bfe1-2ad0058c2541%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:722px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>The fun did not stop there. Fellow ASAP mainstay Jason Dy went all out: outfit, attitude, and performance on point, as he declared, “I have been changed for maui wowie.”  </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@jasondyofficial/video/7580175781574216978" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7580175781574216978" id="v70396399690464870" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v70396399690464870" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7580175781574216978?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-05T11%3A34%3A37.974188%3A86d1c2c2-4b40-4d5d-bfe1-2ad0058c2541%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:740px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>Close friend and <a href="http://roja.abs-cbn.com"><em><strong><u>ROJA</u></strong></em></a> lead actor Kyle Echarri also joined the chaos, joking that he secured Darren’s permission before participating: “I asked @Darren Espanto for permission to take part in this amazing trend.” </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@echarripapi/video/7580195854552730888" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7580195854552730888" id="v500905831577547" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v500905831577547" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7580195854552730888?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-05T11%3A34%3A37.974188%3A86d1c2c2-4b40-4d5d-bfe1-2ad0058c2541%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:758px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>Even Niana Guerrero made sure she didn’t skip the phenomenon, performing alongside her friends to honor Darren’s now-iconic rendition, saying, “u have created impact with this performance my friend @Darren Espanto.” </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@itsnotnianaaaaa/video/7580226260660456724" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7580226260660456724" id="v42196121757364730" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v42196121757364730" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7580226260660456724?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-05T11%3A34%3A37.974188%3A86d1c2c2-4b40-4d5d-bfe1-2ad0058c2541%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:758px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>From a spontaneous <a href="http://asap.abs-cbn.com"><strong><u>ASAP</u></strong></a> number to becoming everyone’s latest TikTok obsession, Darren’s Maui Wowie moment has taken over social media with a mix of humor, creativity, and camaraderie, proving that sometimes, the most unforgettable performances are the ones you least expect.</p>

<p>Darren Espanto hilariously embraces going viral as celebrities and netizens recreate his Maui Wowie rendition.</p>

Darren Espanto hilariously embraces going viral as celebrities and netizens recreate his Maui Wowie rendition.