Allyzza Kay Trinidad

From Kidlots to UD4: John Prats reminisces his meaningful "ASAP" journey

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739641615717John-Prats-reminisces-ASAP-journey-.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>There are shows that John Prats considers home, and one of them is &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em><u><strong>ASAP</strong></u></em></a>,&quot; which has seen him grow not just as a performer but as a person. Those who have been tuning in since &quot;ASAP&quot;&#x27;s launch in 1995 will probably remember that John was already part of the program as a child star. Yes, that was 1995, which means he can proudly call himself one of the show’s OGs.</p><p>Now, as &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em><u>ASAP</u></em></strong></a>&quot; celebrates its 30th anniversary, John is ready for his ultimate homecoming. He looks back at the journey that shaped him onstage as a performer, and now, as a director behind the camera.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGCnXGmp2Zb/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=642&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A330825.6999999881%2C%22ls%22%3A330388.1999999881%2C%22le%22%3A330815.2999999821%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" 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><div><br/></div><p>As John recalls, he and his &quot;Ang TV&quot; (the iconic ABS-CBN kiddie gag show) batchmates became regular &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>ASAP</em></strong></a>&quot; guest performers as soon as the show premiered. The &quot;Ang TV&quot; boys formed the group Kidlots , while the girls were called Kidlettes.“No’ng nagsimula ang &#x27;ASAP,&#x27; nando’n na kami,” he reminisced, adding that he still vividly remembers the show being telecast from the Delta Theater at the time, before it eventually moved to one of ABS-CBN’s studios, with its original hosts Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Ariel Rivera, and Dayanara Torres. </p><p>John described his “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em><u>ASAP</u></em></strong></a>” journey as an extensive one because he never really left for long. He was there for its first two decades, evolving through different eras along with the show. </p><p>After his Kidlots days, &quot;ASAP&quot; paired John with Carlo Aquino and Stefano Mori in JCS, the trio band that made young girls go gaga in the &#x27;90s. A quick search on the internet would reveal just how big JCS was—so much so that they even released their own songs, with John on drums, Carlo on vocals and guitar, and Stefano on bass. But before becoming a full-fledged singing trio, they actually started out in ASAP’s dance segments.</p><p>When JCS disbanded, John still stayed with &quot;ASAP,&quot; this time as a regular alongside his then-love team partner, Heart Evangelista, in the early 2000s.</p><p>He also became part of &quot;ASAP Fanatic,&quot; the show&#x27;s youth-oriented spin-off that served as a platform for ABS-CBN’s rising stars. Some of his batchmates there were Star Circle Quest Season 1 alums like Hero Angeles, Sandara Park, Joross Gamboa, Roxanne Guinoo, and Melissa Ricks. Luis Manzano and Geoff Eigenmann were among the hosts back then.</p><p>John had to temporarily step away from &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u><strong><em>ASAP</em></strong></u></a>&quot; when he joined &quot;Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition&quot; in 2006. But as soon as his PBB stint wrapped up, he made a quick comeback, this time with his new title: Dance Floor Dynamite. Alongside Shaina Magdayao, Rayver Cruz, and Maja Salvador, they formed the electrifying dance group UD4 (Ultimate Dance 4) and became a staple in the Supahdance segment.</p><p>In 2009, John had to bid &quot;ASAP&quot; farewell for good as he moved on to join the second season of &quot;Banana Split&quot; (later &quot;Banana Sundae&quot;). It was truly a remarkable journey—one that saw him grow from a child star into the man he is today. And through it all, he remains grateful for how &quot;ASAP&quot; shaped him, especially in honing his confidence, &quot;Kasi isipin mo, sumasayaw ka every Sunday in front of maraming tao sa live audience. Doon talaga na-build &#x27;yung confidence ko.&quot;</p><p>&quot;ASAP&quot; will always be family to him. He will never forget the memories, from rehearsals to performances, especially the tours both here and abroad.</p><p>Now, from being onstage to calling the shots behind the scenes, John carries everything he learned from &quot;ASAP&quot; into his new role, &quot;Lahat ng experiences, lahat natutunan ko sa &#x27;ASAP,&#x27; baon ko naman ngayon sa pagiging live and concert director ko. Ang dami ko palang natutunan na hindi ko na-realize until nag-direkako.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I will never ever forget &#x27;ASAP.&#x27;&quot;</p>

<p>John Prats looks back on his decades-long journey with "ASAP"—from child performer to Dance Floor Dynamite.</p>

John Prats looks back on his decades-long journey with "ASAP"—from child performer to Dance Floor Dynamite.