“Ayaw niya gawin ‘yung concert na ito dahil ang sabi niya baka sawa na raw kayo sa kanila.”
This was what actor-director John Prats revealed during the final night of TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan’s In Between concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, sharing that KZ initially had doubts about mounting the show.
During the latter part of the sold-out evening, John opened up about KZ’s hesitation to push through with the concert, saying she was worried that fans might already had enough of seeing them perform following TJ’s successful Sarili Nating Mundo tour.
“Alam niyo ba na wala dapat concert na mangyayari na ganito. Si KZ kasi sobrang worrier,” John shared.
Despite the uncertainty, the show not only pushed through but also expanded into four consecutive sold-out nights due to the demand from their fans. TJ and KZ also earned the recognition as the first Filipino couple to achieve the feat at the Big Dome.
“Totoo yun na sabi ko kay Direk John na ‘Direk baka po wala na manood kasi sinagad natin na 40 shows sa ten months. Sino gumagawa noon?’ pero maraming maraming salamat po kahit di na po namin kayo maintindihan, but I'm very grateful,” KZ said.
The “Scared to Death” singer said the milestone felt surreal as it was a dream she just once held quietly but never fully imagined would come true.
“If you ever ask me na did I ever dream na tutongtong ako sa entablado na ito na kakanta na may manonood sa Araneta Coliseum, I would say yes pero did I ever imagine for my dream to actually come true? Never in a million years. Hindi ko po inakala, tapos sobrang blessed pa po to be able to do it with my person. This could be another person, this could be another artist, but God chose us and we are really just grateful,” KZ expressed.
The concert’s concept, In Between, reflects how two artists with distinct styles and musical worlds found their way to each other, both onstage and in real life. Having been a couple for over a decade, TJ and KZ said their differences are balanced by shared experiences.
“Palagi namin kinukwento ni TJ na [no matter] how different [we are] as people or as artists, we have a lot in common that we [have] learned throughout 10 years na naging magjowa kami and now that we became a married couple. Some of those things are eldest kami pareho, galing kami sa probinsya, lumipad kami ng Manila na wala kaming backup and the only valuable thing for us is ‘yung mga pangarap lang namin. We tried so many times and failed so many times, pero pareho rin kami nanatili at naniwala na God prepared something for us and that He brought us to these 4 nights,” KZ emotionally expressed.
TJ echoed the same sentiment of gratitude and hope: “Sobrang saya ng puso ko. Laging tinatanong, ‘What's your dream?’ and everything led to this. Gusto namin i-share na if this happens to us, it can happen to you too. What's for you will always make its way to you.”
Before closing the concert, the couple exchanged heartfelt messages, crediting each other as a constant source of strength.
To KZ, TJ said: “Hindi rin mabubuo ang lahat ng ito kung hindi din dahil sa’yo. Salamat sa dedication mo sa concert na ito at sa ating dalawa. I always thank you and I thank God na pinahiram ka niya sa akin, and I always pray for our marriage, that He will protect our marriage. Salamat, KZ, dahil sa walong bilyong tao sa mundo, ako ‘yung pinili mo.”
KZ, on the other hand, thanked TJ for letting her experience what he had in the past year and for making sure that she was a part of every step.
“Gusto ko magpasalamat kasi hindi ko in-imagine na mangyayari ito sa akin and ma-e-experience ko ‘yung na-experience mo last year. Grateful ako na kasama mo ako na umikot sa tour pero ipinaglaban mo ako na non-negotiable mo na kasama mo ako. Kung hindi mo ako ipinaglaban, hindi ko ito makikita, hindi ko maeexperience ‘yung ganito,” KZ said.
Beyond the sold-out banners and milestone plaques, KZ said what matters most is how TJ always chooses to be with her.
“Wala man ‘yung ganitong production, sobrang grateful ko na pinili mo rin ako kasi ang dami mo sanang choices. Totoo iyon. And so many women are praying for a husband and a partner that you are to me. So, grateful ako kasi I wasn't the easy choice; I was the hardest choice, but you chose me anyway and you choose me every day,” KZ emotionally said.
She thanked him for loving her fully, even the parts she once struggled to accept: “Kahit ganito ako na sobrang weirdo ako pero you made me love all the parts that I hated about myself. Grateful ako kasi never mo sinabi sa akin na baguhin ko ang sarili ko para sabihin ng mga tao na bagay tayong dalawa. Mahal mo ako for who I am.”
She continued, “Maraming maraming salamat for the experience and this journey that I can't wait to experience more. Pangako ko rin sa iyo na hinding-hindi kita bibitawan, hinding-hindi kita pababayaan.”