In July 2024, ABS-CBN Studios launched the “most colorful trivia game show” on Philippine television—“Rainbow Rumble”—hosted by none other than “Pambansang Host” Luis Manzano alongside stand-up comedian Negi.
Throughout its prolific run in the past months, we’d already witnessed various sets of players, or "Rumblers,” display their wit, knowledge, alertness, and agility as they responded to different trivia questions that ranged from easy to difficult ones. And among our favorite episodes would probably be the ones where the cast members of Kapamilya teleseryes played to prove that they do not only have acting chops but also the brains, humor, and playfulness that we, perhaps, don’t usually see.
Let’s look back on the remarkable and oh-so-fun guestings on the show of some Kapamilya teleserye ensembles in this special feature.
FPJ’s Batang Quiapo
Taking a break from the intense action in the top-rating primetime series, five members of the so-called Tondo Gang, namely Pistolero, Flict-G, MastaFeat, Crazy Mix, and Bassilyo, played for the July 21 pilot week episode of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.” Since they’re good at instantly coming up with words and lines that rhyme, Luis didn’t miss the opportunity to ask the guests for a sample freestyle rap battle before the game started and went to challenge Negi to do the same.
Pistolero was the first one to move forward and even landed on the “lucky tile,” which didn’t only earn him P2,000 but also the advantage to advance to a tile of their choice in the next tier. He, Flict-G, and Bassilyo were the stiffest rivals on the “Rally to the Top” round as they fought multiple times for the top tile, which was finally taken by Bassilyo. In the end, he earned a total of P87,000 after only getting four unique colors in the jackpot round.
Can’t Buy Me Love
Almost three months after “Can’t Buy Me Love” ended in May 2024 , its five cast members—Joao Constancia, Karina Bautista, Gello Marquez, Alora Sasam, and Vivoree—had a mini reunion in “Rainbow Rumble” as they appeared in the August 11 episode. Prior to starting the game, Luis asked them how it felt to be part of the show and their favorite moments while doing it.
It might be Gello who was the first one to officially step on the pyramid-shaped stage, yet it was Vivoree and Karina who took on the lead and even went head-to-head in one round of “Tile Breaker”. In the end, it was Karina who reigned and had the chance to play in the jackpot round, wherein she amused us with some of her responses to the “Rapid Rumble” questions. She got four unique colors in the “Rainbow Reveal” round that contributed to her P82,000 winnings.
Pamilya Sagrado
Far from the usual serious and dramatic vibes in “Pamilya Sagrado,” we got to see the lighthearted facets of five of its Gen Z cast members, Emilio Daez, Kyle Echarri, Daniela Stranner, Grae Fernandez, and Jeremiah Lisbo, when they appeared in the August 24 episode of the trivia gameshow. Luis commenced the “Rally to the Top” segment by letting Daniela share her funny pick-up line for Negi and asking each one of the young stars about their fondest experiences while working on the series.
Obviously, it was Emilio who was the luckiest of them all because, despite not being the first one to take on his turn on “Rally to the Top” and saying the wrong answers to a number of questions, it was still him who dominated the game. He was also able to get all six unique colors in the Die Rolling Machine (DRM) in the “Rainbow Reveal” round, making him the second “Rumble Master” to take home the whopping P1 million jackpot prize.
It was not only the young stars of “Pamilya Sagrado” who showed their playful and clever sides on Rainbow Rumble, but also their older castmates—Rosanna Roces, Nikki Valdez, Joko Diaz, John Joven Uy, and Apey Obera—who played in the September 22 episode. But before beginning the game, Luis asked them the important question of who between him and Piolo Pascual is more handsome?
Nikki astounded us with her come from behind win as she was able to defeat her castmates, who were already ahead of the race in the first several minutes of the game. Just when everyone assumed that she’s going to be the third millionaire of the gameshow, but the blue color failed her, so she only got P87,000.
Lavender Fields
Kilig was indeed in the air in the October 26 episode of “Rainbow Rumble” as Jericho Rosales and Janine Gutierrez shared several sweet moments and lovely glances while playing with their “Lavender Fields” castmates Bernard Palanca, Cheena Crab, and Eric Nicolas. Aside from quizzing each one of them with whom they would want to exact revenge, Luis also asked Jericho the controversial question, “Gaano mo kamahal si Janine?” in the beginning of the game—much to everyone's delight.
Janine didn’t just mesmerize us with her doll-like beauty but also impressed us with her geeky and brainy facet every time she had the chance to answer. She and Echo might have to go head-to-head in one round of “Tile Breaker”, but not even love was able to stop her from leading the “Rally to the Top”. Although she got an additional six seconds after being able to answer three questions correctly, it was apparently still not enough for her to complete all six unique colors in the “Rainbow Reveal” round.
Saving Grace
In view of “Saving Grace”’s highly anticipated premiere on an online streaming platform last November 28, five of its cast members—Janice de Belen, Elisse Joson, Eric Fructuso, Adrian Lindayag, and Julia Montes—graced the November 30 episode of “Rainbow Rumble.” But before beginning the game, Luis asked each one of them to give viewers hints about the characters they would play in the series.
Janice might be the top pick of her co-stars when asked by the host who they thought would be the one to make it to the top of the pyramid, but it was Eric—Janice’s choice, by the way—who eventually dominated the “Rally to the Top”. Even though he failed to get all six unique colors in the “Rainbow Reveal,” he still went home with P87,000.
High Street
A couple of days after the finale of "High Street," five of its cast members — Gela Atayde, Harvey Bautista, Ralph de Leon, Tommy Alejandrino, and AC Bonifacio—got their knowledge and friendship tested in the first episode of Rainbow Rumble for the month of September. Since they’d worked together for months, Luis gauged their closeness by having a little bukingan before the game, wherein they were asked to reveal one thing that people didn't know about their co-star.
It was arguably one of the most notable episodes we’d ever seen because of how the young stars amused us with their answers to some of the questions. But in the end, Ralph made an impressive come-from-behind win, as it was he who emerged as the winner. He might have failed to get the whopping P1 million pot money, yet he still took home a total of P82,000 cash prize.