After celebrating her 23rd birthday last April 19, Kim Chiu decided to throw another birthday party-slash-fans day for her loyal fan groups, with some of them even coming from abroad. As early as 4 pm, guests started to arrive at the Area 05 bar in Quezon City to prepare for the Showtime-inspired dance numbers which was the theme of the party for the night. Kim gave away numerous raffle prizes as well as personally shelling out for the cash prizes for the top three performing groups with the grand prize winner taking home P50,000.
“Oo sa akin galing yung prizes kaysa bumili ako ng para sa akin eh this time sa kanila naman. Cash prize kasi ito eh para sa kanila, sa effort nila, ganyan. It’s time for me to give back naman. Parang masaya naman na nakikita nila yung ibang grupo. Yung kasiyahan lang, yung sila naman yung bida ngayon hindi lang laging ako. Nandiyan talaga sila lagi, masaya man ang nangyari sa buhay ko o malungkot man, nandiyan sila palagi. So ito na yun, iti-treat ko sila,” she said.
By 7 pm the venue was packed with over 400 guests, including Kim's siblings, her Star Magic family, sponsors, and her friends from the media. Kim opened the program in a gorgeous Pepsi Herrera cocktail dress and sang “Firework” by Katy Perry. The talented actress said she was already very excited to watch the performances which ranged from drama, interpretative dance, song medleys, and even a mime group. “Binigyan namin sila ng three weeks to one month to prepare. Ako rin namili ng judges, yung mga stylists ko sa damit, andiyan din si Doc Sheila at Doc Jay (Recasata) from Faces and Curves at si Jayson Gainza na katrabaho ko sa Ina, Kapatid, Anak and si Kuya Dennis (Shagon) na choreographer. Happy ako ngayon kasi sa buong seven years ko sa showbiz hindi pa ako nakakapagpasalamat sa kanila eh, parang lagi na lang sila yung nagpapa-party para sa akin so ngayon para maiba naman ako magpapa-party para sa kanila tapos sila pa yung bida sa party na ito. Yung iba, kasi hanggang 30 per group lang kasi inimbita so yung iba hindi nakasama,” she explained.
Kim said she has always been appreciative of how loyal her fans have been to her ever since she joined showbiz in 2006. “Lahat sila from PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) days ko. Ayan dumami na sila ng dumami so natutuwa ako. Ang dami nila, minsan yung iba pumupunta na lang sa bahay magugulat ka na lang, mula matanda, mommies, mga ganun so nakakatuwa. Kaya nakaka-happy ng pakiramdam,” she admitted. The pretty chinita said a lot has changed since she joined the first season of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition. “Malaking nagbago siguro yung confidence ko and yung tiwala ko sa sarili ko yun talaga,” she said.
The Ina, Kapatid, Anak star said she considers her fans’ presence as her biggest birthday gift this year. “For today yung pagpayag nila, nung tinanong ko sila kung okay lang sa kanila na mag-perform sa harapan ng mga co-fan groups nila umoo kaagad sila, walang silang pagdadalawang-isip, sabi nila, 'Sige na nga, gagawin namin ito, kung hindi mo lang birthday eh,' parang ganun. So masaya, excited na ako na makita,” she said before the program started.
Melissa Ricks and boyfriend Paul Jake Castillo (who is also a good family friend of the Kim's family in Cebu) also arrived at the party to celebrate with Kim. The fans also went wild when Kim's love team partner and co-star Xian Lim arrived a little before ten o'clock. The Ina, Kapatid, Anak actor went straight to the party after doing a show in Legazpi city earlier that day. Kim admitted she was waiting for the Kapamilya hunk. “Sinabi naman niya sa akin na hahabol siya dito,” she said.
The 23-year-old actress said she could not ask for any material gifts this year because she already feels so blessed. “Hindi ko na alam eh, siguro yung sana tuloy tuloy lang yung success and tuloy tuloy lang yung happiness na nangyayari sa akin. Yun lang,” she said.
