If the 2024 GMA Gala looked eventful on the livestream, it was even bigger in person.

Spending a Saturday night can mean many things to many people. But for a dazzling array of Kapuso stars and other invited personalities across Pinoy pop culture, their Saturday night was spent in the glitz and glam of the 2024 GMA Gala last July 20. Dozens of celebs and stars walked the red carpet and partied it up at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in GMA’s annual Gala.

All that and more happened as viewers tuned in to the livestream of the red carpet. But that didn’t show everything that transpired on one of the splashiest nights of the year. We were in the room to see it all go down though, and here were the moments and interactions we spotted that you might not have known.

IT’S A TWO FLOOR EVENT

ICYDK, the Marriott Grand Ballroom is a massive building, and nearly every part of it was used by the GMA Gala. The first floor housed the red carpet you saw on the livestream. Once celebs were done getting interviewed and their pictures taken, they then moved to the second floor where the actual Ball was being held. It’s safe to say that GMA got their money’s worth for the venue.

CELEBS WALK IN THREE

Most red carpets have celebrities walk one by one, get their pictures taken, and then walk off. But that wasn’t the case for the 2024 GMA Gala. Instead, celebs had to line up before entering the red carpet and walked in groups of three. Each celeb would then stay in one of three designated marks and stand and pose as the media did their thing. They would remain in place and pivot to the different sections of the media line. This system led to some pretty iconic, and hilarious moments.

There was a floor director by the press area, who lowkey was the MVP of the night, who directed the stars where to go and told them when it was time to leave. Note that the celebs were only allowed to stay on one mark before leaving the carpet, so they, and the photographers, had to adjust accordingly. Of course, there were some stars, like Heart Evangelista and Alden Richards, who had the carpet to themselves.

A LOT MORE AFTER THE CARPET

If you thought that once the stars walked the red carpet they could head straight up to the ballroom, think again. After the GMA Gala Red Carpet, which gave Oscars vibes from certain angles, there was a whole host of interview stations, photo booths, and more mini sets for stars to get their pictures taken. And if that wasn’t enough, even more booths and installations were on the second floor. It was a lot but in the best way possible.

MORE THAN KAPUSO GUESTS

While this was a GMA event, the guest list wasn’t limited to Kapuso stars. Just like last year’s Gala, the 2024 GMA Gala also had Kapamilya representation, such as ABS-CBN executives, most of the It’s Showtime family, and Enchong Dee. K-drama star Kim Ji Soo, who recently made his Pinoy acting debut in Black Rider, made a special appearance, as did Lapillus’ Chanty. We also spotted athletes like Kobe Paras and Kai Sotto, beauty queens like MUPH 2024 titleholder Chelsea Manalo, and even TikTok stars like Perlas, Queen Dura, and Shan Vesagas at the Gala as they walked the carpet. It was a diverse crowd, to say the least.

A COUPLE OF STUNTS ON THE RED CARPET

What’s a high-profile red carpet without a few surprises? In particular, a couple of celebs, notably Sanya Lopez, got the media and netizens talking with their outfit ruveals reveals on the carpet.

THERE WAS AN ACTUAL PROGRAM

The 2024 GMA Gala wasn’t just a party for old friends to reunite and new friends to meet. There was an actual event at the Gala, which included, among other things, performances by Julie Anne San Jose, Miguel Tanfelix, and Rayver Cruz, and special awards given to a handful of celebs. The best part? The event was for the benefit of the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

GIVING HERLENE BUDOL A HELPING HAND

With so many stars in one room, the nerves can get to you. But it warms the heart knowing that your fellow celebs will be there to lend a hand during a potentially embarrassing situation. Such was the case for Herelen Budol, who slipped on the stage during one of the ball’s segments. Luckily, the stars were more than willing to comfort her, help her back up, and cheer for her when she redid her walk. We love to see it.