Kitchie Nadal, 20 Years Later — The Concert That Changed Everything for Us

by Anjo Pallasigui

Twenty years ago, we took a leap of faith by producing Kitchie Nadal’s first Canadian concert. Looking back now, it feels like the spark that lit everything we do today.

The year was 2005. We were just rookies coming from the local OPM scene, armed with nothing but guts, a love for music, and the fire to bring Filipino artists to a bigger stage. We didn’t have a formal company back then—it was just Minerva Records, co-producing with Radio Insect Records, and a dream to put up our first major concert.

The venue? The Opera House in Toronto.

That show was more than a milestone—it was our baptism by fire. There were ticketing headaches, and marketing challenges we hadn’t even imagined. Social media was barely a thing—Friendster was our only platform! And that’s when I learned one of the most important lessons that still holds true today: selling tickets and marketing an artist is hard, especially in Canada.

But despite the struggles, the concert pushed us into the world of live production—and unknowingly laid the foundation for what would become Filipino TV. What we do now—concerts, television, video, and audio production—can all trace back to that one night in 2005.

Then came 2010.

After touring Europe, Kitchie returned to Toronto—not for a concert, but for a breather. She stayed for at least three months, and during that time, she became more than a guest—she became a part of our community. We had a small music venue back then called M Studio, and Kitchie would drop by regularly, quietly blending into the scene.

One moment I’ll never forget: she joined our Rakaoke nights—live band karaoke. But she wouldn’t sing her own songs. Instead, she’d play the guitar while someone from the audience sang her hit. Imagine that—people singing “Same Ground” while the real Kitchie Nadal strummed beside them. It was magical, generous, and humbling.

Her presence brought life into that space. More people started coming. The energy changed. And for us, it was a quiet but powerful confirmation that we were doing something right. We were building something real.

Now, in 2025, seeing that she’s finally doing her highly anticipated solo concert in the Philippines feels full-circle. https://www.wish1075.com/article/kitchie-nadal-to-hold-debut-solo-concert-this-june

I won’t be flying back to see the show—I’ll be watching from here in Canada—but part of me is deeply proud. Not just of her, but of the journey we all took. From struggling to sell tickets on Friendster to helping create spaces where OPM thrives, Kitchie’s story is tied to ours, and I’m grateful for that.