Somebody's calling. Oh, hello, Banker!
First aired in June 2006, the iconic ABS-CBN game show "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal" is based on the worldwide 'Deal or No Deal' franchise, originally from Dutch format "Miljoenenjacht." A contestant selects one of the briefcases (originally 26, then 24 in Season 4, and 20 from Season 5 onwards), each containing a hidden cash amount, then proceeds to eliminate the rest round by round. As the game unfolds, the tension builds with every reveal, especially when the anonymous Banker begins to call and offer cash deals that tempt the player to walk away before risking it all for what might be inside their chosen case.
For the first three seasons and nearly three years, the thrilling atmosphere in "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal" was set off by the Queen of All Media herself, Kris Aquino. In 2012, the show returned for its fourth season with Luis Manzano stepping in as host, making each episode just as addictive, thanks to his playful, conversational charm, and then continued into the show’s fifth season from 2015 to 2016.
A decade later, "Kapamilya Deal or No Deal" made its comeback last weekend, April 25, with Luis still at the helm, introducing a refreshed lineup of 20 celebrities a.k.a. the Lucky Stars taking on the role of briefcase models (during the earlier seasons, these were filled by different batches of the now-iconic 26K girls).
And we were in for a treat because two very special women in his life—wife Jessy Mendiola and mom Vilma Santos-Recto—played during the opening weekend (which doubled as Luis' birthday special).
IN PHOTOS: Jessy, Vilma join Luis’ birthday bash on “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” pilot episode
If this felt a little too familiar, that’s because it is. We’ve already seen Jessy and Vilma play this game before, just under very different circumstances. Jessy first appeared in 2015 (Season 5), back when she and Luis were still just friends—no romantic angle in their dynamic yet. But looking back, there were subtle moments that almost felt like a premonition, such as when Jessy chose Briefcase 8 because the letters in “I love you” add up to eight.
Though the P1 million prize was knocked out early, Jessy maintained a strong position, keeping P500,000 on the board until the final rounds. With only three suitcases left, Banker offered over P130,000, which she turned down just before the half a million-prize money was revealed. Jessy said no to the final P6,600 bid and walked away with P300.
Also, in 2015 (Season 5), Vilma turned the game into a family affair when she appeared as a contestant, accompanied by Luis' stepbrother Ryan Recto. After the highest-value briefcase was wiped out early, Ate Vi stayed composed and played through the odds, eventually finishing with P76,000 for charity. It might be a modest amount, but it sure went a long way. The Star for all Seasons had also taken part in Luis' birthday episode back in 2012 (Season 4).
Destiny has a way of writing its own plot twists, because who would have thought that Jessy would return ten years later, now being introduced by Luis to the Banker as his wife. And as part of the birthday bash for the Pambansang Host, Jessy surprised him by bringing in Vilma, whom they fondly call 'Momski,' as her teammate.
Now partners in the game, their chemistry as 'mag-biyenan' just worked, with their combined strategies and luck keeping the game in their favor. They agreed to bet on Briefcase 3 based on their birth date—December 3 for Jessy and November 3 for Vilma. Luis' birthday, the 21st, also adds up to three, not to mention, his and Jessy’s unica hija Isabella Rose a.k.a. Peanut, is now three years old.
The lovely guests did not make it easy for the Banker. Tension kicked in fast as the P150,000, P250,000, and P500,000 prizes were knocked out almost back-to-back in the first round, but Jessy and Vilma managed to recover just as quickly when the smaller amounts started coming off the board in the next phase. That much-needed advantage pushed Banker to double his offer from P33,000 to P66,000 by Round 3.
With the P1 million still untouched by Round 4, Banker tried to tempt them with P73,000. The game only got more interesting when the “piso” was revealed from Inah Evans’ briefcase, increasing Banker's next proposal to P99,999.
With four cases left, the pressure intensified as Banker threw in P133,000, which Jessy and Vilma turned down, only for that decision to backfire when they opened the P1 million from Aubrey Miles’ briefcase. After saying goodbye to the P1 million and with only P125,000 now the highest value left on the board, the Banker’s offer dropped to P55,000, which the guest players also declined.
At the final stretch, Jessy and Vilma had to choose between taking Banker's P81,000 final offer or risking it all on Briefcase 3, which held either P5 or P125,000. After weighing their options, Jessy, Vilma, and Luis agreed to raise the P81,000 into a guaranteed P300,000 pot for charities, prompting the ladies to press the red button and go for a deal.
It really came full circle, because where Jessy once played solo, she came back with not just Vilma by her side, but Peanut, too, who joined in on Luis' birthday celebration.
Get ready for bigger thrills and exciting twists on "Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal." Catch it every Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 pm on ABS-CBN sa AllTV2, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z and iWant.