Darren Espanto just turned 24 — and he celebrated it in true Gen Z retro flair.
Marking his birthday on May 24, the singer posted on Instagram, “24 on the 24th!” alongside photos from a quirky, nostalgic birthday photoshoot. The setup featured a cluttered, vintage-inspired living room, complementing his youthful yet bold outfit: a yellow crop top, black shorts, long socks, and green sneakers.
Darren’s post quickly garnered attention not just from fans, but also from fellow celebrities. Anne Curtis exclaimed, “WOW NAMAN! MAY GANYAN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BB BOY!” while Kyline Alcantara greeted him with a simple, “Happy birthday, Espanto!” Dancer and performer AC Bonifacio commented, “SAAURRR CUTE!”
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Other stars who extended their birthday wishes included Ogie Alcasid, Iza Calzado, Bianca Gonzalez, Niana Guerrero, and Chie Filomeno.
Adding even more charm to the celebration, Darren was immortalized in a custom Chibi Art Toy by Carlos Miguel, a visual artist. Inspired by Darren’s birthday shoot, the artwork reimagined him in an adorable chibi form—complete with oversized eyes and plush cheeks that fans immediately wanted to “squeeze.”
Carlos wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the art piece reminded him of K-drama aesthetics like Reply 1988 and Twinkling Watermelon, citing the nostalgic vibes of Darren’s shoot.
Grabe ung dami at buhos ng pagbati kay #DARREN kahapon, daming articles from different news organizations, celebrities, ABS-CBN and GMA.
It’s very humbling, but that’s how relevant Darren is. Iba talaga ung relevance ng Asia’s Pop Heartthrob.
Maraming nagmamahal kay @Espanto2001. pic.twitter.com/4DJM1W626U— Carlos Miguel (@CarlosMiguel652) May 25, 2025
Fresh from a successful Paris concert in March alongside Morissette Amon, Darren is now preparing for the U.S. leg of their ‘Showstoppers’ tour, part of The Filipino Channel’s 30th anniversary celebration.
The tour kicks off on June 14 at the Immanuel Center in Stafford, Texas, followed by a performance on June 20 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, and wraps up on June 22 at Graton Resort and Casino in Northern California.
Speaking on ‘It’s Showtime’, where he now serves as a regular host, Darren shared his excitement about reuniting with fans abroad.
“I’m so excited to connect with our kababayans in the U.S. It’s always an honor to bring a piece of home to them through music,” he said.
Darren and Morissette have consistently been praised for their vocal range and electric stage presence.
Morissette, dubbed ‘Asia’s Phoenix,’ also recently made waves as Best Actress at the 2025 Manila International Film Festival for Song of the Fireflies, earning a nomination at the Houston International Film Festival as well.
