Hanggang Ngayon: A Love Song That Lives On in Laughter

Have you heard the song “Hanggang Ngayon” being used as background music in many social media platforms today? It amazed me how a song that was first released more than twenty years ago could suddenly become viral again in such a fun and unexpected way.

This song was written by Arnie Mendaros and sung by Kyla in her debut album Way to Your Heart back in 2000. It was her very first big hit, a ballad about love that lasts through time. Kyla was chosen because her smooth R&B voice carried both emotion and technical brilliance. That’s why Hanggang Ngayon became her signature song and helped her earn the title “Philippines’ Queen of R&B.” Over the years, it also became a karaoke favorite, with many people singing it to express deep emotions or simply to enjoy its timeless melody.

Fast forward to today, I saw the song being used in funny transformation videos online. The very first creator I saw was Ron Bulado Jr. on Facebook Reels. His video was really full of fun, he imagined himself as a woman being loved or wanted by his kumpare, and then transformed while the song played. He dressed as a woman in the video, and it made me laugh so much because of how creative and entertaining it was.

Then I discovered Johnmark Gon, who became even more famous for this trend on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. He also uses Hanggang Ngayon while transforming into a woman, imagining himself as the girl his male friend or kumpare desires. He goes all out, wearing wigs, fake boobs, and different outfits. What’s impressive is that he never repeats the same look; every video shows a new style. One of his most viral clips was when his friend said his “type” was a chinita or singkit girl. Johnmark then transformed into a geisha, with Hanggang Ngayon playing in the background. I couldn’t stop laughing at how clever and funny it was.

Both Ron Bulado Jr. and Johnmark Gon are straight men, but they are really funny and creative. They don’t do these videos to make fun of the gay community. They don’t mimic gay people, they mimic women in a playful way. Their goal is simple: to make people happy. And judging by my own reaction, they succeeded, because I laughed so hard watching them.

Because of Ron, Johnmark, and many others, the trend grew fast. Their videos gained millions of views worldwide, and soon many online creators copied the idea, also using Hanggang Ngayon in their transformation skits. Even people who don’t understand Tagalog connected with the emotion of the song because of the way it was used in storytelling.

It makes me wonder how Kyla feels seeing her very first hit song go viral again today. She must be proud that her debut track is still loved, surprised at how it is being used in such creative ways, and grateful that younger generations are discovering her music. It must be a reminder that true songs never fade, they continue to touch people in new forms, even decades later. And honestly, I can imagine Kyla watching these transformation videos and laughing so hard herself while seeing how her song is now part of such funny and joyful content.

From Arnie Mendaros’ pen, to Kyla’s voice, to Ron Bulado Jr.’s fun Facebook Reel, and Johnmark Gon’s viral transformation videos, Hanggang Ngayon shows the journey of a song that has lasted through time. It began as a ballad about enduring love, became a karaoke favorite, and today it has turned into a cultural trend that mixes humor, identity, and imagination. For me, it proves that real music, like real love, stays alive, hanggang ngayon.