A montage of TJ Monterde's prank in Abu Dhabi.

What started as a harmless prank ended in cheers, tears and an unforgettable show of gratitude. Filipino music power couple TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan went viral over the weekend after surprising their concert staff in Abu Dhabi with a P100,000 (Dh6,250) cash bonus each, following the grand finale of their year-long Sarili Nating Mundo (SNM) World Tour. The now widely shared video shows the couple gathering their staff for what appeared to be a simple post-concert celebration. Monterde and Tandingan initially announced in Filipino that “no one was going home crying during this trip,” before teasing 18 cash prizes ranging from P5,000 to P20,000, including a grand prize of P100,000 supposedly for just “one lucky winner.” The party took place at The Irish Vickers along Al Raha Boulevard in Abu Dhabi and was attended by Cornerstone Entertainment founder and CEO Erickson Raymundo, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.

A prank that fooled everyone

Setting the stage for the prank, Tandingan instructed each staff member to pick a red envelope containing a scratch card and record their reactions on their phones. “I’m not a gambler but I hope I win that P100,000,” one male staffer joked in Filipino, drawing laughter from the group. When the signal was finally given, everyone scratched their cards at the same time. Within seconds, the room erupted into screams as staff members realised they had all uncovered the same prize—P100,000. As disbelief filled the room, Tandingan asked seriously, “So who got P100,000?” Everyone raised their hand. “All of you?” she asked in Filipino. “Is it wrong?” the staff replied, half-laughing and half-confused. “It’s a prank?” another asked. That was when a smiling Monterde delivered the real announcement: “Guys, happy SNM40!” The room immediately burst into cheers, applause and emotional reactions as the reality sank in—this was no prank after all!

An emotional finale in Abu Dhabi

The surprise came after Monterde wrapped up his 40th and final show of the Sarili Nating Mundo World Tour in Abu Dhabi, marking the end of a journey that spanned an entire year. The concert, titled “Sarili Nating Mundo: The Final Show,” took place on December 2 at 321 Sports Arena, Hudayriyat Island, coinciding with the UAE’s 53rd National Day celebrations. Organisers confirmed the show was sold out. A visibly emotional Monterde addressed the crowd at the start of the show, reflecting on the weight of the moment. “I didn’t realize having a last show is difficult. We’ve been doing this every week for the whole year, and now here we are, back after a one month break. This is our final show and we were so happy when we were told that our last show would be in the United Arab Emirates because we know that the warmth of Filipinos here is just a different level,” he told the audience in Filipino. After Monterde’s final song at around 9:47pm, the night ended with a spectacular fireworks display, bringing both the concert and the world tour to a dramatic close. Joining Monterde on stage throughout the tour was his wife, award-winning artist KZ, with actor-director John Prats serving as creative director. The Sarili Nating Mundo World Tour made waves across major cities including Manila, Singapore and Dubai, with multiple sold-out shows along the way. Monterde, who has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, described the Abu Dhabi performance as the most emotional stop of his career. The surprise bonus was widely praised online as a rare example of artists publicly recognising the hard work of their behind-the-scenes team. PIA/Expat Media
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