GMA 7 launches yet another talent contest

BLIND aspirant Annie Rose

Does the country need another singing contest?

Apparently it does—judging from the huge turnout during the last leg of auditions for the new GMA 7 reality search “Protege,” held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall last weekend.

“So many Filipinos want to become famous,” said talent manager Joji Dingcong, who sits as audition master, along with Janno Gibbs and GMA Artist Center executive Arsi Baltazar.

Compared to previous Kapuso shows like “Pinoy Pop Superstar” and “Pinoy Idol,” what makes “Protege” unique is the presence of mentors, said program manager Ruth Roxanne Mariñas.

The mentors visited nine places all over the archipelago: Rachelle Ann Go in Cebu; Imelda Papin in Camarines Sur; Janno Gibbs in Iloilo; Rey Valera in Pampanga; Jay R in Nueva Ecija; Claire de la Fuente in Batangas; Jaya in Davao; Side A’s Joey Generoso in Pangasinan; Aiza Seguerra in Cagayan de Oro; and Gloc-9 in Metro Manila.

In each stop, the mentor scoured the area for promising talents.

Gloc-9 walked into slum communities in Metro Manila, while Generoso went bar-hopping in Baguio.

Before the final round with the mentors, the contestants performed for the audition masters.

Dingcong recalled that from the “hundreds” that trooped to SM MOA, they were able to narrow down the hopefuls to “200 plus” after almost 12 hours of tryouts.

YOUNG contender Vince Pulido

“We finished at past midnight,” Dingcong recounted. “The final round of auditions, with mentor Gloc-9, lasted from 2 p.m. till 2:30 a.m. the following day.”

The list was trimmed down to three in the Manila leg. Each mentor chose three finalists—bringing the total to 30 aspirants when the show starts airing on September 4.

In a way, the mentors are also competing to ensure that their proteges will land on top. (The mentor will win a “substantial sum,” while the grand champion gets P1 million in cash, said Mariñas.)

There are other differences from previous contests, said Mariñas.

It’s open to solos, duos, trios and groups (up to five members) and “Protege” doesn’t impose an age limit, explained journey host Ogie Alcasid. (Jennylyn Mercado is the daily reality strand host, while Dingdong Dantes is the gala presenter on Sundays.)

Alcasid told the Inquirer that “while the older contestants are more seasoned and professional, the younger ones are more hip and in touch with the latest trends in music.”

The youngest aspirant who made the cut was Peter Macdadi, a 5-year-old boy from Pampanga, while the most senior was Nida de los Santos, a 72-year-old resident of Dagupan.

The judges are Joey de Leon, Bert de Leon and Louie Ocampo.

“The show can become unpredictable,” said Alcasid, “because the judges’ opinions count.”

That was one lesson the network had picked up from its “Pinoy Idol” experience, said Alcasid who was a judge in the world-renowned franchise.

“It shouldn’t just depend on text votes; the judges’ comments should also be given weight,” the host remarked.

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