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Likas na talented ang Pilipino, at hindi na kailangan maghagilap pa ng proof nito. Kaya ang GMA, realizing this, came up with another all-original talent show.
Likas na magagaling at talented ang Pilipino, at hindi na kailangan maghagilap pa ng proof nito. At ang Kapuso Network, realizing the vast talent available that has yet to be discovered, came up with an all-original reality talent search, ang "Are You the Next Big Star?" Text by Erick Mataverde with excerpts from the official press release. Photos courtesy of GMA Network. To be hosted by no less than Asia's Songbird, Ms. Regine Velasquez, with the versatile actor/host/singer Keempee de Leon, Are You the Next Big Star will bring together both amateur and professional singers throughout the Philippines to showcase their natural talent and prove that they are the next big thing in the industry. Sa mahigit na 10,000 aspirants, may 151 na pinalad na makuha sa audition phase. And from these contestants, a rigid screening process will ensue where the top 40, and then, the top 16 will be chosen. At, siyempre, from these top contenders, viewers will have the opportunity to pick their favorite through text voting. Once the top 40 is chosen, there will be a daily update of the screening process via SiS. Pero, given the magnitude of this competition, GMA made it a point na piliin ang pinaka-mapanuri at magagaling na judges who would be able to discern real talent from each of the contestants, making them worthy of being catapulted to stardom. Ang impressive roster ng judges na ito includes the respected record producer/composer and songwriter Mr. Danny Tan; musical director and arranger Mr. Mon Faustino; vocal coach and "The Company” founding member Aimee Quintos; pop icon Randy Santiago; and concert queen Pops Fernandez. Regine herself, during the reality show's press conference last May 9, 2009, was all praises sa judges: "Each of them has their own [forte], kaya po sila kinuha dahil sa kanilang specialty kumbaga. Mon is a [musical] arranger, Amie is a voice coach, and of course we all know Mr. Randy Santiago is a pop icon, and Pops Fernandez is also another pop icon, and Danny Tan is a songwriter, arranger, composer, lahat. So 'yun po talaga ang mapanuring judges namin!" Ang isa pang unique sa talent search na ito ay mga professional at experienced singers na walang existing recording contracts at mainstream appearances bilang singer ay maaring sumali. At dalawang contestant ang mapipili as grand winners, isang lalaki at isang babae, kung saan sila magwawagi ng GMA exclusive management contract, GMA Records recording contract, P1 million cash from SM Supermalls, at marami pang ibang prizes. "We are very excited to introduce you to GMA's newest talent search. We would like to make it one of the biggest talent searches [ever]. It should be the most entertaining talent show in the country," ang sabi ni Ms. Darling De Jesus, AVP for Musical, Variety & Specials, nang i-introduce niya ang Are You The Next Big Star? sa press. Incidentally, si Regine ay magkakaroon ng isang homecoming special, ang Roots to Riches, where her life story would be given an in-depth treatment. This will be shown on May 24, 2009, which makes Are You The Next Big Star? all the more special to her. "'Yun po nakita ko na 150 na nag-audition na pumasa po sa audition phase, all of them or a lot of them have potentials at meron po mga 16 years old, mga bago po talaga, lahat. Hindi pa po natin nakikita 'yung mga bagong mukha so very excited po ako," ang kuwento ng Songbird. "Natutuwa po ako na somehow, ako po ay nagsimula din sa mga contest, somehow parang nakakarelate sila sa akin and I'm happy now, like I said, na napili ako ng GMA na maging part ng star search nila sa ganitong klaseng programa kasi somehow nare-relate po nila 'yung buhay nila sa akin. Kasi somehow nare-relate [din] nila 'yung sarili nila sa akin, natutuwa po ako sa ganun. Hopefully na magiging signature din 'yung story ko sa kanila." Kaya huwag ninyong palagpasin ang nakaka-excite na talent show, Are You The Next Big Star?, every Saturday starting today, May 16, 2009, after Pinoy Records. Alam ninyo kaya what it takes to be the next big star? Pag-usapan sa iGMA Forum! Not yet a member? Register here!