Out of 10,000 hopefuls, StarStruck picks top 40 bets

Out of close to ten thousand young dreamers who auditioned nationwide for GMA's StarStruck The Next Level, only more than 100 were asked for a callback. From them, 80 were chosen. Then, last Sunday night, December 10, the 80 hopefuls were cut into half — 20 girls and 20 boys — who are now closer in their quest to become the Top 20 survivors in the fourth season of the original reality-based artista search in the country, StarStruck. The Top 20 girls are Ava Jugueta, 17, from Quezon Province; Amira Bartell, 18, Sorsogon; Rox Beldua, 19, Davao; Renee Lascuña, 17, Davao; Lyka Ayuste, 16, Davao; Hazel Uy, 19, Cebu; Rich Asuncion, 17, Bohol; Stef Prescott, 16, La Union; Ayin Solomon, 20, Nueva Ecija; Lizzy Pecson, 19, Pampanga. Also in the list are Ann Tan, 17, Laguna; Rica Pijuan, 19, Las Piñas; Jewel Mische, 16, Bulacan; Jean de Castro, 17, Mandaluyong; Nica Escandor, 16, Muntinlupa; Chariz Solomon, 17, Pasay; Farina Runkle, 17, Pasay; Jesi Corcuera, 16, Pasay; Kris Bernal, 17, Quezon City; and Jem Estrada, 21, Marikina. The Top 20 boys are Kiko Junio, 16, Pampanga; Aljun Abrenica, 16, Pampanga; Kasper Esguerra, 19, Pampanga; Dex Quindoza, 17, Manila; Dave Valentino, 20, Manila; Jan Manuel, 20, Laguna; Karl Escober, 21, Laguna; Ruji Fortuna, 20, Laguna; Mart Escudero, 16, Cavite; Aldrin Gonzales, 20, Cavite. The others are Tycoon Carreon, 17, Iloilo; Prince Stefan, 17, Iloilo; Chad Burden, 20, Cebu; Amon Alcantara, 17, Cebu; Lui Perez, 21, South Cotabato; Drey Peñol, 17, Bulacan; Rando Stamatelaky, 21, Pampanga; Jake Baste, 19, Marikina; Don Perez, 21, Cagayan de Oro; and Paul Avelino, 18, Baguio. These 40 dreamers will undergo their first artista tests this week and 10 of them will be eliminated next Sunday, December 17. Then, 10 more will be eliminated the following week until only 20 survivors—10 girls and 10 boys—are left. Four equal winners will be named this year—Ultimate Sweetheart, Ultimate Hunk, and Ultimate Loveteam. Past winners of StarStruck include Mark Herras, Jennylyn Mercado, Mike Tan, Ryza Cenon, Jackie Rice, and Marky Cielo. Other successful products are Katrina Halili, Yasmien Kurdi, Rainier Castillo, Nadine Samonte, Iwa Moto, among others. This season's StarStruck Council is composed of actress-TV host Lorna Tolentino, TV and movie director Louie Ignacio, and talent manager Douglas Quijano. Joey de Leon, who seated as part of the council the past seasons, begged off this time. StarStruck The Next Level is hosted by Jolina Magdangal, Dingdong Dantes, and Raymond Gutierrez, and airs on GMA Network .Philippine Entertainment Portal