Tonight will even be more exciting because there will be two special events to be covered by television: The Star Awards for Movies on Channel 9 and the Search For a Star grand finals on GMA 7. Both shows are airing at 9 p.m.
The Star Awards for Movies will be hosted by Aga Muhlach, Dawn Zulueta, Dina Bonnevie and Kristine Hermosa – with Dingdong Dantes as anchorperson.
Providing the opening number is Ai-Ai de las Alas who will be singing Narito Ako. Another production number is the musical comedy to be rendered by Vhong Navarro, Bayani, Agbayani, Ruffa Mae Quinto and Patricia Javier. Interpreting the nominated theme songs are Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs and Zsa Zsa Padilla.
Since this is the PMPC’s 20th year, the organization will hold a special Dekada tribute to honor some of the industry’s top achievers. To be named Actresses of the Decade are Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos and Sharon Cuneta. Actors of the Decade are Ricky Davao, Christopher de Leon and Phillip Salvador, while Directors of the Decade are Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Butch Perez and Joel Lamangan.
Hosting the entire Dekada segment are Jolina Magdangal and Jericho Rosales – with Maricel Soriano as trivia host. (She will be talking about the 20 years of the Philippine Movie Press Club.)
The Star Awards for Movies is directed by Lino Cayetano and produced by Tessie Celestino Howard’s Airtime Marketing Inc. Major sponsors are New Rejoice Reviving with Ginseng, Maxi-Peel, Kleene Cotton and Instant Bear Brand with Zinc.
This movie affair that promises glitter and glamour will be held at the AFP Theater. (The breakaway group, ENPRESS, which will call its award Golden Screen, will also be produced by Airtime Marketing, but will be staged in late May after the elections.)
Over at the ULTRA, Viva Television will feature the 10 finalists in the Search For a Star contest.
Here’s a brief profile of each of the contestants:
Tina Braganza – Now 15 years old, she actually started singing before big crowds when she was only 7. All the members of her family are behind her in this dream and they hope that through Search For a Star, she becomes a big singing sensation in the future.
Jerrianne Mae Templo – A first year high school student at the North Fairview High School, she is only 13, but already a veteran of amateur singing contests like Batang Kampeon, Birit Bulilit and Star Quest.
Iris Malazarte – From Angeles City, she wants to win this contest for two reasons: To be able to help her ailing sibling and to be able to find her mother whom she has not seen for years now.
Sarah Jean Badana – A student at the Pardo National High School, she is only 15 and a Cebuana. For the first time in her life, she is alone and all by herself and competing in a contest as big as Search For a Star.
Romelo Valena – He wanted to join national singing contests even as a youngster, but his parents put their foot down. They wanted him to finish his school first – which he did (magna cum laude at that in FEU). Melo is now 23.
Cheryl Ubasa – From Binangonan, Rizal, even her fellow contestants believe that she is the one person most likely to succeed in the music industry because of the kind of determination she puts into her singing.
Ma. Camille Relevo – The second most serious in the group, she is only 17 years old and from Las Piñas. This is not her first try at Search for a Star.
Raymond Manalo – Also from Angeles City, he is 20 years old and began joining amateur singing contests as early as 6. He was also a member of the school choir.
Genevieve Villabroza – This 13-year old hails from Lucena, Quezon. She had always nurtured this dream of becoming a singer but was never allowed to join singing contests by her mother. The wait was worth it. She is now part of the biggest singing contest in the country today.
Rachel Ann Go – A student at San Beda College, she is 17 and has spent many years studying voice and joining various singing contests.