Not just a singing contest but also an idol contest

Cebu City – It’s either you have it or you don’t. This seems to be the nursery rhyme which pervaded the four corners of Bigfoot Entertainment’s main studio in Mactan, Cebu when ABC 5’s Philippine Idol (local version of the US’ American Idol and UK’s Pop Idol) staged its last leg of nationwide auditions in search for the first ever Pinoy Idol while the fast-track qualifiers took their chance on stardom. The talent search will premiere on July 30 at 8 p.m.

In the past years, the Idol talent search has discovered recording artists like Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood and reigning Idol Taylor Hicks (whose winning has to be proven yet, if that could convert his soon-to-be-released debut album into a smash hit). Just like any "rags-to-riches" story straight from a children’s book, they have become a Cinderella or a Prince in their own right, plus a recording career worth of a tiara, a scepter and a red-carpet treatment.

The two-day auditions saw 87 participants desperately aiming to get their gold pass. Some came from Mindanao and Manila. Others traveled from Australia and the US. And, a few had their second, third or even fourth try to get the judges’ nod. After the rigid screenings, 51 went home empty-handed and 36, victorious. Many begged and cried for another chance but they ended wanting.

Leading the Cebu audition list were Australian Idol aspirant Stephanie Bainbrigge, Kyla sounding Shielamie Sison and Jolina Magdangal’s cousin and Aiza Marquez’s boyfriend, Gian Carlo Magdangal. They will battle it out against 17 hopefuls from Davao and 116 from Manila/Luzon.

What made the event more colorful, however, was the presence of the local recording industry’s giants, rapper Francis Magalona, Asia’s Queen of Song Pilita Corrales and maestro Ryan "Mr. C " Cayabyab, who served as the judges and will be for the entire run of the show. Francis, Pilita and Mr. C are a far cry from American Idol (AI) triumvirate of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Francis, Pilita and Mr. C, me thinks, have no plans at all to follow in the footsteps – and even the styles of judging – of AI’s trio. Based on how they performed as jurors during the Cebu auditions, the Pinoy judges were polite and stern, when the situation called for it. They tried not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Theirs is something that tells the whole truth and nothing but without character assassination. This is uncommon in the show’s German edition. In whatever or whichever way the three will adjudge the contestants, one thing is for sure: They are desperate to tap the best.

"It’s an easy job," says Francis of his experience as a Philippine Idol judge. "I’m just sitting down and listening to people. The difficult part is turning them down, shattering their dreams and how to put it in a caring way."

But what the public didn’t know is that Francis and the two other judges attended a judging workshop for the show. This is a must before they went on board and decided whether a contestant should be sent home or to Manila for the pre-finals. From there, they picked up judging styles and learned to work with each other.

Part of that was doing foreman. It’s holding one’s judgment and giving the floor to another judge. This is a way to bring in excitement in the show, especially if two judges vote a split: A no and a yes.

Aside from giving impromptu comments and suspending the judgment, the three also learned to pause and have something for the televiewers which is called "good TV." It’s bringing out the quirks of the contestants.

As Mr. C puts it, the auditioneer is the secret. He has his own character. He brings the basic element of the show and sets the pace.

Idol finalists, Francis says, should be reminded that Philippine Idol is not just a singing contest, but also an idol contest. The talent search doesn’t only look for someone who has an exceptional knack for singing, but someone who has a commercial viability – looks and charisma included.

That’s why in the German edition of the Idol search, judges are brutally frank to dismiss contestants by just looking at them, without letting them deliver their piece.

This can’t be done here, says Francis, since Pinoys are soft-spoken, shy and timid. It’s not proper to be rude to them, he adds.

What does he exactly look for the first Pinoy Idol?

"Someone who has the talent and originality or identity," replies Francis. "Even if he has influences, I can still tell that that’s his voice with my eyes closed."

More than these, Francis also counts on the contestant’s X factor which comprises confidence, beauty, sense of humor and charisma. This is as important as talent because the winner will release his album and sell it.

After doing the rounds of auditions from Manila to Davao and Cebu, Francis has this to say: "The standouts are the tall ones. But there are small ones who can really sing. It will be an interesting fight."

As a judge, the Master Rapper adds, what is important is that he made the right decisions at the end of the day. "I will not send someone to be destroyed by the competition and embarrassed on national TV. (Am I afraid to lose some fan because of my rude judgment?) I’m not here to collect fans. I’m here to discern the Philippine Idol. It’s just a job.

"I wish the winner will really stand out," Francis ends. "I feel it will be a woman."