Search on for next singing superstar

MANILA, Philippines -  The X Factor Philippines brings together four of the country’s biggest names in the recording industry across generations — Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Charice and Pilita Corrales — as celebrity judge-mentors who will start touring the country this week and begin the search for the next Pinoy singing superstar.

 “It’s such an honor to be part of the show. I’ve been there. I joined singing contests and I know how they feel. So, as a judge-mentor, I’m just going to be kind but honest to them,” said Charice who is the youngest X Factor judge-mentor in the history of the international franchise.

 Martin also expressed his excitement to work with his fellow judge-mentors.

 “Gary and I have a great working relationship. Tita Pilita is my mentor. Not too many people know it though, but she was the one who discovered me and said that I have a future in the industry. Charice is the youngest with most experience so I’m sure she has a lot to bring so I am just excited to work with all of them,” he explained.

 Gary, on the other hand, is just as excited as Martin to start the show especially on mentoring the contestants. He also shared his stand on the possible competition that may happen among the judge-mentors.

 “I am that kind of guy that if I challenge anyone — it’ll be myself. It will not be for the other judges because the other judges have their own idea on who’s going to be the next big thing. Whether I get to mentor the boys, the girls, the over 30s, or the groups, I hope that in the end it’ll be one from my group who will win. But knowing the judges we have, it will not be a challenge to put down anybody but rather bringing out the best in whomever the contestant is,” said Gary.

 Meanwhile, Pilita, who is not new in judging talent searches, admitted she is quite challenged because the show is entirely different from the past shows or judging she did.

 “There is mentoring involved here. We are not just looking for the voice. We are looking for a personality you can sell worldwide. If we are looking for someone who sings well, there are thousands in this country, on every corner of the street but they need to have that X factor. We can’t even define it but once we see it on someone, we would know,” said Pilita.

 The celebrity judge-mentors will soon tour the country together with host KC Concepcion. KC joined X Factor Philippines team during the first round of auditions and shared how she was blown away by the contestants.

 KC and the judge-mentors will go to Cebu today for a two-day Visayas leg auditions to be held in Hoops Dome.

 They will then go to Davao Del Sur Coliseum in Davao on May 23 and 24 to see if Mindanao hopefuls have the X factor. Manileños and auditionees from the rest of Luzon will be adjudged last as the team goes to its final stop at the PAGCOR Theater on May 30, 31 and June 1.

 Live auditions are open to the public. Keep tuning in on ABS-CBN to know how to claim free tickets.

 If you want to watch auditions in Davao, get your tickets at ABS-CBN Davao on May 19, 1 p.m. on May 21 at the audition venue at the same time.

 For tickets to auditions in PAGCOR Theater, just line up at the ABS-CBN audience entrance on May 26 at 1 p.m.

 The X Factor Philippines will air soon on ABS-CBN.