MANILA, Philippines - With the epic grand finals night a little more than a month away, McJim Dreams Get Real Talent Search Top 6 are gearing up for the performances of their lives on Nov. 15 at the Music Museum in San Juan City.
After trimming down the Top 10 finalists to six standout acts, only one hopeful will be crowned as the champion during the concert-like finale of the talent search’s second season. What makes this season even more exciting is that five of the six finalists are strong female vocalists.
Three of the six finalists were chosen by producers based on their overall performance and star quality, while the other three were people’s choices. The producer’s picks include Laguna native Apple Deleva, and both Rizal natives Zsarina Concepcion and Carmela Ravanilla, while the people’s choices were Erickson Malabanan from Batangas, Micah Llona from Taguig and Trix Casauay from Caloocan.
Through the highly-anticipated competition, gentlemen’s brand McJim Classic Leather will again open doors of opportunities to a slew of fresh, undiscovered talents and push the brand’s cause of promoting Original Pilipino Music (OPM).
“The six last acts are extraordinarily talented. They have different things to offer and, for sure, they will give us an epic finale,” says Chris Cahilig, Dreams Get Real project head.
The finalists, who have different reasons for joining the competition, promise to give their best come finals night.
“I feel blessed that I made it to the Top 6. Win or lose, it will be all worth it because just being in this competition is a big accomplishment in my life,” says Erickson, who is the last man standing in the line-up of women singers.
For 18-year-old Zsarina, a Tourism student of La Salle Antipolo, being thrown into the company of talented people who share a passion for singing — and learning from them in the process — is such a big deal already. She asserts, however, that “everyone will surely give their best on finals night. This simply inspires me to show everyone what I’ve got when I go out there on stage.”
Determined to top all of her previous performances, Tricia, on the other hand, will dedicate her finale performance to her family and make them proud. “The finals night will be a grand event and I expect no less than the best from every one of us. Thus, I plan to go beyond my best for the sake of my family and my supporters — and most importantly, for God’s glory,” says the 20-year-old National University Architecture student.
Meanwhile, considered as the biggest threat by other contestants in the competition, Apple feels humbled by the recognition and looks at her inclusion in the finale as one of the biggest achievements in her career. Asked what people may expect from her during the finale, the 19-year-old Communications student of University of Perpetual Help in Las Piñas says, “They can look forward to getting more from me as a performer.”
Finally, Carmella and Micah are both overwhelmed by their inclusion in the final six and anticipate giving one of the biggest performances of their budding careers. “I’m very thrilled by the prospect of performing at the Music Museum. In fact, I was stunned when I learned that. Everything — from our wardrobe to our song choices — will be a huge undertaking,” says Carmella who is a Tourism student from Miriam College.
The grand champion of Dreams Get Real: The Search for the Next OPM Star will receive a full album and music video grant; P100,000 in cash prize from McJim Classic Leather; artist marketing support and a talent management contract.
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