Wednesday | March 28, 2012 | 9:00 AM
Following the success of the first nationwide search for undiscovered promising Filipino singers last year, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) will once again open a door of opportunities to aspiring music talents to shine through the “OPM@PAGCOR 2, A Nationwide Search for the Total OPM Performer.”
PAGCOR Assistant VP for Entertainment Bong Quintana said the competition provides amateur but exceptional Pinoy singers a chance to break into the Philippine music industry. “They will have the chance to undergo proper music training to gain valuable singing techniques from the country’s finest OPM icons. PAGCOR has committed to support Filipino talents because we really believe in what they can do, and that they can be of world-class caliber.”
Quintana shared that the first OPM@PAGCOR nationwide search drew a huge support from the public. “Nearly 2,000 aspiring singers from all over the country showed off their exceptional singing prowess during the month-long auditions we had last year. We have seen and felt the success of the first OPM@PAGCOR by producing our very own talents. That’s why we are looking forward to discovering more this year,” he added.
Quintana noted that apart from the cash prizes won by last year’s OPM@PAGCOR winning finalists, the top three winners (Marie Joyce Tañaña, Charles Kevin Tan and Renz Ruther Robosa) and two other promising finalists (Steve Fernandez and Hadasa Von Camporaso) –were also given the chance to perform in various Casino Filipino branches nationwide.
“We gave them venues to showcase their talents. Joyce, Charles, Renz, Steve and Hadasa formed the PAGCOR 5. They have toured the country to perform in various Casino Filipino branches and they have more shows scheduled in the coming months,” he cited.
OPM@PAGCOR first grand winner Marie Joyce Tañaña from Angeles City, Pampanga shared how the talent search changed her life. “PAGCOR helped us enhance our talent and gave us the opportunity to showcase it. We underwent voice and dance workshops as well as performance trainings. We are very thankful that PAGCOR did everything to improve our talents,” she said.
Besides performing in Casino Filipino branches, Tañaña added that they are lucky to have also been given the opportunity to perform with some of the country’s renowned singers like bossa nova queen Sitti Navarro, Ariel Rivera and Asia’s Queen of Songs Ms. Pilita Corales.
“Dati kumakanta lang ako sa tabi-tabi, ngayon, yung mga singers na iniidolo ko at ‘yung mga napapanuod ko lang sa TV, nakakasama ko ng kumanta. Greatest achievement ko talaga na maging grand winner ako sa OPM@PAGCOR,” she mused.
Tañaña encouraged all aspiring singers to join the OPM@PAGCOR 2 talent search. “If you have the talent, show it. Keep on trying. Nationwide ito at maraming magagaling kaya magtiwala sa sarili and most especially, trust God. Mababago ang buhay nila, gaya ng nangyari sa amin ng mga kasama ko sa PAGCOR 5,” she said.
Meanwhile, OPM Secretary Dingdong Avanzado expressed his gratitude to PAGCOR for its continued support to OPM. “Since the project started – especially when PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. came into the picture – I really felt the need for us to help raise the Filipinos’ awareness and love for Pinoy music. Having productive tie-ups like the partnership between PAGCOR and OPM is an exciting time for the local music industry. I am very supportive of it,” he added.
Dingdong added the OPM is very grateful to have PAGCOR as its partner in this endeavor. “As long as we have supporters like PAGCOR, malayo ang mararating ng ating industriya.”
The OPM@PAGCOR 2 is open to all amateur singers, Filipino or with dual citizenship, between 18 to 30 years old as of May 1, 2012. They should not have won any major prize in any national singing contest.
Prizes at stake are P300,000 and a performance contract for the Grand Winner, P200,000 for 2nd place and P100,000 for 3rd place. The rest of the grand finalists will each receive P20,000 as consolation prize.
Deadline of submission of application is on May 1, 2012 for applicants in the Visayas-Mindanao area, May 10, 2012 for applicants in the Luzon area, and May 18, 2012 for applicants in the Metro Manila area.
Auditions will officially start on May 7, 2012 in Casino Filipino Cebu. Other audition venues are Casino Filipino Bacolod (May 9), Casino Filipino Davao (May 11), Casino Filipino Tagaytay (May 15), Casino Filipino Angeles (May 19) and Airport Casino Filipino (May 22 to 25).
The top two winners from the six regional Casino Filipino competitions will also bring home cash prizes and will participate in the Professional Singing and Live Performance Workshop from June 5 to June 12, 2012 to be conducted by OPM luminaries.
The grand winner will be proclaimed during the Grand Finals Concert to be staged at the PAGCOR Grand Theatre at the Airport Casino Filipino in Parañaque City on June 16, 2012.
For more details on the OPM@PAGCOR 2, visit www.pagcor.ph or www.opm.org.ph. You may also call OPM at 576-5069 or 945-7003 or PAGCOR Entertainment Department at 852-7760 or 852-7752.