THE stage is set for the exciting showdown among the country’s aspiring young singers as 14 talented hopefuls from all over the country advanced to the grand finals of “OPM@PAGCOR 3: A Nationwide Search for the Total OPM Performer” on June 7, 2013 at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Parañaque City.

The 14 grand finalists were selected from hundreds of auditionees in the different Casino Filipino (CF) branches. The OPM@PAGCOR 3 nationwide search began on April 19, 2013 in CF Bacolod and ended on May 17, 2013 at Airport Casino Filipino.

Earning the right to represent the different Casino Filipino branches in the grand finals night are Georg Joni Laurente and Rovee Marie Fernandez (Cebu); Marc Lyndon Nacua and Brent Lawrence Feliciano (Bacolod); Yuriko Yushida and Maria Kristine Joy Laquinario (Davao); Johann Jonah Enriquez and Michael Lauren Benedicto (Tagaytay); Harriz Dover Battung and Karl Aris Tanhueco (Angeles); Aljon Gutierrez, Shane Anja Tarun, Louie Murphy Regala and Janneth Gomez (Metro Manila).

Each of the 14 grand finalists received P25,000 in cash and a plaque of appreciation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM). They will also participate in a week-long professional singing and live performance workshop to be conducted by some of the country’s renowned music icons.

Bong Quintana, PAGCOR’s Assistant VP for Entertainment, said the workshop is part of the prize package provided by the OPM@PAGCOR 3.  “We know that these talented singers are all waiting to be discovered.  PAGCOR and the OPM are here to give them the training and the break they need.  We are here to help them make their dreams come true,” Quintana said.

“Apart from the workshop, our 14 grand finalists will have a chance to become OPM@PAGCOR 3’s Grand Winner who will win a cash prize of P300,000. Also at stake are P200,000 for the second placer and P100,000 for the third placer. The top three winners will also get a performance contract with Casino Filipino. Non-winners who will make it to the Top 12 will receive P20,000 each,” he added.

According to Quintana, those who wish to see the OPM@PAGCOR 3 grand finals night on June 7, 2013 at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Paranaque City can watch the event for free on a first-come, first-served basis. “The grand finals will start at 8 PM. We have invited Mr. Christian Bautista and radio disc jockey Carla Dunareanu as our hosts. Among the panel of judges are Mr. Ogie Alcasid, Mr. Noel Cabangon and Ms. Mitch Valdez,” he cited.

Noel Cabangon, currently the Vice President for External Affairs of OPM, expressed his gratitude to PAGCOR for its unwavering support to local artists and for giving another opportunity to Filipino talents through the OPM@PAGCOR search.

“Thank you PAGCOR for believing that Filipinos have a wonderful talent to share. This search is really important because it is a good venue for our artists to express their excellence especially in singing and to showcase our culture as Filipinos through music. This is the third year and it’s getting better and better. Hopefully, our partnership will go on,” he said.

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