Criskha Caballero performs during a live audition.
She is one of five finalists.
Written by David Mercado Jr. For Bayanihan
UPDATE: The Filipino Channel Grand Finale concert today at the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Center is free and open to the public.
Headliners Randy Santiago, Jed Madela and Chokoleit who were scheduled to perform weren't able to make it into Guam due to flooding in Manila, according to a Denight Marketing Group press release issued yesterday.
Tonight is the night for a grand winner to be chosen. The Filipino Channel is holding its TFCkat Guam Grand Finals at the "Birits and Hirits" show at the Father Duenas Memorial School's Phoenix Center tonight starting at 5.
Five of Guam's local talents were chosen earlier this week by a panel of judges from The Filipino Channel, and these contestants will be vying for the title of TFCkat Grand Winner tonight.
Auditions The qualifying competition took over the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort as more than 30 competitors entered for their shot at Filipino TV stardom. The only requirements to enter were jaw dropping talent and a Filipino bloodline.
"Most of the talents that came in were singers, but we had one who did a monologue and one with a dance number," says Kristine Denight of Denight Marketing Group, which is working with the TFC to promote the competition.
"It's a shock to see many Filipino talents coming out from our island and this is a chance for them to be known, if chosen."
A handful of online audition submissions were also submitted to The Filipino Channel aside from the live audition tapes recorded at the Sheraton, and according to Denight, more than 50 participants entered the live and online auditions. Bayanihan was able to catch the talent of Pamela Morton, as she arrived at the live auditions a little past 3 p.m.
Singing Adele's famed "Rolling in the Deep," Morton awed those present in the Ocean Sirena Ballroom with her resonant and emotional vocals. Morton, who advanced to today's final, is happy for the opportunity.
"My mom was watching TFC and she started ranting to me, telling me to audition," Morton says. "I've been singing since I was four years old."
Morton admits that she never saw a singing career in her future. "After seeing the stars, I want to be famous," she says. "I want to be on top with the stars, even if I have to start on island." Morton says the live audition was nerve-wracking but it was good to get through it now to prepare for the finals. "I'm extremely excited," she says of tonight's event. "I feel like I can do better this time around."
The final five The other finalists are also singers -- Kevin Medrano, Criskha Caballero, Izza Rollo and Alfredo Tindugan.
Medrano, a 19-year-old working as a guests service officer at the Hyatt Regency Guam, was ecstatic after receiving news last Sunday that he made the finals. "It's my dream to be on TV," Medrano says. Singing and playing guitar to "Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars, Medrano says he was nervous during auditions but that only steeled his resolve to work harder and be better prepared for tonight. "I've been rehearsing songs and trying to make my own versions of them," he says.
Morton has been doing her share of preparations, as well. "I do voice training every night before I go to sleep, and just a lot of practice here and there," she says.
For 17-year-old Rollo news of making the finals was a shock. She didn't attend the live audition, instead sending in an online submission and happened to be surfing the net Sunday when news of her placement was posted. "I screamed my lungs out and was just happy," she says. "I'm going to make sure I know what to do when I sing."
For Tindugan, thinking positive is the way to go. "I try to think positive with every competition I join," he says, "and of course, this is one of those competitions where I really want to get the grand prize." Tindugan says his parents were planning to watch the show, regardless of whether their son made it to the top five or not. Tindugan plans to show his emotional side with heartfelt songs he believes will resonate with the audience and judges. "This is how songs connect and (shows what) it means to me," he says.
Singing a capella to "On My Own" during the live auditions, Caballero and her family see her place in the top five as "a big opportunity." "I knew she had a voice since she was three because she could easily carry a tune," says mother Karen Caballero Monday during a phone interview. "Even until now, it's still hard to believe that she's in the competition."
Showtime Philippine stars Randy Santiago, vocal sensation Jed Madela, and comedian Chokoleit will be joining in all the fun tonight at the Phoenix Center. Prepare for an afternoon show full of entertainment, singing, comedy, and add the twist of the TFCkat grand finals, Denight says.
UPDATE: The Filipino Channel Grand Finale concert today at the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Center is free and open to the public.
Headliners Randy Santiago, Jed Madela and Chokoleit who were scheduled to perform weren't able to make it into Guam due to flooding in Manila, according to a Denight Marketing Group press release issued yesterday.
Tonight is the night for a grand winner to be chosen. The Filipino Channel is holding its TFCkat Guam Grand Finals at the "Birits and Hirits" show at the Father Duenas Memorial School's Phoenix Center tonight starting at 5.
Five of Guam's local talents were chosen earlier this week by a panel of judges from The Filipino Channel, and these contestants will be vying for the title of TFCkat Grand Winner tonight.
Auditions The qualifying competition took over the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort as more than 30 competitors entered for their shot at Filipino TV stardom. The only requirements to enter were jaw dropping talent and a Filipino bloodline.
"Most of the talents that came in were singers, but we had one who did a monologue and one with a dance number," says Kristine Denight of Denight Marketing Group, which is working with the TFC to promote the competition.
"It's a shock to see many Filipino talents coming out from our island and this is a chance for them to be known, if chosen."
A handful of online audition submissions were also submitted to The Filipino Channel aside from the live audition tapes recorded at the Sheraton, and according to Denight, more than 50 participants entered the live and online auditions. Bayanihan was able to catch the talent of Pamela Morton, as she arrived at the live auditions a little past 3 p.m.
Singing Adele's famed "Rolling in the Deep," Morton awed those present in the Ocean Sirena Ballroom with her resonant and emotional vocals. Morton, who advanced to today's final, is happy for the opportunity.
"My mom was watching TFC and she started ranting to me, telling me to audition," Morton says. "I've been singing since I was four years old."
Morton admits that she never saw a singing career in her future. "After seeing the stars, I want to be famous," she says. "I want to be on top with the stars, even if I have to start on island." Morton says the live audition was nerve-wracking but it was good to get through it now to prepare for the finals. "I'm extremely excited," she says of tonight's event. "I feel like I can do better this time around."
The final five The other finalists are also singers -- Kevin Medrano, Criskha Caballero, Izza Rollo and Alfredo Tindugan.
Medrano, a 19-year-old working as a guests service officer at the Hyatt Regency Guam, was ecstatic after receiving news last Sunday that he made the finals. "It's my dream to be on TV," Medrano says. Singing and playing guitar to "Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars, Medrano says he was nervous during auditions but that only steeled his resolve to work harder and be better prepared for tonight. "I've been rehearsing songs and trying to make my own versions of them," he says.
Morton has been doing her share of preparations, as well. "I do voice training every night before I go to sleep, and just a lot of practice here and there," she says.
For 17-year-old Rollo news of making the finals was a shock. She didn't attend the live audition, instead sending in an online submission and happened to be surfing the net Sunday when news of her placement was posted. "I screamed my lungs out and was just happy," she says. "I'm going to make sure I know what to do when I sing."
For Tindugan, thinking positive is the way to go. "I try to think positive with every competition I join," he says, "and of course, this is one of those competitions where I really want to get the grand prize." Tindugan says his parents were planning to watch the show, regardless of whether their son made it to the top five or not. Tindugan plans to show his emotional side with heartfelt songs he believes will resonate with the audience and judges. "This is how songs connect and (shows what) it means to me," he says.
Singing a capella to "On My Own" during the live auditions, Caballero and her family see her place in the top five as "a big opportunity." "I knew she had a voice since she was three because she could easily carry a tune," says mother Karen Caballero Monday during a phone interview. "Even until now, it's still hard to believe that she's in the competition."
Showtime Philippine stars Randy Santiago, vocal sensation Jed Madela, and comedian Chokoleit will be joining in all the fun tonight at the Phoenix Center. Prepare for an afternoon show full of entertainment, singing, comedy, and add the twist of the TFCkat grand finals, Denight says.