PNT Singing Idol

3 Year old Angel Lumayag, one of the younger participants in a PNT Singing Idol event at the 2011 Summer Night Market
PNT Singing Idol
Presented by JoJo Alpuerto
(2008-Present)
Judges Various, included Wyngard Tracy,[1][2][3] Joey Albert,[4] Robert Hektoen, Iza Calzado.[5]
Country of origin Canada
No. of seasons 5
Production
Running time Varies
Release
Original release 2008 – Present
External links
Website

"The Filipino Canadian community’s biggest talent contest in B.C. is the PNT Singing Idol."[5][6] It is a Filipino-Canadian Metro Vancouver-area singing competition[7][8] which grants prizes to the most successful amateur singers in three age categories. The top annual prize is a round trip air fare from Metro Vancouver to the Philippines and a $1000 cash prize.[3][5] The contest started in 2008. On 29 September 2012 PNT Idol expanded to include a Seattle, Washington contest whose finalists would represent the state in the Metro-Vancouver, Canada, Grand Finals later in the year.

Beginnings

In January 2008 a Metro Vancouver Filipino newspaper, The Philippine Asian News Today, advertised a new singing contest, PNT Singing Idol. Early monthly contests were held at a Filipino-owned Surrey, British Columbia locale, the Olympia Pizza restaurant,[9] and some later monthly contests were at similar venues in New Westminster and elsewhere. A three-hour-long grand finals session, punctuated by guest performances, was held later that year at a church auditorium in Vancouver with a reported attendance of 1500.

Structure

March 2012 PNT Singing Idol monthly contest

Monthly contests are held at local restaurants, shopping malls,[10][11] or an outdoor market.[12] Amateur contestants, after paying an entry fee, are invited to a microphone where each sings a song of their choice, accompanied by recorded music which the contestant brings. Music is recorded less the primary vocal track. A panel of three judges chooses a "monthly" winner and two runners-up for each of three age categories. The three age categories are children, teens, and adults.[13]

The monthly winners become finalists in a grand finals which is held in early fall of the same year. Choreographed group dancing at the grand finals event is contributed by monthly singers. Other local Filipino groups also participate as guest performers.[13]

Guests at the annual grand finals include federal MPs, provincial MLAs, and Vancouver-area Philippine consulate representatives.

Media exposure

The grand finals of each year are televised on a multicultural channel at a later date. Since January 2011 each monthly contest has also been televised at 10pm on the last Sunday of each month on the Metro Vancouver cable channel 116.[7][14]

No radio exposure has occurred since the first year, when participants Jessica Zraly, Vanessa Hillman, and Vanessa Harrison were interviewed and sang on a multicultural radio program. Contestants have featured in commercials for the grand finals and within Philippine Asian News today.

Staffing

Winnie "Jo Jo" Alpuerto,[1] a contributor to the Philippine Asian News Today, and a singing contest promoter and former contestant, originally was the most visible organizer, presenter, and principal master of ceremonies at most of the contests, with off-stage assistance from fellow newspaper staffer Nhemy Cepeda. Robert J. Tongko, an experienced stage director,[15] has coordinated the annual grand finals the first three seasons and the fifth season.

On stage co hosts have included Jerry "Papa Bear" Legaspi,[1] Joisa Alpuerto, Miss Philippines BC (2010) Winnie Tan,[16] and teenage co hosts or emcees Jessica Zraly, Vanessa Hillman, Anjela Gerardo, and Charisse Curata. Zraly, Hillman, and Curata are former PNT Idol contestants and Gerardo was formerly in other contests.

After Season 4 Alpuerto departed from the show. Hillman was then given the title of "Senior Host," taking on the role of directing new "Junior Hosts" and their musical numbers.

Monthly contest judges include participants in the second year's adult category, Emee Escaro, Wel Medina, and Membo Siago. Judges at the annual "grand finals" have included Robert Hektoen, a principal of Vancouver-based Rockstar MusiCORP,[17] Joey Albert,[4] Wyngard Tracy,[2][3] and Iza Calzado.[5] K Brosas was a guest performer for 2012.[18]

Guest singers have included winners of previous years' contests, and local Filipino Canadian singers JJ Cepeda,[1][19][20] Angela Gerardo,[1] and Sarah Cantuba.

Sponsorship

Filipino, Filipino-Canadian and other businesses or professionals, including GMA Pinoy TV[5] and Tom Lee Music provide financial support or prizes in exchange for the placement of their promotional material on stage, in the program, or in advertising for the event.[21] Monthly contestants sell tickets and assist in seeking sponsors.

Winners

2008 (September 5):[1][22]

2009:

2010:[4]

2011 (September 3):[30]

2012 (November 3):

Contestant activity after PNT Idol

Vanessa Harrison[31] left 2008 PNT Idol before the grand finals to sign a contract with a Philippines-based media group. Harrison toured Canada with German Moreno and GMA 7 and became Miss Teen Philippines 2008, Miss GMA Starstruck Canada, and Miss Philippines 2010, and then went to the Philippines with Starstruck.[32] Alyssa Gutierrez was publicly offered a recording opportunity by Rockstar MusiCorp following her Grand Finals win in 2009.[17][33] Guest singer JJ Cepeda and former contestants Jessica Zraly, Vanessa Hillman and others have advanced to the final thirty contestants of the Vancouver episode[34] of The Next Star. Former PNT contestants Harrison,[32] Hillman, and Camille Reyes were among the top ten finalists of The Beat 94.5 Music Awards in 2010.[35] Ethel Rose Amistad is to release music through iTunes and at Best Buy and Future Shop retail locations[24][26][27][28][29] PNT Idol contestants Gutierrez[36][37] and Zraly continued to participate in other contests,[38][39] with Gutierrez continuing to win contests[40] and Hillman, Curata, Crockett, Mirzaei, Amistad, Zaragoza, and PNT guest singers Gerardo, and Cepeda participated in a charity event "To Catch a Rising Star" in late 2010[41] A talent school includes PNT Idol experience in the description of one of its students.[42]

The "famous PNT Idol family" of former and current contestants also participate in other Metro Vancouver Filipino Canadian events such as the Philippine Summer Festival (2010).[43]

The "PNT Idol monthly winners" were a front act at the Vancouver filming of the Filipino TV show Eat Bulaga at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 23, 2011.[44]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Singers Vie for Idol title", South Asian Post, Wed, August 20, 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  2. 1 2 Philippine Asian News Today, "Wyngard Tracy: PNT Idol head judge passes away in Manila", THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2010 04:39
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 PNT Idol 2009 Singing Contest
  4. 1 2 3 PNT Singing Idol 2010 Champions, THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2010 15:3
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 VVP, GMA News, "GMA Pinoy TV: Iza Calzado graces Singing Idol 2011 in Canada", 13 September 2011, accessed 21 September 2011
  6. ↑ Mel Tobias, "Filipino Fiesta in BC", Philstar.com, August 15, 2012, accessed 23 July 2011
  7. 1 2 "PNT Idol 3 Season 4 held in Burnaby", GMA Pinoy TV, accessed 31 March 2011
  8. ↑ Marieton Pacheco, "Singing contests showcase Pinoy talents in Canada", ABS-CBN North America News Bureau, 26 May 2010 accessed 16 April 2011
  9. ↑ Olympia Pizza. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  10. ↑ Lansdowne Center PNT Idol Singing Competition (a shopping mall's website) accessed 22 March 2011
  11. ↑ "16 April - PNT Idol Singing Competition" Tourism Richmond. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Matthew Hoekstra, Richmond Review, "Summer markets defy poor weather", 21 July 2011, accessed 24 July 2011
  13. 1 2 Philippine Asian News Today, "PNT Singing Idol Grand Finals", Thursday, 29 July 2010 20:06
  14. ↑ PNT Singing Idol, Refort Media Group. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Open air opening", The Star On-line, Saturday November 26, 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Simply The Best with Luisa Marshall, Episode 34. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  17. 1 2 3 Philippine Asian News Today, "International Recording Company in talks with PNT Singing Idol Winner" Friday, 11 September 2009 20:03
  18. ↑ Joseph Lopez, K Brosas LIVE In Vancouver, Philippine Asian News Today, THURSDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2012 accessed 2 November 2012
  19. ↑ Alex P. Vidal, "Brian McKnight Hails "PNT Idol Wonder Boy", Philippine Asian News Today, FRIDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2010 18:55
  20. ↑ Simply The Best Episode 45 accessed 22 March 2011
  21. ↑ "iRemit, Inc Sponsors PNT Idol Finals" Date Posted: 2010-09-16 accessed 23 July 2011
  22. ↑ PNT Singing Idol Photos
  23. ↑ Jennifer Lang, "She's In a Showdown", Cloverdale Reporter, August 20, 2010, pp.3-4 accessed March 17, 2011
  24. 1 2 Neil Ramos, Another Pinay Singer Carves International Career, 21 March 2011
  25. ↑ "PNT Idol 2009 Winner Adult Category - Emee Escaro" accessed 23 July 2011
  26. 1 2 John Fontanilla, "Pinay singer Ethel Rose Amistad launches new album in Canada",Philippine Entertainment Portal, March 19, 2011
  27. 1 2 Another Pinay Singer Carves International Career, Pinoy OFW.COM. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  28. 1 2 Pinay singer Ethel Rose Amistad launches new album in Canada, Yahoo! News Philippines, March 19, 2011
  29. 1 2 Tatak Pinoy: Ethel Rose Amistad's big career in Canada. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  30. ↑ Philippine Asian News Today, "PNT Singing Idol Season 4 Finals" accessed 12 September 2011
  31. ↑ "Singers Vie for Idol title", South Asian Post, Wed, August 20, 2008, accessed 23 March 2011 (Vanessa Harrison is shown in the center of a photo of 5 contestants which accompanies this article).
  32. 1 2 Simply The Best with Luisa Marshall Episode 45 accessed 22 March 2011
  33. ↑ Alyssa's World PNT Singing Idol Grand Finals 2009, 7 September 2009
  34. ↑ "The Next Star - Watch Episodes" , Episode 3 accessed 22 March 2011
  35. ↑ "2010 Beat Music Awards"
  36. ↑ Melissa Guillergan, Asian Pacific Post "Young Filipino talent takes the stage at this year’s PNE", 19 August 2010, accessed 23 July 2011
  37. ↑ The NOW Newspaper’s 2011 BC JUNIOR TALENT SEARCH Winners accessed 23 July 2011
  38. ↑ Doreen Jung, Agrifair: Valley Voices Vocal Contest in 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  39. ↑ Valley Voices 2010 Vocal Contest Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  40. ↑ Alex Brown, Cloverdale Reporter, "Another title for young Surrey singer", accessed 27 June 2011
  41. ↑ Simply The Best with Luisa Marshall, Episode 51 Christmas Special Two. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  42. ↑ John Robert Powers Canada Success Stories "Kiara Palma - JRP Vancouver Student of the Month!", November 18, 2010, accessed 23 July 2011.
  43. ↑ 1st Philippine Summer Festival of British Columbia, Henry Lai Homes (website), 24 September 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  44. ↑ "Eat Bulaga rocked Vancouver", Philippine Asian News Today, accessed 3 May 2011
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