SETH FEDELIN : RISING STAR OF HIS GENERATION

Stars come and go and as popular teen heartthrobs are starting to play mature roles, there's a need to look for new ones to play roles vacated by them. The country's young superstars like Daniel Padilla, James Reid, Alden Richards and Enrique Gil are already in their late 20's and their "pa-tweetums" and teeny-bopper days are over however, they remain big stars of today.

One candidate who might just be the next big thing in local showbiz is Seth Fedelin,  This might be an overstatement but for now, the 16 year old is getting a lot of attention from his mother network and had him inked a two year contract, something that does not usually happen for a newbie. 

Seth Fedelin was part of the PBB teen housemates a few months ago but was evicted from Big Brother's house.  He started to get noticed when he appeared in the top rated afternoon drama "Kadenang Ginto."  Seth is paired with Andrea Brillantes where he plays "Mikoy" and the two seems to have a perfect chemistry on screen and brings "kilig" to viewers of the popular teleserye.  

Seth is often compared to Daniel Padilla and James Reid.  They say he talks like Daniel and looks like James.  His good looks and bubbly personality are what makes this 16 year old lad from Cavite even more charming.  He said in an interview that he is "laking kalye" which means that he grew up just like ordinary kids playing on the street and hanging out with friends.

The newbie actor is is closer to realizing his dreams.  Seth just inked a 2 year contract with ABS-CBN, way ahead from his peers at PBB. He recently launched an album together with "The Gold Squad" composed of Andrea Brillantes, Francine Diaz and Kyle Echarri who are all his co- stars in "Kadenang Ginto."

ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel recently posted in their vlog titled "10 Times Seth Fedelin proved he is one of the rising stars of his generation. 

IDOL PHILIPPINES TOP 12

The Top 12 finalists for Idol Philippines were revealed last Sunday after grueling elimination rounds over the past weeks.  Six boys and 6 girls were chosen from the Top 20.  

The Top 12 will perform live on June 29 and they will be singing songs of National Artist (for Music) Ryan Cayabyab.  

The exclusion of Roque Benilo in the top 12 draws mixed reactions from fans and it even trended on twitter at no. 4.  Many says he chose the wrong song and it didn't show his strength as as singer.  He should have picked a country-rock song similar to the one he performed in his audition. 

There was no mention if there would be a wild card selection.

The Top 12 are: 

Male:  Dan, Lucas, Lance, Matty, Miguel, Renwich

Female: Elle, Fatima, Rachel, Trish and Zephanie

IDOL PHILIPPINES TOP 20 REVEALED (5 OF THEM FROM LGBT COMMUNITY)

The Top 20 for Idol Philippines search have been revealed following an intense week of competition during “The Group” and “Do or Die” rounds, participated by 69 hopefuls. From 69, they were trimmed town to 39 and the top 20 advances to the next round which is the “Solo” round.

The Top 20 are:

Charmagne Algario (Bulacan)		Lance Busa (Agusan Del Norte)
Dan Ombao (Bataan)		Lucas Garcia (Lipa, Batangas)
Denize Castillo (Cavite)		Matty Juniosa (Mandaluyong)
Elle Ocampo (Pampanga)		Michelle Primavera (Caloocan City)
Enzo Almario (Sta. Maria, Bulacan)		Miguel Ordon (California, USA)
Fatima Louise Lagueras (Quezon City)		Renwick Benito (Angeles City, Pampanga)
Jasper Lacson (Sorsogon City)		Roque Belino (Baguio City)
Jehramae Trangia (Talisay City, Cebu)		Sheland Faelnar (Caloocan City)
Jeremiah Torayno (Cagayan de Oro)		Trish Bonilla (Lucena City)
Rachel May Libres  (Pasay City)		Zephanie Dimaranan, (Biñan, Laguna)

LGBT community is well represented with at least 5 of them made the top 20 cut. They are Jeremiah Torayno, Enzo Almario , Elle Ocampo, Matty Juniosa and Lucas Garcia and all of them openly admitted their gender identity during the auditions. Jeremiah Torayno , who considers himself as a trans-woman, competed in the female group instead of joining the male group in the “do-or-die” round.

Arnel Pineda’s son (Angelo Pineda) was eliminated in the group round while Charice’s ex-girlfriend Alyssa Quijano and GMA talent Kier King managed to advance to the “do-or-die” round but failed to advance to the top 20.

Vice Ganda was quoted saying that his main criteria for judging is a combination of looks, talent and personality.

The top 20 will compete in the :solo” round and from there the top 12 will be chosen and will get the chance to compete in the live performance.

GRAZINI GANADOS IS THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES

Gazini Christiana Jordi Ganados, 23,  from Talisay, Cebu, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines in glittering rites held at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night, June 9, 2019. Gazini, who is of Palestinian-Filipino descent, is a fashion model and a graduate of bachelor's degree in Tourism. Bb. Pilipinas is not her first foray into pageant, having joined Miss World Philippines in 2014 when she was 18 and managed to make it to the top 13.

During the final Q&A round, Gazini was asked by Judge Bobby Barreiro with the question:

"If you win the crown tonight, what can you do to get more women in the workplace?"

She answered:

'If I win the crown tonight, what I will do is to promote my advocacy. My advocacy is for us women to fight for our rights and for the elderly care and for us to be able to know that someone is loving and someone is pushing us to whatever ambitions that we have. We will be able to rise from our decisions to whatever dreams that we have, goals that we have, and we will achieve it because of those values, those wisdom that they gave us."

Gazini's answer earned mixed reactions from pageant fans saying that she did not directly answer the question and that generic answer like that will not work in Miss Universe. However, her charm and commanding stage presence weigh in and lead her to winning the most coveted crown. She has six months to train before she compete in Miss Universe. Earlier in the pageant, she was judged best in evening gown and was voted Miss Photogenic by the local press.

Many people says she has close resemblance to Tamaryn Green, the South African beauty queen who was first runner up to Catriona Gray, the current Miss Universe.

Gazini will vie for a back-to-back win in this year's Miss Universe pageant scheduled end of the year (probably in South Korea though not yet confirmed).

So far, only Venezuela has won a back-to-back in Miss Universe history. This was in 2009 when Jennifer Mendoza crowned her compatriot Stefania Fernandez. There would have been another back to back win in 2015 but four minutes after Ariadna Gutierrez was crowned by fellow Colombian 2014 Miss Universe Paulina Vega, Steve Harvey apologized that he misread the cue card and declared Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines as the rightful winner, stripping Gutierrez off the crown and sash right on the spot. The broadcast received worldwide media attention.

Will Gazini Ganados shine in the forthcoming Miss Universe? 

Here's the complete list of winners:

Miss Universe Philippines 2019	Gazini Ganados	Talisay, Cebu
Bb. Pilipinas International 2019	Bea Patricia Magtanong	Bataan
Bb. Pilipinas – Supranational 2019	Resham Saeed	Maguindanao
Bb. Pilipinas – Grand International	Samantha Ashley Lo	Cebu
Bb. Pilipinas – Intercontinental	Emma Mary Tiglao	Pampanga
Bb. Pilipinas – Globe	Leren Mae Bautista	Laguna
1st runner-up	Samantha Bernardo	Palawan
2nd runner-up	Andrea Abesamis	Pasig

Other semi-finalists:

April Short (Zamboanga),   Joahnna Carla Saad (Dumaguete), Jessica Marasigan (Malabon),  Maria Isabela Galeria (Sorsogon), Hannah Arnold  (Masbate) and Marianne Marquez (Marikina) and Vicky Rushton (Negros Occidental).

Winner of this year Bb. Pilipinas International is Patricia Bea Magtanong of Bataan.  Magtanong  is a newly certified Lawyer and will soon take oath  and become a full-pledged Lawyer.  Patch, as she is called by friends and fans, has been a favorite from the beginning and many thought she has a spot for the Miss Universe Philippines title. When asked by Judge Borja who she wants to meet somebody globally influential, Magtanong says “I really idolize Angelina Jolie because she was blessed with not just a thriving career in Hollywood. But then as a woman, she was able to use that influence, that voice, and that audience, to advocate for the causes that she believed in, like breaking hunger with the UN. And someday, if given a chance, I would like to be just like her. Thank you.”  Pageant observers says she gave a better answer than Grazini but then there are other factors to consider.  Grazini has a strong stage presence and looks vivacious on stage while Patch needs to be a little bit more assertive when delivering her answer but it is safe to say both deserved their respective placements.

Resham Saeed of Maguindanao is perhaps the first Muslim girl to win a Bb.Pilipinas crown. Saeed says “growing up as a Muslim woman, I have experienced several barriers put upon me by people who make assumptions about my my religion and about my faith and I am here to show that I am a fresh face, a fresh voice for the most underrepresented people from our community.”

Just like most pageants, this year’s edition isn’t devoid of controversy.  Vicky Rushton, who was obviously one of the most popular contestants, claims that she wasn’t able to concentrate while delivering her answer  as she was distracted by someone in the audience who was making faces pointing at hter.  Rushton won at least 5 special awards and we though she had it, until the Q&A where she failed miserably

Samantha Bernardo of  Palawan, got the same placement she had last year (as second runner-up) while Andrea Abesamis placed 1st runner up, an improvement from her semi-finalist finish last year.  Samantha can still join next year but Andrea can no longer as she will turn 28 next year.  It’s a pity because they are both gorgeous and also deserves a title. 

But the biggest disappointment this year is the non inclusion of Julia Saubier. How could they ignore such an impressive young lady? Siera Bearchell (2016 Miss Miss Canada Universe turned vlogger/pageant reviewer) was shocked to see her out of the top 25.  Please watch her video interview on this link (Julia Saubier)

Last year, Bb. Pilipinas queens did so well with 2 international crowns, one near win, and the rest made it to the semi-finals except for one.  Good luck ladies.

FORTY BEAUTIES VIES FOR SIX 2019 BB. PILIPINAS TITLES

Who will be the next Bb. Pilipinas Queens? 

2018 was one of the best years in Bb. Pilipinas pageant history with 2 international crowns and one near win.  Obviously, the most interesting question is, who will be the next Miss Universe Philippines? Will there be a back to back win for the Philippines at Miss Universe? The Catriona magic may be a hard feat to follow but whatever it is, this year is probably one of the most competitive batch ever.

40 Bb. Pilipinas hopefuls will vie for 6 titles, namely:

Miss Universe Philippines 2019 

Bb.Pilipinas International 2019 

Bb.Pilipinas Supranational 2019 

Bb.Pilipinas Grand International 2019 

Bb.Pilipinas Intercontinental 2019 

Bb.Pilipinas Globe 2019

Plus 2 runner ups (1st and 2nd)

Last Sunday, a pre-pageant segment called "Free Speak" was aired on ABS-CBN. Each contestant was given 30 seconds to express herself on the topic she picked from a bowl. As expected, clichés such as "i believe," "I will use my voice to influence" and "empower women" were heavily used by many candidates. Some faltered and looked nervous in front of the panel of judges that included Madam Stella Araneta. Among the standouts were Julia Saubier (from Daraga, Albay) and Melba Ann Cara Macasaet (from Negros Oriental).

From 40, they will be trimmed down to 25, who will go through the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Then the 15 semi-finalists will be chosen and compete in the Q&A.

Among the favorites are: Bea Patricia Magtanong (Bataan), Gazini Ganados (Talisay, Cebu) and Hannah Arnold,(Masbate). Patricia is one of the successful passers in 2018 bar exams.  

Looking gorgeous as ever, repeaters Vicky Rushton (Negros Occidental), Aya Abesames (Pasig) and Samantha Bernardo (Palawan) will try again hoping to win a title this time around. Last year, Vicky and Samantha placed 1st and 2nd runner up, respectively, and Aya was one of the semi-finalists. But pageant pundits says they have to redeem themselves in the finals as their performance in last Sunday's "Free Speak" pre-pageant event weren't impressive enough.

Zamboanga's April Mae Short is the tallest at 5'11" along with Julia Saubier from Daraga, Albay. 8 of the candidates are repeaters and 10 are cross-overs from other national pageants, 

This year, candidates will no longer be called by their assigned number but by the province or city they represent.

Coronation night will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 8:00 pm at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Popular celebrities Anne Curtis and Richard Gutierrez will host the pageant to be aired by ABS-CBN.

SHOWBIZ ROYALTIES - ANDRES MUHLACH TOOK JULIANA GOMEZ TO HIS PROM

 

Modern day fairy tale?

His is Andres Gonzales Muhlach, 18,  born to Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzales and she is Juliana Torres Gomez, also 18, the only daughter of Ormoc's Mayor Richard Gomez and Congresswoman Lucy Torres.

For Filipinos, there's no need for introduction who their parents are.  Both Aga and Richard  were famous matinee idols in the 80's and 90s and likewise their respective wives are equally well known personalities.  Andres' mom is Charlene Gonzales, 1994 Bb. Pilipinas Universe while Juliana's mom is no less than socialite and Ormoc's Representative at the Congress, Lucy Torres.  

Both Andres and Juliana were on the news lately and they made netizens "kilig" when Andres took Juliana to his prom.   Apparently, Aga Muhlach asked Richard Gomez if his son Andres can have his daughter Juliana as his date for his junior and senior prom.  Richard has no problem with that since they are friends and colleagues in the movie industry.  Following the tradition, Andres fetch Juliana at her home in Makati and they did the exchange of corsage before going to the event.

Andres and Juliana look cute and adorable together looking like prince and princess in a fairy tale movie.  Both youngsters know each other well and have common friends but they study in different schools so they never really got the chance to hang out.  

Juliana graduated from high school at Everest Academy Manila early this year and Andres is a basketball varsity player at Brent International School Manila.