More singing hopefuls get their biggest break on “The Voice of the Philippines”

Thara Jordana After nights seven and eight of the grueling Blind Auditions, the top-rating and twitter-trending reality show in the Philippines, “The Voice of the Philippines” season two was able to include 13 more singing talents who were added to the powerful teams of superstar coaches Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, Lea Salonga, and Apl de Ap.

The episodes, which aired on The Filipino Channel (TFC) worldwide last November 22 and 23 Saturday and Sunday (November 23 and 24, Sunday and Monday Australian Daylight Savings Time or ADST and New Zealand Daylight Savings Time or NZDT, and November 22 and 24, Saturday and Monday Guam time), featured different artists all over the Philippines with only one goal – to reach the battle rounds. One-man band and musician Elmerjun Hilario, who confessed he can play seven instruments at once, proved that he can push further with his music career when he joined Team Sarah after his stripped-down version of the Ace of Base hit, “The Sign.”

Poppert PoppertAlso joining Geronimo’s team of powerful vocalists is praise and worship leader Shaira Opsimar after she gave her diva-esque performance of Jessie J’s “Mama Knows Best.” Also included is the four-chair turn performance of Poppert Berdanas with his own rendition of Aegis’ “Luha.” Berdanas is a former member of The Ryan Cayabyab Singers and was last seen on-stage as part of the 2014 Philippine musical hit, Rak of Aegis. Only three more artists will complete the team of the Popstar Royalty which now includes Hilario, Opsimar, Berdanas, Carol Leus, Mark Douglas Dagal, Demie Fresco, Vanessa Monot, Monique Lualhati, Jason James Dy, Daniel Ombao, and Kokoi Baldo.

Team Bamboo or Kamp Kawayan also now has 11 members which consist of Ramonne Rodriguez, Shaira Cervancia, Lougee Basabas, Rence Lee Rapanot, Dang Del Rosario, Karlo Mojica, Tanya Ileto-Diaz, Kai Honasan, and recent additions Sean Oquendo, Patricia Gomez, and another four-chair turner Joniver Robles.

Oquendo, the tattoo artist who has a deep passion for jazz music, impressed Bamboo with his version of Zia Quizon’s “Ako Na Lang.” Pinay-Colombian singer and Jujitsu-trained artist Gomez, meanwhile, shocked Bamboo with her unique vocal tone after performing Ray Charles hit, “Hit The Road Jack.” Another Ray Charles hit was sung during the blind auditions that turned not just Bamboo’s chair but the other three coaches’ chairs when Joniver Robles, the self-proclaimed music addict, sang “I Don’t Need No Doctor.”

Christelle TiquisThe Broadway Diva coach, also added three more contenders who are joining Philippe Go, Nino Alejandro, Charles Catbagan, Jum Cubil, Miro Valera, Leah Patricio, and Timothy Pavino in her team. Salonga turned her red chair for Christelle Tiquis who emotionally sang Bob Dylan’s hit “To Make You Feel My Love” which she dedicated to her father who was reported missing in March this year. She hopes her Blind Audition would lead the way for her family to find her father.

Two Cebuanos (natives of Cebu, Visayas, Philippines) also made it to Team Lea in the recent blind auditions: former Star Magic artist Thara Jordana impressed coaches Apl and Salonga with her rendition of “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus and Humfrey Nicasio who proved his positive outlook in life when he sang the Pharrell Williams hit, “Happy.”

Coach Apl, on the other hand, secured an impressive count of four artists during the nights seven and eight of the blind auditions. The International Hip Hop coach pressed his red button for Philippine Dragon Boat Team rower Ferns Tosco who sang Asin’s “Ang Buhay Ko.” Coach Apl also added young artists Mark Avila, an engineering student, who sang John Legend’s “Ordinary People” and 16-year old rocker chick Krystina Ng who sang her own version of the Animals’ hit “House Of The Rising Sun.” Lastly, band vocalist Jason Fernandez, also impressed Coach Apl. While he is the former vocalist of Rivermaya, he sang fellow iconic band Eraserheads’ “Ang Huling El BImbo.” After the chairs turned, he also came face to face with former Rivermaya lead vocalist, Coach Bamboo. The four new additions to the team will join Samantha Felizco, Mecerdita Quiachon, Alisah Bonaobra, Mark Cando, Bradley Holmes, and Janet Cadayona.

Hold on to your seats as “The Voice of the Philippines” Season Two finally completes the coaches’ teams in the last two nights of the Blind Auditions airing on November 29 and 30, Saturday and Sunday (November 30 and December 1, Sunday and Monday ADST and NZDT; and November 29 and December 1, Saturday and Monday, Guam time) on TFC worldwide. Worldwide viewers can also watch the exciting continuation of the Blind Auditions via livestream or after its Philippine airing on TFC’s official online service, TFC.tv and via its video-on-demand or VOD (Internet Protocol television or IPTV) service available in the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. For more updates, visit www.facebook.com/KapamilyaTFC or follow @KapamilyaTFC on Twitter and Instagram.

Ferns Tosco