Daly city, CA, September 11, 2017 --- Filipinos love to sing. Some like to sing in front of a crowd, while there are those who like to sing in the shower. Some sing great karaoke, and there are those who sound exceptional even a cappella.
Filipinos love singing contests. They like joining these contests, and most especially, they like watching singing shows. There is something about watching people compete, and then finding someone from among the many contenders whom they will choose to cheer for that attracts the Filipino. Frankly, being addicted to singing contests is a universal trait. According to Gerlinda Grimes of howstuffworks.com, “When we watch singing shows, we get to imagine ourselves on stage. Almost all of us, at one time or another have belted out a song in the shower or crooned into a hairbrush.”
Most importantly, Filipinos – and the world in general - love dreamers. It can be addicting to follow stories of regular folks who had lofty goals and learn how they beat the odds to attain their own “unreachable stars.” Ann Powers of NPR’s The Record says it well when asked why we like singing talent shows so much. Powers said, “more and more dreamers will try to convince viewers that they matter; more stereotypes will be asserted, broken, redesigned. And we on the other side of the screen will think, ‘I could maybe do that.’” Grimes shares the same sentiment when she wrote “We all dream of what it might be like to be stars. Singing shows are popular because they can and do open doors for extraordinary dreamers.”
Here is the place where all those things Filipinos love to do converge to provide the ultimate engagement for contestants and viewers alike. This is Tawag ng Tanghalan (Call of the Stage).
Long before there was “American Idol,” “The Voice,” or “America’s Got Talent,” the Philippines already had its very own talent search in Tawag ng Tanghalan. It first aired in 1953 until 1972, and was revived from 1987 to 1988. It is on this stage that hopefuls get to live their desires and dreamers get their wishes fulfilled. This is where regular, ordinary people get the opportunity to become stars. The show gave birth to OPM (Original Pilipino Music) legends like Edgar Mortiz, Pepe Pimentel, Diomedes Maturan, and superstar Nora Aunor, among others.
At present, Tawag ng Tanghalan is a segment on the popular noontime show “It’s Showtime.” Now, as it was then, Tawag ng Tanghalan remains to be the “all-time favorite search for outstanding amateur talents.” The talent search has expanded since auditions have been held in six (6) regions across the world: Region 1–North America, Region 2–Europe, Region 3–Middle East, Region 4–Hong Kong/Singapore/Malaysia, Region 5–Japan/Taiwan/South Korea, and Region 6-Australia/New Zealand/Papua New Guinea/Guam/Saipan. This is now Global Tawag ng Tanghalan.
After the judges reviewed hundreds of auditions across North America, the competition is now down to 20 semi-finalists from different parts of the U.S. and Canada. These are 20 dreamers, with their distinct voices and their individual stories, who are vying to make it to the North America Regional Cluster Finals. But before that, they need to get the most votes from viewers and judges in the semi-final round. Audiences around the world get the chance to root for their favorites by voting online.
Meet the 20 North America semi-finalists below, in no particular order, and follow their journey to the next round of Global Tawag ng Tanghalan.
Marie Joy Amaro is originally from Cebu and is now teaching in Texas. She wants to pursue her passion for singing, share her talent with others, and help her parents if she gets the jackpot.
https://youtu.be/O7Bs7vCDZ5k
Jean Pauline Aytona is originally from Manila and has now made Ontario, Canada her home. She joined Global Tawag ng Tanghalan because singing is really her passion and wants to be a singer someday. https://youtu.be/Ofz8rVcIsLM
Joshua Bation is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a simple guy with simple wants. He simply wants viewers to enjoy his music.
https://youtu.be/OLI2kI2T1Ow
Rachel Bergado is from California, while Urdaneta City in Pangasinan is her hometown. She is competitive and would like to keep challenging herself, aside from showcasing her talent. She also loves the Philippines and would like the chance to visit the motherland. https://youtu.be/pmOEF1Sl06g
Jeena Dimaandal is from San Francisco, California and her hometown is La Union. The reason she joined Global Tawag ng Tanghalan is to showcase her talent and love for music to the Philippines and to the whole world.
https://youtu.be/PiplSVbVqVM
Denise Gonzales is from Quezon City, and now resides in California. Singing is her passion and she dreams of touching the hearts of people through the message of her songs. https://youtu.be/9aHOOGvZzDc
Danielle Jade Laganson is born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada but her parents are from Bohol. She believes Filipinos outside the Philippines deserve the same chance to showcase their talents and shine. She feels God gave her talent in singing to share it with others. https://youtu.be/DHHUUp7JCoI
Louise Lagunda resides in San Diego, California but is from Taytay, Rizal. She wants to step up in her passion for singing, and hopes to reconnect with her sister who is a contestant in the same competition in the New Zealand Region. https://youtu.be/HLtF8X5Grqg
Michelle Macasero is from Antioch, California. Both her parents are from Cebu City. She would love to sing on the big stage in front of her family and friends, and make them proud. https://youtu.be/gIEqdzWRsYk
Alexis Magsambol is from San Diego, California and her hometown in the Philippines is Cavite. Being part of the semi-finals is important because she wants to share her passion for music with all, and wants to make her family proud.
https://youtu.be/fQxr7_hICUg
Jeline Mauricio is originally from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and is now residing in Toronto, Ontario in Canada. He would like to inspire other people through his music. https://youtu.be/8xMiMY8g64E
Abigail Natnat’s hometowns in the Philippines are Tarlac (her mother’s side) and Pangasinan (her father’s side). She is from Ontario, Canada. Abigail believes Global Tawag ng Tanghalan is a great way to gain confidence and express her love for music. Also, her parents want to hear her sing.
https://youtu.be/R3ZmAf_ScEU
Steven Joseph Paysu is from Fontana, California but was born in Tondo, Manila. He just wants to share his talent as a singer. https://youtu.be/-TI6tqTeRSU
Adriana Perry hails from Temecula, California. Singing is her passion and she would like to make a career of it in the future. She feels Global Tawag ng Tanghalan is a good opportunity to share her passion and connect to her Filipino culture. https://youtu.be/XECddtm45aY
Jamil Pidlaoan is from Daly City, California and is originally from Valenzuela, Bulacan. Her childhood dream is to be a singer and to perform in front of many people. She would like to perform OPM (Original Pilipino Music) and teleserye songs. https://youtu.be/2L-P15RZyR8
Venus Therese Ramos was born in Guagua, Pampanga but now calls Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada her home. She feels Global Tawag ng Tanghalan would be a great chance to show her talent while representing her Canadian side and her Filipino pride. https://youtu.be/ltycaL9Ms8c
Paul Alfredson Reyes is from Toronto, Canada. His hometown in the Philippines is Cainta, Rizal. He has always had a passion for singing and would like to be a singer one day. https://youtu.be/ACgd0QgfuV8
Elizabeth Sooy is from New Jersey, born and raised in the U.S. Her mother is from Cebu. She wants to share her music and inspire other people. Lizz has never been to the Philippines, and her mother has never been back since giving birth to her. Lizz would like to take her mother to visit Cebu. https://youtu.be/lj5gtSPunRQ
George Villanea is originally from Cebu City, and is now living in Los Angeles, California. He wants to make his family proud, especially his two great aunts in Cebu who raised him. He also hopes that he would get the chance to see his father in the Philippines whom he has not seen for 26 years now. https://youtu.be/O1GYWxudfWA
Jing Wenghofer is from Chicago, Illinois. The reason she joined Global Tawag ng Tanghalan is simply because she likes to sing. This is what she does as a music director and a music teacher. https://youtu.be/f_DbWUwR_jI
To become a Global Tawag ng Tanghalan winner is a prestigious honor accorded to those who survive the rigorous auditions. These 20 hopefuls are out to heed the calling of their hearts. Of these 20, the top 10 will move on to the North America Regional Finals to be held on October 14, 2017 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Online votes from the public, and points from the judges will determine who will make the cut. The public is encouraged to go online and vote for their favorites at http://bit.ly/GlobalTNT Online voting is ongoing until September 22, 2017.
For more information, go to www.Facebook.com/TFCUSOfficial or www.Facebook.com/TFCCanadaOfficial You may also connect with fellow global Kapamilyas by following @KapamilyaTFC and @KapamilyaGlobalPR on Twitter and Instagram.