The Back-to-Back Grand Finales for TV5’s Original Videoke Kantawanan ng Bansa is right around the corner, with both editions occurring a week apart. As a fitting culmination for the successful run of the program, many ‘firsts’ and surprises are in store for all Ka-awitbahays.

 

 

 

Securing a partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (or NCCA), the back-to-back Saturdays of Ultimate Pa-Sing-Katan for the celebrity edition and Kantastic Finale for the regular edition, will be held at the NCCA-owned Manila Metropolitan Theater. This move marks Sing Galing as the first TV show in history to mount a back-to-back finale at the theater, which has just been reopened to the public after 25 years. This also signifies NCCA’s support and acknowledgement as Sing Galing commemorates the Pambansang Araw ng Videoke on March 12. Being the country’s national treasure and mecca of culture and performing arts, Sing Galing aptly and proudly celebrates this milestone in the historic venue.

Through its partnership with Facebook, Sing Galing will also become the first television show in the Philippines to utilize FB Messenger as the official voting platform of Sing Galing, to allow Ka-awitbahays to vote for the Ultimate BidaOke Sing-lebrity and Ultimate BidaOke Star, for free. This broadcast innovation offers three ways of access: Ka-awitbahays can either (1) Scan QR code (can be seen on-air or online) to be redirected to Sing Galing’s Facebook Messenger, (2) Type VOTE as comment in Sing Galing’s Facebook Page to be redirected to Sing Galing’s Facebook Messenger, or (3) Go to Messenger app and look for Sing Galing to message. Voting will be opened within the LIVE shows.

Sing Galing Sing-lebrity edition’s grand finalists "Ultimate Star Hunk" Aljur Abrenica, "Rakstar ng Teatro" Pepe Herrera, "Coverboy Crushie" Patrick Quiroz, "Pambansang Baby" Boobsie Wonderland, "Pambansang Adonis" Jerald Napoles, and "80s Cool Kid" Chuckie Dreyfus, have already entered the finale week where the winner will be declared this Saturday, while the official list of the 5 grand finalists or "Kantastic 5" for the regular edition who will duel it out at the Kantastic Finale, will be announced on March 3 and March 10.

Watch the Ultimate Pa-Sing-Katan and Kantastic Finale at 6:00PM on March 5 and 12 respectively, on TV5 and via livestream on Sing Galing Facebook and TV5 Facebook and Youtube.

A kiddie talent competition and a performance platform for kids from 4-6 years old is what SM Little Stars all about.  For moms and dads who enjoys their kid's witty and smart moves, this is a great venue to show it.  Me, as a mom it's great to let my kids be seen and be heard.  If you're following this blog I have blogged about SM Little Stars before.

Here are some facts and information about this kiddie competition that I'm sure parents would at least need to know about this competition.  SM Little Stars is spearheaded by Mr. Hans Sy,.  The competition originated from SM China malls then later on adapted by the malls in the Philippines. Through the years, SM Little Stars keeps on growing as a contest through providing bigger prizes, kiddie workshops, TV exposures and having a cultural exchange program with SM China malls as winners from Philippines and China interact with each other during the Grand Finals, rendering a production number and individual performances of their talents.

Because of SM’s wide coverage in the country, aspiring kids have easy access to joining this mallwide kiddie talent competition and performance platform Aside from SM Little Stars’ objective to find the brightest, shining and aspiring little kids that we may dub as our "Little Stars", it also gives these kids a chance to showcase not only their talents, but also to have fun and gain confidence through various public exposures and workshops, and potentially win huge and exciting prizes. This makes SM Little Stars the perfect avenue to stardom.


If you're wondering how they managed to get all the talented kids all over the Philippines well here's their data about it and the selection process was done.


And here are the names of the winners and the malls that they represent.

NAMES OF THE WINNERS	REP. MALL
Nicoli Lista	SM TAYTAY
Patricia Angel Platon Medalla	SM MARIKINA
Nhikzy Vheench Calma	SM MANILA
Telesa Marie De Torres	SM MANILA
Luis Bernard L. Guzman	SM TARLAC
Chunsa Angella Jung	SM CLARK
Marevick Miranda	SM SAN FERNANDO
Amber Sophia Cariño	SM ROSARIO
Meg Ian Carl Rojas	SM ROSARIO
Isaiah Raymier Reyes	SM LIPA
Cassandra Gabrielle Dimaculangan	SM BATANGAS
John Anthony Oliveros	SM CEBU
Breanne Thianel V. Tan	SM ILOILO
Giann Simon Tan	SM CAGAYAN DE ORO
Sofia Raphaelle Kintanar	SM DAVAO

So this coming August 25, 2013 is the much awaited GRAND FINALS is set to know who will reign for this year's SM Little Stars.  This will be held at SM Mall of Asia Center Stage at 3:00 PM and will be hosted by Ms. Iza Calzado.  Special panel of judges include Audie Gemora, Regine Tolentino, Jerome Pobocan, Sweet Plantado and Jem Padilla. Admission is absolutely free! So be there when the gates open at 1PM.

Also the SM Little Stars China winners arrives here in the Philippines for their 5-day tour in Manila. They will be doing mall tours in SM North EDSA and SM Aura, showcase talents in the Grand Finals of Philippines’ SM Little Stars 2013 and of course, have fun while in the city

A week after heart's day my correspondent Justin was delighted enough to witness Yoshinoya's Gyudon Eating Contest Grand Finals.  It is a yearly event done by Yoshinoya Philippines lead by their President and General Manager Timothy James Yang.  The event was held at the New Activity Center of Glorietta 1 in Makati City.  Completing the line up were the twenty eight (28) finalists who competed during the qualifying rounds from different stores of Yoshinoya in past month.  Aside from the 28 contestants present in the Grand Finals there were also contestant from different medias coming from the print, television, radio and online.  Making the total contender of 32 individuals.



Yoshinoya was founded in the 1800 in Japan during the 1800 and it became popular with delicious recipe of beef and rice known as Gyudon (beef bowl) which was created by Matsuda.


Now, Yoshinoya, with its annual Gyudon Eating Contest hailed the ultimate Beef Gyudon King out of the twenty eight (28) only three (3) of them rise victorious.  If you've joined the qualifying round you definitely know how hard it is to finish a number of bowls.  So for the final match was even more difficult as they have to eat the most number of beef gyudon bowls in 15 minutes and less leftover.  The Top Three (3) Finalists with the most number of bowls consumed and the least weight left after 15 minutes will be declared winners.



The first place winner will receive P100,000 and the bragging rights to be called the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Champion, second placer gets P50,000 while the 3rd placer takes home P25,000. Non-winners will get consolation prizes worth P2,000 of Yoshinoya Gift Certificates.  The winner of the media division will get P30,000.



After the opening and some introductions of the guest and dignitaries present during the event, the intense munching starts.  There were plenty of emotions and expressions during the contest.  With the span of 15 minutes finalists are eager to consume as many as they can.

The buzz triggers the end and the finalists were given 30 minutes to rest.  Just enough time for the judges to check and weighs the number of bowls consumed.

After tallying all, Japanese Cultural Attache to the Philippines Maki Mizusawa together with Mr. Timothy Yang announced the winners of the Gyudon Eating Contest.  First announced was the winner for the media division in which our blogger friend Florencio Jusay, Jr. or FPJ bagged the P30,000 cash prize finishing with 7 bowls.


For the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Champion was Douglas James Candano.

Congratulations to all the winners!

If you're eyeing to be next year's Gyudon Eating Champion be sure to check out their stores at SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Galleria, the newly opened Glorietta branch, SM Manila and also in SM Pampanga.