Idol producers confident of Philippine talent

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Marinel Cruz, Philippine Idol judge Pilita Corrales and ABC-5 Creative and Entertainment Production head Perci Intalan said Fremantle Media/19 Entertainment producers behind Pop Idol (responsible for the hit reality show's incarnation in 35 countries) were confident of the quality of musicianship available on Philippine shores.

"[The producers] knew they were going to have a difficult time here," Corrales said. Corrales, one of Philippine Idol's three celebrity judges (the other two being Philippine songwriter Ryan Cayabyab and rapper/producer Francis Magalona), acknowledged the difficulty of turning down many talented individuals who may not fit the mold of what the runaway hit talent show is looking for.

"What we're looking for is a singer with a plus and plus," Corrales said, noting their expectations of a Philippine Idol are "really high," given the talent available in the Philippines. Professional singers and recording artists have taken their turn at trying their luck, and having had to turn down desperate applicants who simply did not meet the grade is one of the downsides of being a Philippine Idol judge.

Corrales admitted that there is no final date for the start of the show.

Philippine Idol auditions still ongoing
Philippine Idol's first batch of Luzon screenings, which included Philippine Idol auditions at SM malls and the Philippine International Convention CEnter, resulted in 240 contestants receiving the coveted golden pass. The Philippine Idol auditions in Mindanao on June 23 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City are expected to produce another 25 hopefuls, as are the Philippine Idol auditions for the Visayas in Cebu City on July 4.

According to Intalan, a special registration desk will be set up at SM Davao City for the Philippine Idol audition-fast-track screenings in Mindanao.

Corrales, Cayabyab and Magalona will then whittle down to 100 the number of Philippine Idol contestants, from which 12 males and 12 females will be selected as as semi-finalists when the the theater elimination at the CCP Main Theater commences in August.