The Top 24! (With Update on Wildcard Round)

After months of speculation, Philippine Idol has finally unveiled its Top 24 candidates, but not without any drama.

Many viewers were probably surprised that a lot of the so-called "professionals" have been ejected after the group performances. The likes of Divo Bayer, Jason Velasquez, Marinel Santos, Ivy Paredes, OJ Mariano, and Floramae Lucida, packed their bags and left CCP after the bad news was delivered by the judges.

A lot of contenders who did well on their auditions were eliminated at the onset of Top 40. We see Jaime Barcelon (a scholar from Julliard) in total disbelief; Cjara being consoled by her bisexual husband; Michelle Belmonte planning to follow her boyfriend in Austria; Rowell Quizon tearfully embracing his new-found friend Freddie Cabael.

The massive ejections turned the historic building into a virtual ghost town as the remaining 40 contenders were all anxious and nervous. They are just this close to make it to the televised semi-finals.

And Markki Stroem seemed to be in a seious struggle. Apparently, he was to leave the country the day after the theater eliminations to pursue his college education. Although he wanted to continue, his parents decided that it would be best for him to join them in Switzerland. He tearfully left the theater; let's hope we'll see more of him in the coming years.

After each and every remaining candidate sing with much passion on stage, it was time for the judges to break the good news or the bad news to them. Each took an elevator leading to the stage, and one of the judges told them whether the made it or not.

Fred Abaquita, the barber from Cebu, didn't make it.

Nerves took over Myla's (the single mom from Cagayan de Oro) singing. She didn't make it either.

Lenebelle Padillo danced her way on stage for the nth time, didn't pass either.

It resulted with a pretty-much diverse and untapped talents from Luzon to Mindanao. Here are your Top 24 Semi-Finalists:

ERIKA JILL BAUTISTA
Most remembered thus far for her being partially hearing-impaired,
24-year-old Erika's eardrums were damaged in an accident.

ABIGAIL BLANCO
Abigail, 24 years old, started singing professionally at 12 in Cebu.
Now Manila-based, she records commercial jingles, among other things.


PAU CHAVEZ
Pau, 23, survived a gunshot wound to the ear during a mugging incident
to end up part of the Top 24.


CHERRY "APPLE" CHIU
Cherry, 22, first sang her way into Philippine Idol viewers' hearts by
belting out a non-traditional version of the Sex Bomb Girls' Spaghetti.


ARMARIE CRUZ
Armarie, 27, has won various singing contests, including Quest for the Best,
a National Panasonic-sponsored Indonesia-based singing tilt.



STEPHANIE LAZARO
Australian Idol also-ran Stephanie Lazaro-Bainbridge, 27,
belted out Anastacia's I'm Outta Love for her initial audition.


IRA MARASIGAN
21-year-old Ira Marasigan sang Route 66 during her initial audition. The daughter of theater artists Dennis Marasigan and Irma Adlawan, she was 5 when she won her first singing contest.


MAUREEN MARCELO
Maureen, 26, has participated in several singing competitions. She's most excited - who wouldn't be? - about her chances in Philippine Idol.


JELLICA MATEO
Infamous for her crush on Philippine Idol judge Francis M., Jellica sings in hotel lounges and bars, having been encouraged by family and friends, including renowned composer George Canseco.


YASMI ROSE "SUEY" MEDINA
Suey, 26, took time off from her busy schedule as member of a band to be a full-time mother. Her return to the entertainment industry comes in the form of a slot in the top 24.


CHRISTINA OTERO
25-year-old Christina is a Davao-based medical representative.


RINA LEI PANGAN
Elegant and poised Rina, 26, was a singing finalist at the 1998 Metropop Song Festival.
She was the grand prize winner of the Singgaling Ni Pops song contest in 2005.

AND THEN THE MEN...


JOSEPH ASTOR
27-year-old Joseph hails from Angeles City, Pampanga.


ROBERT BERNADAS
Robert, 26, is an artist, painter, and actor from Cebu.


FREDDIE CABAEL
23-year-old Freddie is most remembered for his search for his Afro-American father,
who left him at a young age to return to the US.


JASPER ONYX CULALA
Jasper is a 25-year-old was a member of the UP Singing Ambassadors.


KENNETH "CAJUN" DINGLE
A testament to the power of perseverance, Kenneth, 23,
joined the fast-tracks three times before the judges gave him a go-signal.


RAMIRR GREPO
Ramirr, 26, is a voice teacher at Yamaha. An original composition of his
was a Red Horse Musiklaban winner.


GIAN CARLO MAGDANGAL
Theater veteran and former boy band member Gian Carlo, 24, returned to his soulful roots
and secured a spot in the Top 24.


CHRISTIAN MASAGA
26-year-old Christian, a former theater actor and band member, is now a medical technologist
at the Philippine General Hospital.


MIGUEL MENDOZA
16-year-old Miguel is the youngest of all the 24 semifinalists, having earned a place after his initial audition at SM Dasmarinas.


JAN KURT NIETO
24-year-old Jan Kurt works for Unilever Philippines.


REYMOND SAJOR
27-year-old Reymond was a winner at the 2003 Hamilton Talent Hunt in Canada.
He has released an inspirational album here.


PAUL ANDRAE YBANEZ
26-year-old Drae volunteers for the Children's Garden of the Philippines and the Children Community Ministries, groups dedicated to alleviating the plight of street children.

(all photos courtesy of www.philippineidol.com)

Don't forget to vote for your favorite guy on our Philippine Idol Poll of the Week on the menu bar to your right! :)

UPDATE #1: Representatives of SM Megacinema confirmed that the Philippine Idol Semi-Finals are on a "by invitation" basis. Each semi-finalist is required to bring up to four audience members, while other invites are distributed among the show's presentors (San Mig Coffee Sugar-Free and Smart) and major sponsors (McDonald's and Wow! Magic Sing) as well as some network executives. A lot of anxious PI fans have been wanting to watch the program live. We hope that ABC-5 would someday allow the fans to support their Idols in person.

UPDATE #2: An article in Manila Bulletin confirmed that there will be a WILDCARD PHASE. The four men with the highest votes goes in the Top 12 this Sunday, same with the top 4 females coming September 10. The remaining 16 contestants will battle it out on the Wildcard Round on September 16 to determine the top 2 males and females that will complete the Final 12.