By ARIEL E. FULLIDO
They came, they saw, they will soon conquer!
Thousands of people flocked the ABS-CBN auditions for Pinoy Big Brother and Pinoy Dream Academy at the Island City Mall last Friday, April 17, all aiming for a shot of fame.Network executives said that there were a total of 4,223 auditionees, coming from as far north as Baguio, and from as far as south as Basilan, all aspiring to make the final cut of 14 housemates in the four-month telecast of the popular reality TV show.
Mall security personnel reported that as early as 1 AM Friday, people had begun lining up at the carpark. Most of the applicants were young ones wanting to be the next teen housemate and follow the footsteps of Gerald Anderson, Matt Evans, Robi Domingo, and first PBB Teen winner Kim Chiu.
A 17-year-old girl from Cebu, Irene Bacalzo, headed straight to Island City Mall after she disembarked from the ferry Friday dawn. It is her childhood dream to become an artista like her kababayan idol Kim Chiu. Ramp model Francis James Padilla, a 16-year-old look-alike of Rayver Cruz, flew all the way from Manila a day before the audition to pursue his ambition in showbiz.
Fil-Am Jonathan Henson, a 30-year-old computer programmer residing in LA, took the chance to audition while on a vacation here. A 32-year-old father of two, Junie Recedillo from Davao, also confessed that he sees PBB as an opportunity to help his family. His wife's earnings from selling fruits and vegetables in the market used it as his pabaon in coming to Bohol to try his luck in the audition. Lilibeth Teron, a 28-year old daughter of a public school teacher, made a trip from Camiguin, via Jagna, just to audition.
On the other hand, 15-year-old Rita Carmel Mariquit of San Carlos City, Negros Oriental, traveled via Dumaguete City to audition here, despite suffering from a migraine and a high fever. She was able to audition but she collapsed after. A standby medical team immediately whisked her to the nearest hospital where she recovered later.
Direk Lauren Dyogi took much time until 11 PM Friday to search for that elusive "unique personality" among the auditionees for PBB, while voice mentor Monet Silvestre was behind the selection for PDA scholars. There were 30 auditionees in the PBB (Season 3 and Teens) who made it to the final shortlist, and will soon compete for one last time with the rest coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, before making it to the final list of housemates ni Kuya. The results of the PDA will still be known tomorrow.
For all the celebrity wannabes, millions of pesos in cash and prizes are at stake in the said reality TV shows, plus the grandeur of becoming a celebrity.
ABS-CBN thanks the Island City Mall, the City Government of Tagbilaran, City PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, The Peacock Garden, Grand Luis Lodge, Bohol Tropics Resort, Bo's Coffee Club, The Prawn Farm, Nescafe, The Buzzz Café, Jollibee, Dunkin Donuts, Chowking, Allison's Seafoods Park & Restaurant, Yul Fernandez, Ahongs, Coralandia, Bohol Coconut Palms Resort, Bai's, Mayeth Gulles, and Summit Mineral Water for being a part of success of the auditions.
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