Philippine Idol semifinalists
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Idol Semifinalists consisted of 12 aspiring singers who competed for Philippine Idol
, but were unable to secure a spot in the Top 12 Finalists. They were selected after several stages of audition and theater eliminations. The semi-finalists were then divided by gender and the two groups alternately performed at SM Megamall
Cinema 3, where a stage was specially built for the live shows.
Each semi-finalist sang one song of their choice and received comments from each of the judges. The viewers voted for their favorites by dialing a toll-free telephone number
or sending an SMS
as many times as possible until 8:30 p.m. the following day.
The top 4 contestants of each group entered the Top 12. Then ten of the remaining 16 then performed in a Wildcard round, with the Top 4 completing the Top 12. Candidates for the Wildcard was announced after the second Semi-Finals Results Show, although it was shown a week later.
Philippine Idol
Philippine Idol was the first franchise of Idol series in the Philippines, the 35th country in the world to air a national Idol franchise and the sixth in Asia. The franchise was first awarded by FremantleMedia, 19 Entertainment and CKX, Inc. to Associated Broadcasting Company in 2006 and then to...
, but were unable to secure a spot in the Top 12 Finalists. They were selected after several stages of audition and theater eliminations. The semi-finalists were then divided by gender and the two groups alternately performed at SM Megamall
SM Megamall
SM Megamall is a huge shopping mall located in the Ortigas business district of Metro Manila, Philippines. It is the 3rd SM Supermall developed and operated by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall operator in the Philippines owned by Henry Sy Sr. The mall has two buildings interconnected with a bridge...
Cinema 3, where a stage was specially built for the live shows.
Each semi-finalist sang one song of their choice and received comments from each of the judges. The viewers voted for their favorites by dialing a toll-free telephone number
Toll-free telephone number
A toll-free, Freecall, Freephone, 800, 0800 or 1-800 number is a special telephone number which is free to the calling party, and instead the telephone carrier charges the called party the cost of the call...
or sending an SMS
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
as many times as possible until 8:30 p.m. the following day.
The top 4 contestants of each group entered the Top 12. Then ten of the remaining 16 then performed in a Wildcard round, with the Top 4 completing the Top 12. Candidates for the Wildcard was announced after the second Semi-Finals Results Show, although it was shown a week later.
Semifinalists
The following were not called to be among the finalists during the Semi-Finals and were shut out of the Wildcard Round, therefore eliminating them completely from the competition.- Freddie Cabael, Jr. - A band vocalist from Quezon CityQuezon CityQuezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, Metro ManilaMetro ManilaMetropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. Admitted that he was searching for his long-lost African-American father. He gave his version of Gary ValencianoGary ValencianoEdgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
's "Shout For Joy" during the Luzon Main Auditions. He sang "Macho Guwapito" by Rico J. PunoRico J. PunoEnrico de Jesus Puno , better known as Rico J. Puno, is a popular Filipino pop singing artist and television host who is credited as a pioneer-promoter of original Filipino music. He started the trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in his rendition of the American song The Way We Were and other...
during the Semi-Finals.
- Christian Masaga - A medical technologist at the Philippine General HospitalPhilippine General HospitalThe Philippine General Hospital is a tertiary state-owned hospital administered and operated by the University of the Philippines Manila, the University of the Philippines System's Health Sciences Center. It is the largest government hospital administered by the university, and is designated as...
. He used to be a stage performer and a band member. Auditioned in Cebu CityCebu CityThe City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
. Sang "Have I Told You Lately?" by Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
at the Semi-Finals.
- Robert Bernadas - A band vocalist from Cebu City. Admitted that he joined Idol to break his family’s “chain of poverty.” He is also into drawing, sketching, painting and acting. Auditioned in Cebu. Sang "Take a Look Inside My Heart" by David Benoit at the Semi-Finals.
- Erika Jill "EJ" Bautista - A band vocalist from Quezon City. She has a hearing impairmentHearing impairment-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...
after her eardrums were damaged in an accident. During the Manila Auditions, she sang "Mahiwaga" by Society of SevenSociety of SevenSociety of Seven is a variety troupe that performs a variety show of the same name. Formed in the early 1960s as a pop group named The Fabulous Echoes, the group released a number of records in Asia, recording with the Hong Kong-based Diamond Records...
, in which her late father, Gary Bautista, was a member. Sang "Paalam Na" (Rachel AlejandroRachel Alejandro-Early life:Rachel's mother and father separated when she was 4. Her mother remarried and moved to the US. Together with dad Hajji and his new partner, the late Rio Diaz, Rachel and her sister Barni spent time in Manila and the U.S.Her theater experience began with The Sound of Music at 8 years...
) at the semifinals.
- Abigail "Gail" Blanco - A commercial jingleJingleA jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
singer from Cebu City. She is also the former wife of PBAPhilippine Basketball AssociationThe Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
basketball player Dondon HontiverosDondon HontiverosDonaldo "Dondon" Hontiveros is a Filipino professional basketball player actively playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He has a son named Isaiah with singer and fellow Cebu native Gail Blanco.A devout Christian, Hontiveros studied and honed his basketball...
. Auditioned in Manila. Sang "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
) at the Semi-Finals.
- Rina Lei "Ynah" Pangan - A professional singer from Quezon City, Metro Manila. She became a finalist of the Metropop Song Festival in 1998. She bagged the grand prize in ABC 5’s Singgaling ni Pops on the same year. Auditioned in Manila. Sang "Halik" by Aegis at the Semi-Finals.
Wildcards
The following were chosen by the judges to perform in the wild card round, but did not make it to the Final 12. The announcement was made public on September 11, 2006.- Jasper Onyx Culala - A law student from Marikina CityMarikina CityMarikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of...
, Metro Manila. He sang his way around Europe as one of the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesThe ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
Singing AmbassadorsThe University of the Philippines Singing AmbassadorsThe University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors, also known as the UP Singing Ambassadors or UPSA, is one of the based in the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City, the Philippines. UPSA is the State University's official performing group for choreographed choral music and...
. Auditioned in Manila.- Semi-finals: "Windmills of Your Mind" (Dusty SpringfieldDusty SpringfieldMary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
) - Wildcard Round: "Wildflower" (SkylarkSkylark (Canadian band)Skylark was a former Canadian pop/rock band active from 1971–1973 and based in the Pacific Northwest. The band formed from one of Ronnie Hawkins' backup groups and signed with Capitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned three singles...
/Color Me BaddColor Me BaddColor Me Badd was an R&B vocal group that was formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. The original members of the group were Bryan Abrams ; Mark Calderon ; Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton...
)
- Semi-finals: "Windmills of Your Mind" (Dusty Springfield
- Joseph Astor II - A band vocalist from Angeles CityAngeles CityThe City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
, Pampanga ProvincePampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
. He has a strong resemblance to actor-heartthrob Piolo PascualPiolo PascualPiolo Jose Pascual is a Filipino film and television actor, musician, model, and producer.-Biography:...
on certain angles. He is a member of the band "Not by Accident" doing gigs in Pampanga. Auditioned in Manila.- Semi-finals: "Why Can’t It Be" (Rannie Raymundo)
- Wildcard Round: "Maria MariaMaria Maria"Maria Maria" is a song by Santana featuring The Product G&B. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for ten weeks on April 8, 2000...
" (SantanaCarlos SantanaCarlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
and The Product G&BThe Product G&BThe Product G&B is an R&B duo made up of Sincere and Money Harm . They were associated with Wyclef Jean's The Refugee Camp and managed by Troy Moet...
)
- Ramirr Grepo - A musician from Baguio CityBaguio CityThe City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
, Benguet ProvinceBenguetBenguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya....
. He is a voice teacher at YamahaYamaha (manufacturer)is a multinational corporation and conglomerate based in Japan with a wide range of products and services, predominantly musical instruments, electronics, motorcycles and power sports equipment.-History:...
Music School and a band member. One of his compositions was adjudged Best Jingle in Red Horse “MuzikLaban,” a competition for unsigned bands. Auditioned in Manila.- Semi-finals: "Bed of RosesBed of Roses (song)"Bed of Roses" is a rock song released by Bon Jovi in November 1992, from the album Keep the Faith. Jon Bon Jovi wrote the song in a hotel room while suffering from a hangover and the lyrics reflects his feelings at the time...
" (Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
) - Wildcard Round: "I Don't Want to Miss a ThingI Don't Want to Miss a Thing"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
" (AerosmithAerosmithAerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
)
- Semi-finals: "Bed of Roses
- Christina "Ting" Otero - A medical representative from Santa JosefaSanta Josefa, Agusan del SurSanta Josefa is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 22,730 people in 4,333 households.-Barangays:Santa Josefa is politically subdivided into 11 barangays.* Angas...
, Agusan del Sur ProvinceAgusan del SurAgusan del Sur is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Prosperidad and borders, from the north clockwise, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis...
. Auditioned in Davao.- Semi-finals: "Come In From the Rain" (Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
) - Wildcard Round: "Sana’y Maghintay ang Walang Hanggan" (Jolina MagdangalJolina Magdangal-Filmography:Pasan ko ang Daigdig-Television:-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-2007:* FAMAS Awards - Golden Artist Awardee* PMPC Star Awards for TV - Favorite Female Host Starstruck: The Next Level* UNICEF Ambassadres of Goodwill...
)
- Semi-finals: "Come In From the Rain" (Diana Ross
- Ira Patricia Marasigan - A graduate of Ateneo de Manila UniversityAteneo de Manila UniversityThe Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
from Kawit, Cavite ProvinceCaviteCavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
. Daughter of theater artists Dennis Marasigan and Irma Adlawan. She sang "Route 66Route 66 (song)" Route 66", often rendered simply as "Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961, The Rolling...
" which was a song popularized by Nat King ColeNat King ColeNathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
. Auditioned in Manila.- Semi-finals: "Mr. Melody" (Natalie ColeNatalie ColeNatalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
) - Wildcard Round: "In My Life" (Patti AustinPatti Austin-Life and career:Austin was born in Harlem, New York. She made her debut at the Apollo Theater at age four and had a contract with RCA Records when she was only five. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves as her godparents....
)
- Semi-finals: "Mr. Melody" (Natalie Cole
- Yasmin Rose "Suey" Medina - A band vocalist from Marawi City, Lanao del Sur ProvinceLanao del SurLanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf...
. A part of SILK Band who took time off to get married. Auditioned in Manila.- Semi-finals: "Almost Over You" (Sheena EastonSheena EastonSheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
) - Wildcard Round: "Best of My Love" (The EmotionsThe EmotionsThe Emotions are an American all female soul and R&B singing group. The group was formed in its current hometown of Chicago, Illinois originally consisting of the three Hutchinson sisters, all the children of Joseph and Lillian Hutchinson....
)
- Semi-finals: "Almost Over You" (Sheena Easton