Think Positive' warbler from Angeles wins 'Total Performer' grand award

By CRISPINA MARTINEZ-BELEN

Marie Joyce Tanana receives a facsimile of her check for P300,000 for winning as ‘OPM@PAGCOR, A Nationwide Search for the Total OPM Performer.’

MANILA, Philippines -- A 23-year-old “Think Positive” Angeles City beauty emerged as grand winner of the first national search for the “OPM Total Performer” undertaken by the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM) and the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor). The finals night was held Saturday at the PAGCOR Grand Theater in Parañaque City.

Marie Joyce Brade Tanana garnered a score of 94.7 percent, and her prizes include P300,000 cash, a P500,000 performance contract with PAGCOR, and a recording contract with a major recording company.

Twenty-one year old second-placer Charles Kevin C. Tan Jr. scored 92.8 percent and won P200,000 cash prize, a P300,000 performance contract with PAGCOR, and P20,000 as grand finalist. He is from Sum-ag Bacolod City.

And the third placer, 19-year-old Renz Ruther Robosa from San Carlos City, Pangasinan, scored 91.82 percent and won a cash prize of P100,000 and a P200,000 performance contract with PAGCOR.

All the other grand finalists, 11 of them, received P20,000 each.

The “OPM Total Performer Award” was a partnership project of PAGCOR and OPM that began last February this year. There were about 2,000 applicants who auditioned for the song festival.

PAGCOR President and COO Jorge V. Sarmiento said that PAGCOR found it very significant for having been involved – for the first time – in the national search for the OPM Total Performer through its partnership with OPM.

The board of jurors were composed of Ms. Celeste Legaspi, OPM founding president; Mrs. Tet Naguiat (wife of PAGCOR chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat Jr.), PAGCOR president and COO Jorge V. Sarmiento, Regine Valeazquez-Alcasid, and OPM President Ogie Alcasid.

Practically all the grand finalists sang patriotic songs. Erik Santos, Laarni Lozada and the PAGCOR Voice Choral group rendered musical numbers.

Hosts of the program were Nanette Inventor and Audie Gemora.

Gerald performs 8th solo concert

June 18, 2005 was a significant date for Gerald Santos, the balladeer from Navotas, as it was on that fateful day that he defeated the seven-week champion of GMA-7’s reality show “Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 2” with his song “Hanggang.” He got a score of 99 percent from the judges, which up to now has remained unsurpassed. Gerald went on to win as grand champion of the PPS Season 2 on May 6, 2006. On June 18 this year, Gerald is set to mount the biggest concert of his career.

Aptly billed as “Gerald Santos: Major Move,” it will be the 8th solo concert of the “Prince of Ballad” and it will be held at the Music Museum.

After winning in PPS Season 2, Gerald signed up a five-year contract with GMA Artist Center. He made his first record under GMA Records and came out with a hit single entitled “A Day On The Rainbow.” His second album “Gerald Santos, Pinakahihintay” was released in 2008 under a different label. His life story was told in “Magpakailanman.”

Gerald will have as guest Joseph “The Artist” Valerio who is the “Ultimate Talentadong Pinoy 2011,” Eula Caballero (Star Factor champion), the Knights Band, Dance Squad, the UP Concert Chorus and Wency Cornejo.

“Gerald Santos: Major Move” is written by Rommel Ramilo, choreographed by Nancy Crowe and directed by the well-known lighting director Joey Nombres.

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