After a grueling month-long elimination process, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM) announced the complete selection of the 14 grand finalists for theOPM@PAGCOR 2: A Nationwide Search for the Total OPM Performer.
Kenny Padalla, one of the grand finalists named during a press conference on June 7, made an interesting statement when the Manila Standard asked the finalists why they are joining a relatively unpopular singing contest.
Apparently, the 25-year-old singer from Baguio City, was part of Pilipinas Got Talent season 2, which crowned a bi-vocalist singer. He also joined GMA-7’sStarStruck in 2009.
“I’m joining this competition because I believe the judges will be fair in judging us,” Kenny retorted citing that in his previous foray into a popular singing contest the show did not give the contestants equal footing. Though Kenny did not elaborate, he was consistent using the word “fair” as his main reason why he joined OPM@PAGCOR.
From the simple question of “Why are they joining?” the press became more interested with the finalists.
Other novice OPM singers named as finalists were: Glory Laylo Salazar,Romabel Mangaring Princena, Kim Jomarie Arabejo, Alex Weill Jr., Arah May Rodriguez, Mark Ryan Tabag, Delmaica Papas, Marc Lyndon Nacua,John Willace Tubalde, Froilan Canlas, and Angela Dana Alegre.
The finals will be on June 16 at the PAGCOR Grand Theater, Airport Casino Filipino in Parañaque City. The grand winner will take home P300,000 in cash and a year-long performance contract with PAGCOR.
