JEDDAH POP ICON ELIMINATION ROUND

Please watch the 1st Elimination night of Jeddah Pop Icon to be held this Thursday April 2, 2009 @ 6:00 pm at Sunrise International School .

For ticket information, please e-mail or call 0551023209 / 0567832667


Likewise, please bring your Western Union Gold Card for special gifts or if you are not yet a Gold Card holder, be a member now.

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More Photos "Toast to the Graduates" Appearances

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ardon Hatab

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SAPI 2 Performs during the Toast to the Graduates of 2009

Photos credit: BJ Fabricante Jr.

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Student Achievers to be honored at the Philippine Embassy

S.E. Productions will give recognitions to the top achievers of different International schools in Riyadh.

On its 2nd year, the celebration dubbed as “Toast to the Graduates” will celebrate the achievements of young Filipino students at the Liwasang Bonifacio Philippine Embassy in Riyadh on March 19, 2009 from 5:00pm to 10:00pm.

While these students are surely lauded in their own schools, S.E. Productions would like to present them to the bigger community for their true heroism, hardwork and dedication in their studies.

During the occasion, the Saudi Arabia Pop Icons (SAPI) Season 2 contestants will provide entertainment and intermission number.

Admission is free.

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HILIG NG MGA PILIPINO SA SINING, PAMATID NG PANGUNGULILA

By; Merito Santos (contributor)

Jamilah Dibaratun - 1st Riyadh Singing Pop Icon Grand Champion

Sadyang hindi mapapantayan ang galing nating mga Pilipino sa larangan ng sining. Bahagi na ng ating kultura ang mga gawaing nagbibigay saya’t sigla sa araw-araw. Kung minsan ito ay nagiging paraan para maibsan ang lungkot at pangungulila. Isang tipikal na bagay na mababaw, pero sa puso ng isang Pilipino, ito ay gamot sa isang karamdamang mahirap hanapan ng lunas, lalo na pag malayo sa mga minamahal.

Sa isang tipikal na tahanan ng isang Pilipinong pamilya, mapapansin mo na kahit salat sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan, kadalasan may makikita kang telebisyon, component, karaoke at mga nakasabit na posters sa dingding ng kanilang mga ini-idolong artista.

Halos hindi mo rin mabilang ang mga sinehan, karaoke bars at iba pang lugar aliwan na puntahan ng mga pamilya, estudyante, atbp. para maglibang kahit anong oras.

Ang mga bagay na ito ang bahagi na ng ating kultura at patuloy na nangyayari sa ating pang araw-araw na buhay kahit saan lupalop tayo mapadpad.

1st Riyadh Singing Pop Icon winners during their guesting in Kuwentong Disyerto in 2005

Mawalay man tayo sa ating mga mahal sa buhay at lumipat man tayo ng ibang lugar na may ibang kultura, gaya dito sa Gitnang Silangan, pilit nating hinahanap ang mga bagay na ito. Kaya’t pilit tayong gumagawa ng paraan para kahit paano maranasan natin ang pangkaraniwang buhay na dating nakasanayan na sa Pilipinas.

Ang Saudi Arabia ang lugar na kung saan karaniwan sa mga ating nakasanayang lifestyle sa Pilipinas ay ipinagbabawal dahil sa kanilang tradisyon at kultura. Kinakailangang irespeto ng bawat isa ang kaugalian ng mga taga rito.

Subalit sadyang pangkaraniwan na sa bawat Pilipino ang kahit paminsan-minsan ay makapanood ng mga palatuntunan na sumasariwa sa kanyang nakasanayang buhay sa bayang sinilangan at kahit sandali man lang ay maramdaman niya na para lang siyang nasa Pilipinas.

Tanging ang mga kabataang mag-aaral ang may maluwag na oras para sa ensayo, kaya’t karamihan sa kanila ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makasama sa mga programa. Ang mga kalahok na kababaihang OFWs ay kalimitang may kahirapan sa kanilang schedule at minsan, kailangan pang kumuha ng permit mula sa kanilang employer para makasali sa ensayo.

“Mahirap kaming payagang lumabas ng aming employer para sa mga ganitong okasyon. Kinakailangang humingi pa kami ng permit at may taning ang oras namin sa labas, kaya gustuhin man naming pumunta, wala rin kaming magagawa”, pahayag ng isang Pilipinang nurse sa isang hospital sa Riyadh.

Hadlang din ang lugar ng ensayo sa dahilang bawal ang mag sama ang lalaki’t babae sa iisang lugar. Ang Embahada lang ang tanging lugar na pinapayagang magsama ang bawat isa.

Suliranin din ang mga kakailanganing gamit gaya ng stage decorations, chairs, sound systems, etc dahil sa sobrang mahal ng mga ito. Halos maubos ang nakalap na pondo para sa ikagaganda ng show.

Isa ring problema ang maliit na espasyo ng Embahada ng Pilipinas para sa libo-libong Pilipinong gustong makapanood at ang mahigpit na pagpasok sa Diplomatic Quarters. Dahil nga sa higpit ng patakaran ng Saudi Arabia, walang ibang maaaring pagdausan ng palabas kung hindi ang Liwasang Bonifacio sa Embahada ng Pilipinas na puwede hanggang 1,000 tao lamang.

Ngunit kahit gaanong hirap at pagod ang puhunan, sabi nga nila “the show must go on” para sa ikaliligaya ng bawat Pilipino saan mang sulok ng mundo.

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FIRST ELIMINATION PHOTOS

POP ICON SAUDI ARABIA Season 2...Reaching for the star!!

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VOTING IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN

After the presentation of Riyadh contestants for the Saudi Arabia Pop Icon Season 2, voting is now officially open.

Choose who among the contestants you think deserves the first Saudi Arabia Pop Icon. Poll will be closed on April 21, 2009.

One IP Address = 1 vote, but voters can change their votes anytime.

10% of their scores during the 2nd Elimination Round will be determined by your votes. Separate polls will be made for the finalists during the Grand Finals.

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POLL FOR POP ICON

The voting for Saudi Pop Icon Season 2 for Central Region will start after the 1st Elimination Round on March 5, 2009.

The 15 contestants will perform live to the public individually with their chosen song in a 3-hour show at the Philippine Embassy Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia starting from 5:00 pm.

SE Productions decided that these contestants shall be presented to the public prior to the start of the poll.

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WESTERN UNION WILL GIVE SR7,000 TO THE GRAND WINNER!

FLASH!!!!!

Rani Basanta, SE Productions Chief Executive Officer, confirms that the Grand Winner of Saudi Arabia Pop Icon will receive 7,000 SR ( 1,800.00 US Dollars) courtesy of Western Union.

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JEDDAH POP ICON CONTESTANTS SELECTED

Jeddah Contestants: Donna Nogoy, Gary Belarmino, Genil Lurag, Jeser Valles, Jonathan Famador, Karla Mae Carreon, Kristine Bernadette Solis and Mary Ann Aninon

Eight (8) contestants were selected during the audition in Western Region by SE Productions Jeddah last February 13, 2009 at Philippine Sunrise International School. Both amateurs and semi-prfessionals , OFW and students, were among the possible contenders of the Pop Icon in Jeddah.

The eight contestants for this year’s Jeddah Pop Icon are:

1. Genil Lurag – 26 years old, Salesman at City Plaza
2. Karla Mae Carreon – 14 years old and finalist of QTV 11 Pop Star Kids 2006 and ABS-CBN Little Big Superstar
3. Jonathan Famador – 28 yrs old. former band vocalist working at Al Mabani Company
4. Mae Ann Aninon – 28 yrs old , 3rd Runner-up of Kabayan Idol Jeddah
5. Jeser Valles – 25 yrs old, Band Vocalist, working as System Analyst Panda Group of Companies
6. Donna Nogoy – 26 years old, Grand Champion of 2007 Jeddah Pop Star
7. Gary Belarmino – 28 years old, Ultra Sound Technician at New Jeddah Clinic Hospital
8. Kristine Bernadette Solis – 14 years old student, member of Serenata Choir

They will have their first round of Performance on March 27 and the Elimination round will be held on April 30, 2009 to choose the Top 4 which will represent Jeddah on the Grand Finals of KSA’s Pop Icon at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

S.E. Productions Jeddah is chaired by Mr. Jhun Abris.

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