Grand Finals is set!

Everything is set and everyone is ready for the Grand Finals on Friday, May 21, 2010 at the Liwasang Bonifacio Philippine Embassy, Riyadh, K.S.A.

Delegates from different regions will be arriving on Thursday. No less than Labor Attaché Des Decang and Saring Himig President Allen Gallardo will lead the full 4-bus delegates from the Eastern Region, composed of FilCom Leaders and supporters and Filipino Artiste Migrant Ensemble (FAME) President, Jhun Abris, will accompany the delegates from the Western Region. The show will start at 5:00pm and admission is free.

Meanwhile, the internet voting, which comprises 10% ended yesterday and the result and their corresponding scores are as follows:

AGUSTIN, JAY-ARE – 135 votes – 5.45675%
BANIQUED, VLIZEL – 96 votes – 5.29911%
CALLEJA, ARLENE – 295 votes – 6.10348%
CORPUZ, NASH – 41 votes – 5.07680%
DENOLAN, JASON – 135 votes – 5.45675%
DOLORICON, NERIBE – 26 votes – 5.01620%
ELEDIA, JEANNE – 1259 votes – 10.000%
GAMOL, TIMOTHY JOHN – 1222 votes – 9.85040%
GARCIA, BRIAN – 626 votes – 7.44140%
LOYOLA, JOSEPH – 22 votes – 5.00000%
OSABEL, ARNI – 644 votes – 7.51410%
RAGUIDO, HUNTLEE – 246 votes – 5.90540%

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Flash News: Lacsamana withdraws from competing to the Grand Finals

Jeddah Pop Icon Grand Champion, Andrei Lacsamana withdrawn his entry to the National Competition as of today, May 9, 2010 due to unavoidable circumstances. This was announced officially by Jerry Lagrimas – Vice President of Filipino Artiste Migrant Ensemble (FAME) – the organizer of Pop Icon in Western Region a while ago.

As per the rules and regulations of the contest, “once a finalist withdrawn or backed out from the contest, it is automatically that the succeeding placement in order shall be applied”.

Hence, Joseph Loyola, 5th placer in Western Region, will be joining the rest of the finalists to compete to the Grand Finals in Riyadh.

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Internet is now officially open

For 10 days, the popularity votes for the Saudi Arabia Pop Icons finalists will determine the 10% of the total votes during the Grand Finals 1st round. One vote per IP Address.

The vote will commence on May 18, 2010 at 5:00pm (Saudi time)

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Eastern Region Finalists

by: George Palencia, Al-Khobar
re-print from Abante

Arne Osabel

Jeanne Eledia

Arlene Calleja

Timothy John Gamol

Napili na ang apat na winners para sa Search for Pop Icon sa Eastern Region noong Abril 2, 2010 na ginanap sa Park Inn Hotel sa Al-Khobar. Ang siyam na finalists sa Pop Icon ay sinuportahan ng kani-kanilang mga taga hanga ng gabing iyonna halos mapuno ang venue ng Park Inn Hotel.

Ito ay sinuportahan sin ng S.E. Productions, ang main organizer ng Pop Icon sa K.S.A. na mga taga Riyadh na bumiyahe pa patunogng Al-Khobar. Sila ay sina Mr. Rani Basanta (CEO), Nilan Lozada, Dexter Lorente, Michael Sergio, Jerome Barrera, Jei-C Manuel, Veejay Aragon, Ron Jacobe, John Tapales, Ramed Borja, Willy Ignacio at Noel Martinez.

Sa simula ng kumpetisyon ay pinakilala ang siyam na kalahok na magkakaroon ng anim na pipiliin hanggang sa final four na manananlo at siyang magiging representante ng Eastern Region sa Grand Finals na gaganapin sa Philippine Embassy sa Riyadh.

Ang bawat kalahok ay pipili at kakantahin ang mga naging hit songs ng Queen and King ng Pop Music na sina Madonna at Michael Jackson with their own version. Pinakilala din ang limang respetadong hurado na sina Jojo BOllozos ng Riyadh, Auruel V. Magtuto (Head Judge), Ms. Mary Jane Tupas (Bagong Bayani Awardee/ Pangulo ng OFW Congress), George Palencia ng Orbit Showtime Network at Founder/ Chairman ng FAHAP-Filipino Association of HR & Administrative Professionals at Jose Fabregas. Sa Siyam na mga kalahok, ang pumasok na anim na finalists ay sina Alissa Andrea Liangco ng kinanta ang Beat It ni Michael Jackson, Arelen Calleja (Material Girl ni Madonna), Francis Alexes S. Noces (She’s Out of my Life), Jeanne Eledia (Vogue), Timothy John Gamol (I’ll Be There) at Arne Osabel (I Just Can’t Stop Loving You).

Ang partner organizer ng S.E. Prodcutions na Saring Himig Choir ay nagbigay ng Intermission Number at siyang nag Choreograph para sa Search for Pop Icon sa Eastern Region.

Guest Singer din ang WCOPA Grand Champion – Senior Vocalist of the World 2009 na si Kimverlie S. Molina.



Sa second part ng kumpetisyon, medyo nahirapan ang mga hurado sa dahilan na panay mahuhusay ang anim na kalahok at ang apat na winners na nakapasok with their winning pieces ay sina Arne Osabel (This is the Moment), Arle Callej (Big Spender), Jeanne Eledia (I Turn To You) at Timothy John Gamol (Impossible Dream). Silang apat ang magre-represent to compete with Jeddah and Riyadh sa Grand Finals na gaganapin sa Philippine Embassy sa Riyadh.

Sa mga hindi pinalad at magagaling din naman na talagang binigay nila ang kanilang best ay sina Comeny Teodoro (Heal the World), Noel Recondo (One Day in Your Life), Dexter Hipona (Crazy for You). Natanggap din ng award for Most Popular Pop Icon sa Eastern Province si Timothy John Gamol base sa nakuhang polularity votes sa mga audience ng gabing iyon.

Ang pamunuan at organizer ng Search for Pop Icon sa Easter Province ay pinangungunahan nina Mario Patacsil at Allen N. Gallardo ng Saring Himig Choir. Ang naging host ng gabing iyon ay sina Sharon Gay M. Suba at Dennis Lambus.

Ang mga major Sponsors ay ang Western Union, Mabuhay Mobily, Crème 21 at Electro. Gayundin ang Kuwait Airways, Park Inn Hotel (Fouad Mansour, Wassim Tarabay, Arman Ramos & Jefferson Egipto), Aujan Industries Company, Orbit Showtime Network c/o Mr. Malek Abdul Wahab & Osama Balora), Giordano, SG & WA, Century Properties Phils. Group, SARA Corporation Excel Unit, INDOMIE, Imeprial Leather, Auto Star, Plamer, Bossini, Milton Lloyd Fragrances, Al Yusr Installment Co. Tulip Inn Riyadh, Mr. & Mrs. Abdulrahman Cetro.

Jonrey Savia - Pop Icon Saudi Arabia 2009 Finalist

Kimverlie Molina (WCOPA 2009 Sr. Vocalist Champion)

Saring Himig

Sharon Gay Suba at Dennis Lambus

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Jeddah's Finalists

Andrei Lacsamana - Grand Winner

Jae-Are Agustin (1st Runner-up)

Huntlee Ragudo (2nd Runner-up)

Jason Denolan (3rd Runner-up)

Powerful renditions, breath taking performances, these are some words uttered by the audience and judges during the Grand Finals of Jeddah Pop Icon 2010 held on Friday, April 23 at Elite Hall of Al Waha Hotel. Andrei Lacsamana, working as a waiter, from Majesty Restaurant won the Grand Prize as Jeddah Pop Icon 2010 along with Jae-Are Agustin (1st Runner-up), Huntlee Ragudo (2nd Runner-up) and Jason Denolan (3rd Runner-up). The Top 4 from Jeddah will compete in the Kingdom wide Grand Finals in Riyadh on May 21, 2010.

Andrei’s winning performance of Wency Cornejo’s Hanggang, done in his own style of arrangement, won the judges nod and the audience hearts while Jae-Are’s song -Bridge Over Troubled Water, arranged with a twist of jazz gave variety to the singing competition while Huntlee’s classic song, Somewhere was given a fresh rendition. Jason Denolan wowed the crowd with his vocal variety in the song, The Prayer which earned him the 4th spot.

It was indeed a showcase of talents and not merely a typical singing contest as FAME unleashed once again its capability of producing the best show in this side of the region. 16 contenders battled it out until the exciting Top Eight Slot, wherein the battle for The Top 4 was indeed one of the most taxing jobs, according to one of the judges.

The host for the night, Veejay Aragon carried the whole show as if it was his own. Exhilarating dance numbers were also provided by the new dance group Knight Movers, lead by its young & energetic choreographer Erard Macaraeg together with Bb. Pilipinas KSA 2009 – Nisreen Khurshid and her court – Carlisle Tadili and Abbygaile Domacena. Last year Pop Icon winner Karla Maye Carreon, belted out Note to God which mesmerized the audience, indeed a powerful performance from the petite belter.

Special awards were also given to contenders Alvin Dave Limpin as Most Congenial and Joseph Loyola as the Internet Choice Awardee. The other contenders who made it to Top 8 were Alvin Dave Limpin, John John Domingo, Vincent Valiente and Joseph Loyola.

The judges were composed of Ahjid Sayas, Mario Germino, May Ann Aninon and Elvin Pineda.

Jeddah Pop Icon was sponsored by Sarawat Superstore, Avon, Night Queen, Inihaw at Kamayan Restaurant, Giordano, Logic Marketing and Bassam Dental Clinic. The national grand finals in Riyadh will be sponsored by Mobily, Western Union and Creme 21. Trophies for the winners and special awardees were donated by Elmer Fuentes, Randel Mercado and Mike Tavera.Gitnang Silangan was the official videographer and photographer of the night, along with Fame’s residence photographer Jocaster Dojoles and Randy Santiago




Alvin Dave Limpin as Most Congenial

Joseph Loyola - Internet Choice Awardee

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Western Region Grand Finals on April 23

Watch the Grand Finals of the Saudi Arabia Pop Icon Season 3 in Jeddah on April 23, 2010 to be hosted by Veejay Aragon and Bubbles Hernandez.

for ticket inquiries, please call 0565923915 or 0551023209

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SPONSORS VISIT

Saudi Arabia Pop Icons Season 3 contestants paid a courtesy visit to the sponsors of this year’s search.

In Riyadh, before the final elimination round, the contestants visited Sony Showroom and Yellow Hat. They received special gift items from the manager of the store.














In Jeddah, the contestants visited Sarawat Superstores.














Meanwhile, some SE Productions officers went to Al-Khobar last week-end and attended the Final Nights in Eastern Region.


In other related news, Mabuhay Mobily confirmed to Mr. Rani Basanta, CEO of SE Productions, that all the winners during the Grand Finals will receive cash prizes.

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Pop Icons in Action!

Neribe Doloricon - Grand Finalist

Natz Corpuz - Grand Finalist

Vlizel Baniqued - Grand Finalist

Brian Garcia - Grand Finalist


Aries de Castro
Dennis Belo
Jay-Are Nate
Jay-car Bonifacio
Jiemar Kiunisala
Mark Moraga
Regine April Concepcion
Reia Ayunan
Roldan Almaris
Ronald Cortez
Trisha Mariz Braza
Jarold Lara



Photos by: Mark Carreon - Cameraderie Club

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