Monday, July 29, 2019

ZEPHANIE DIMARANAN is First “IDOL PHILIPPINES”


What makes a singing idol in the Philippines? Is it the voice? Should that voice be a natural talent or one honed by practice and experience? Could it be the looks? Is it the personality or the style? Could it be all of these or any combination of these? Three times the Philippines tried to find out in three local iterations of the international “Idol” franchise. This year, ABS-CBN, which seems to have an exclusive right to all local franchises of overseas programs now, launched “Idol Philippines” to once again find a new recording artist idol for the country to be proud of. Last Sunday, that idol was finally found.

ABS-CBN News reports that on July 28, on its Final Showdown stage, the first season of “Idol Philippines” named Zephanie Dimaranan of Biñan, Laguna as its first winner. Her victory was little in question in the five weekends that remained of the program since the Top 12 began to get whittled last June 29 and 30. Since that moment Zephanie has managed to maintain a total judge and audience vote percentage in the high 90s, placing either first or second in the rankings. Last Sunday her triumph was assured by a solid 100% judge-audience vote.

The Final Showdown for “Idol Philippines,” held entirely at the Resorts World Manila Newport Performing Arts Theater, began on Saturday, July 27 with the Top 5 contestants – all who remained of the Top 12 – fighting to form the Final 3. In a tough contest, Dimaranan came in First place, her third time to do so since the start of the Live Shows. A rendition of Dessa’s “Lipad ng Pangarap” garnered 99.88% from the judges Regine Velasquez, Vice Ganda, James Reid, Moira Dela Torre and the audience. Miguel Odron and Dan Ombao were the last eliminated.

On Sunday, Zephanie Dimaranan chose for her last two competition pieces Ted Ito’s “Maghintay Ka Lamang” and “Pangarap Kong Pangarap Mo.” Her rating was a far cry from Second Placer Lucas Garcia (70.2% for Wency Cornejo’s “Hanggang Kailan” and “Because You Believed,” and Third Placer Lance Busa (41.89% for Morissette Amon’s “Akin Ka Na Lang” and “Kapit Lang.” That is well to be expected from a contestant that already cut her teeth in “The Voice Kids” and “Tawag ng Tanghalan.” Her voice and skills have been compared to that of judge Regine from her youth as well as Sarah Geronimo.

With that the first outing of the “Idol” franchise on ABS-CBN can be considered a resounding success. In fact, unlike with the former ABC5 (now TV5) and GMA7 iterations this version is getting a second season as confirmed by host Billy Crawford during the finale.

Image courtesy of Trendsmap

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