Two Cebuanos make it to Pinoy Dream Academy

Two Cebuanos made it to the Top 15 to merit slots as scholars in the reality show looking to train talented young people to be the next big thing in the music industry. Apple Abarquez and Van Pojas, both 18 years old, have been officially accepted to the second season of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Dream Academy. 

The two joined 13 others from all over the country who were screened by some of the best mentors in Philippine showbiz. Composing PDA’s faculty are songwriter-talent discoverer-educator Maestro Ryan Cayabyab as Headmaster, award-winning director Jose Javier Reyes as Performance Master, plus mentors to the stars Kitchy Molina and Monet Silvestre as Voice Master and Voice Mentor, respectively. Originally, the scholars should have been 16 but one of them backed out. The Headmaster decided that the final slot would be contested by the four wait-listers who have scored the highest after the Top 15.

Since Apple and Van were already prohibited to talk with the media a few hours before the live grand launch held yesterday night at the PDA concert hall across ABS-CBN, The FREEMAN Entertainment sought talent manager, Mario Colmenaros, who incidentally handles the two budding artists, for comment. In an interview, Colmenares expressed happiness that the two finally made it to PDA and that the reception of the audience to the two’s performances last night were so far good.

While he expressed confidence in the potential of the two, he also said that he was told that it’s going to be a more difficult edition this year as for one, the mentors will be stricter.

But let’s get to know these Cebuano “dream scholars” a little more.

Van can be really considered a raw talent, as his exposure in performing is largely confined to school events. When he hurdled the Cebu auditions last year, he underwent voice lessons and did a couple of front acts for local concerts to practice bracing himself for big crowds.

But more than his talent and “heartthrob appeal” which has not gone unnoticed by the PDA mentors, Van’s backstory could also fuel interest in him more. With his parents separated (his father is based in Mindanao, and his mother is in the United States), Van had been living solo here in a Cebu dorm while taking up Physical Therapy at Cebu Doctors University. Interestingly, his mother has been against him joining PDA, and has only learned of his PDA stint via The Filipino Channel. “But he really wants to join PDA. In fact, he was also advised to audition for Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus, but he really is more into music. He has a passion for it, and although he’s into alternative music, he’s versatile and can do ballads,” explained Colmenares. Despite the “dysfunctional” family background, Colmenares is confident that Van would not pose a problem, attitude-wise, inside the academy. 

Apple, on the other hand, has always been exposed to performing being the niece of the late Doy Arradaza, one of Cebu’s prominent director-choreographers. Colmenares noted that Apple is like the complete package—talent, beauty and brains. Apple was an accountancy major at the University of San Carlos and a consistent dean’s lister prior to qualifying for PDA.

While Apple has initially created a buzz for her atypical family background, as she claimed to have been raised by “different sets of parents” (both gays and heterosexuals), she is already eliciting positive reviews in the online community, many thanks to her looks and voice that is being compared to ABS-CBN’s former singing star, Carol Banawa.

How long will Apple and Van remain in the academy? Will their talents and interesting life stories bring them all the way to the Dream Four for the chance to become the next Yeng Constantino, last year’s Grand Star Dreamer?

PDA is shown weeknights on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida. It is hosted by Billy Crawford, Nikki Gil and Toni Gonzaga. — NMT