What does it take to be a star?

CEBU, Philippines —  Premiering last night on TV5 was “Born to Be a Star,” the talent search from Viva Entertainment that first aired on the Kapatid Network in 2016. That first edition produced Viva’s current OST Princess Janine Teñoso, who is back in the show, but this time, as one of five Star Agents.

Joining Janine as a Star Agent is Teacher Georcelle Dapat-Sy, the artistic director and choreographer who’s well loved and respected by the country’s biggest performers, rap icon and singer-songwriter Andrew E, singer-actor Sam Concepcion, and “Suklay Diva” Katrina Velarde.

Of 40 auditionees, only 18 will move on to boot camp where they will be trained by Star Mentors Thyro, Wency Cornejo, Mark Bautista, and Teacher G. Cebuano viewers should watch out as one Sinulog Idol alumna is reportedly among the contenders.

Bringing over their surprising chemistry as judges in last year’s “Masked Singer Pilipinas” are Matteo Guidicelli and Kim Molina, who as hosts of “Born to Be a Star” are tasked, among others, to “make the applicants feel comfortable and relax before a performance” according to Matteo and to “calm or lessen their nerves,” so says Kim.

Excerpts from the digital media conference with the hosts and Star Agents:

What are you looking for in a potential star?

Sam: I look for the total package. It’s a good combination of talent and charisma. I do believe that stars can be molded. They are still young so there are still a lot that can be enhanced. It doesn’t have to be buong-buo na. We did see a lot of that, which makes it extra exciting.

Janine: I’m looking for an all-in-one: someone who has the voice, the talent, but most especially, I’m looking for the honesty. When he or she goes on stage, yung pagka-genuine ng performance niya and being themselves on stage.

Katrina: Vocals talaga ang hinahanap ko, yung boses talaga. May iba-iba kasi kaming hinahanap and yun yung nakakaganda kasi kapag sinama-sama, yun talaga yung star na yun.

What sets this talent search apart?

Matteo: This show is exciting because first off we have Kim Molina who is a very funny and energetic host. We also have our Star Agents who have different personalities that will shock our viewers. Our applicants, which is what we call our auditionees, they’re very very good and and they come from different backgrounds whom I’m sure the viewers will find enjoyable. Our viewers should not be fooled because we have a lot of contestants looking so ordinary or normal na you don’t know na grabe yung boses or galaw nila. You cannot judge a book by its cover because a lot of them will shock you.

Teacher Georcelle: With this show, we can un-star in the middle of a performance. Pwede kasi, ‘Wow artistahin’ but when they start presenting, parang kulang pa. Then we un-star. Our applicants range from 14-21 years old. They all have different offers and we are looking at budding stars. They’re so talented and I’m blown away by their performances. You see them go up on stage in shirt and jeans, you wouldn’t see the star quality. But once they start opening their mouth and they move, boom! Star kaagad.

As products of reality talent searches, what are your tips for the applicants?

Sam: It feels surreal to be on this side of the room. I really see myself in a lot of them. I know the feeling of being in a competition, preparing for it, the nerves, the pressure, the whole atmosphere of it all. It’s nice to watch and I really identify with them. One hard thing in this experience is the pressure. Especially when you’re a teenager, the pressure can really get to you. There’s so much at stake in a performance, it could make or break you. So if there’s anything I can impart, treat it like an experience, something you can learn from, whatever the outcome. It’s the way we react or how we understand the experience that helps us to grow. I see that the kids of this competition are very excited. They have a good competitive spirit. At the same time, they are here to grow and learn.

Katrina: May iba sa kanila na eager manalo kaagad. I always tell them that in life, there is no shortcut. Mas masarap maging iyo yung star or whatever your dream is kapag napagdaanan mo lahat ng hirap and sacrifices. What I notice about kids singing these days, minsan, masyadong give na give. Pa-impress na pa-impress. Sinasabi ko sa kanila na kailangan mo i-express muna. Ang pagkanta kasi, kailangan galing sa puso.

Janine: Kinabahan ako. I researched on other talent shows and my influences among foreign artists, how they judge. Pinag-aralan ko how they deliver their comments. Maybe I can impart to them that the process I went through as a singer, hindi siya madali. It’s not all highs. Its ups and downs. If you learn to be consistent and persistent in achieving your dreams, mararating mo siya with all your hard work and passion.

Do you think stars are born or made?

Andrew: For me, they are born and at the same time, made. Minsan merong tao na bitbit lang niya ang sarili pero wala siyang bitbit na talent. So there comes a person in his or her life na magtuturo sa kanya to extract that talent. But nowadays with the internet, kahit walang tulong ng ibang tao, ma-discover lang siya sa internet. Or kahit wala siyang talent at ma-discover siya online at ma in-love ang mga tao sa kanya, he or she can be a star.

Teacher Georcelle: My belief is that we are all born stars. Depending on the weather, every night, we see stars. Kikinang ba ang star mo, or mahina lang ang kinang? Nora Aunor is a good example. She is a born star na napakinang ng husto ng panahon. Before iilan lang sila – Superstar, Megastar, Diamond Star – na sobrang bright ng kinang. But now ang daming kumikinang because of the many platforms. In other shows, they probably want and pick the best singer. Here we don’t just look for the best singer, we also look for a talent with star quality. Are they trainable? Sa lahat ng nakikita niyong stars ngayon, when they started and when you saw them on television, they were not stars right away. They were trained for so many years. My role here is to look for that gift. Kikinang ba sa stage or pwede pa pakinangin over time? Rock star ba or superstar? Our winner could be a trainable star or a star right away. That is the beauty of this show. First impressions are important but for me it doesn’t have to last because I believe talents can be developed.