A showdown of champions at the Big Dome

Viva Concerts presents a momentous event in Philippine concert history – the ultimate showdown of three of the best young singers in the land, Star For A Night grand champion Sarah Geronimo, Search For A Star grand champion Rachelle Ann Go and Star In A Million grand champion Erik Santos – in a one-night-only concert billed as Night of the Champions on July 3, 8 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum. Special guests are Mark Bautista (Star For A Night runner-up), Raymond Manalo (Search For A Star runner-up) and Christian Bautista (Star In A Million runner-up).

Sarah Geronimo has been through the wringer, so to speak, having gone through numerous auditions and amateur singing contests. She was a bit player in the kiddie flick Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa, made it as a member of Ang TV 2, which, sadly, didn’t push through, and won a spot on GMA 7’s Next that also led nowhere.

Those who were made of lesser stuff would’ve have given up by then. But not Sarah. "I never gave up hope even though I had to try out three times before I was accepted in Star For A Night," she says candidly.

Her perseverance paid off big time. She not only won the P1 million cash prize, she also cinched the "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to be built up as Viva’s next big star. Her first solo album under Viva Records, Pop Star… A Dream Come True, has churned out hit after hit and her own teleserye, Sarah the Teen Princess over ABS-CBN has become a household hit.

Rachelle Ann Go is quickly following the footsteps of Sarah. The Grand Champion of Search For A Star (a take-off from Star For A Night), Rachelle Ann Go is also enjoying the full support of her home studio, Viva Entertainment and has been getting the nod of music lovers with her first recording, the upbeat version of Laura Brannigan’s Gloria, together with rap group Salbakuta.

Show business is one roller-coaster ride. Ask Erik Santos – the grand champion of ABS-CBN’s talent search Star In A Million, who was initially eliminated, only to regain entry to the contest as the "wild card."

The rest, as they say, is history. Erik emerged victorious and is now considered one of the hottest young balladeers in the country. His first solo album, This Is The Moment, under Star Records is selling like hotcakes. The album’s carrier single, Pagbigyang Muli is fast climbing the hit charts and is on the top slot in MYX’s Daily Countdown.

On July 3, Sarah, Rachelle Ann and Erik will make concert history as they perform together in one stage – proving to one and all that they are indeed champions who rightfully deserve their crowns.

Tickets are priced at P1,000 (Patron A), P900 (Patron B), P750 (Lower Box), P400 (Upper Box A), P250 (Upper Box B) and P100 (General Admission), and are selling fast at all SM Ticketnet outlets, Araneta Coliseum, Box-Office and at Viva Concerts.

Night of the Champions is a production of Viva Concerts and Events. Stage director is Bobby Garcia with Bong Quintana as assistant director. Musical director is Marc Lopez. Sponsors are MYX and Styletto. Radio partners are 90.7 Love Radio, I-FM, Yes-FM, Star-FM and Mellow Touch 94.7.