Does this judge have an edge?

Do things come easy to lawyer Annette Gozon-Abrogar simply because she happens to be the daughter of GMA big boss (also a lawyer) Felipe Gozon?

“Not really,” said Annette, head of GMA Films, adding that she’s not the type who takes advantage of, well, “connections” because from early on, “Our parents trained us to strive for excellence by relying on our own merits.”

Annette graduated high school as valedictorian at Colegio de San Agustin in Makati City and was named Outstanding Student of Makati. She graduated cum laude from Ateneo with a degree in Management Engineering and also cum laude/valedictorian from the UP Law School. She took up her Master of Law at Harvard University. She used to be a professor in Taxation at the UP College of Law.

For a while, she opted to be inconspicuous until, with no alternative, she found herself sharing the limelight with Kapuso stars when she took the helm of the network’s movie-production arm.

In Protégé, the new GMA artista search, Annette acts as one of the four judges together with Joey de Leon, Bert de Leon and Cherie Gil (fully recuperated from a throat surgery in New York). Hosted by Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Carla Abellana and Maxene Magalona, the show has as mentors Phillip Salvador, Gina Alajar, Roderick Paulate, Ricky Davao and Jolina Magdangal.

Let’s get to know a little more about Judge Annette (married to businessman Lito Abrogar by whom she has two children), she being the relative newcomer in showbiz.

What can you say about the current batch of Protégé contestants compared to the previous batch?

“The current batch of Protégé contestants is very different from the previous batch because this is now an artista search. Previously, it was a search for a singer. Thus, the criteria that was used in selecting the protégés for this year were very different. We are looking not only for a singer but for a drama prince and princess. In short, a potential superstar.”

What do you look for in a winner (his/her totality including not only talent and looks but attitude and over-all appeal)?

“The winner has to have that ‘it’ factor. For me, the winner has to grab my attention and make me say that I want to make this protégé the next primetime drama star of GMA and the next matinee idol.”

How fast can you tell if a contestant has “it”?

“I think it is immediate. In fact, there were two protégés who grabbed my attention the first time I saw them. However, there are times when the ‘it’ factor grows on you. And as the show goes on, the protégés can still improve how they style and project themselves. Of course, there’s the talent factor, too. It doesn’t necessarily mean that if you look like a superstar, you have the talent to be one. So at this stage, it’s still anyone’s ballgame.”

Not having gone through an audition (like the other judges, the hosts and mentors), how can you identify with what the Protégé contestants have gone through (and thereby empathize with them)?

“Well, I think that it has pros and cons. The positive thing about it is that my decision or choice will not be swayed so much by emotions but by objectivity. What I see is what I get. And my judgment will be based on that. The negative thing about it is that I might turn out to be a harsher judge than the others and appear cold-hearted (which I am not, hahahaha!).

“But to answer your question as to how I can relate to them, I think that to an extent, I can. This is by virtue of my having seen so many other stars who have gone through auditions and star searches. And they have been able to relate to me their experiences from these auditions.”

There are so many talent searches (you know, a dime a dozen). How do you think does Protégé differ from the rest?

“I think that Protégé as a show has more levels of competition. Not only are the proteges competing against each other, the mentors are also seriously competing among themselves. I also think that because of the mentor system, the proteges are being trained and honed more quickly than contestants of other star searches are.”

Batches and batches of talents are discovered more frequently now than in previous years. How do you think the batches should be “winnowed” so that only those with enduring potentials may stay?

“In truth, only one or two from each batch of star searches really become important stars. However, the other graduates of these talent searches also have their place in showbiz. Some become hosts, singers, dancers. Some go into comedy. Some become kontrabida in drama. Of course, some do not continue with their showbiz career.”

Can Kapuso (specifically) accommodate more (new) talents when many of those discovered in similar talent searches have ended up idle (waiting in vain for the break) while a few have not just one but two or three shows?

“Yes, we can. As I said earlier, not all graduates of star searches are destined for stardom. Moreover, the viewers are always looking for fresh faces and new stars that they can idolize and look up to. Therefore, there is a continuous need to look for new stars.”

From left: Roderick Paulate, Gina Alajar, Phillip Salvador, Jolina Magdangal, Ricky Davao, Carla Abellana, Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Maxene Magalona, Cherie Gil, Joey de Leon, Bert de Leon and Annette

You have the looks of an actress. Have you ever aspired to be one before you decided to be a lawyer? If ever, what role would you like to play?

“Hahahaha! Really? It’s the first time I heard that comment about me. I never aspired to be an actress because I know I do not have the talent to be one. If at all, I probably would have considered going into news or being a newscaster. If ever I did want to become an actress, I would probably like to play Sharon Cuneta roles since she was my favorite actress when I was growing up.”

Does your being the daughter of the Kapuso big boss give you an edge over anybody in anything you venture into (especially where TV is concerned)?

“Well, I guess so. Maybe that cannot be avoided. However, I was never the type to take advantage of stature or clout. Even as a child, I wanted to prove myself on my own merits. And I apply this principle up to today. In truth, my dad will never also allow me having an edge just because I am his daughter. He always taught us to strive for excellence.”

Do Protégé judges also, like the contestants, “compete” with one another, or play favorites?

“Well, surprisingly so far, we kind of agree on who we think are the stronger protégés versus the weaker ones. But let’s see as the days go by. It would be exciting if we did compete with each other.”

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