After a series of eliminations at different malls across the Metro, 10 extremely talented hopefuls recently entered the semi-finals of the second season of “Dreams Get Real: The Search for the Next OPM Star” by authentic leather brand McJim Classic Leather.
Through this exciting competition, McJim Classic Leather will once again give undiscovered Filipino talents the platform to be heard and boost Original Pilipino Music (OPM) with fresh voices.
After launching the careers of three of the most promising acts today—Dreams Get Real Season 1 champions Fifth Dynamics, JBK, and Neo Domingo--McJim continues to enliven the local music by giving aspiring artists the opportunity to kick-start their own musical journey.
“The level of competition this season is mind blowing! Each one of them is very unique and has something different to offer. During the eliminations, we really had a hard time picking the top ten,” said Chris Cahilig, Dreams Get Real project head, who was also happy to note that “the high degree of talents made this season’s event bigger, brighter, and better.”
From hundreds of entries, an initial pool of 20 contestants was chosen to perform in the mall eliminations. Eight mall elimination winners and two wild cards comprised of the final 10, which will then filmed viral videos to be posted on the official Facebook and Youtube accounts of McJim Classic Leather. The top three most viewed videos and three promising talents to be handpicked by the organizer will face off in an epic grand finals night on November 9, 2015 at the Music Museum.
“At this point, the participants shall have aptly demonstrated their talent, but we’re looking for someone who also has star quality,” Cahilig explained. “I believe that with proper guidance, a star will emerge in the group.”
The 10 finalists come from different walks of life—students, freelance singers, and professionals, among others. A lot of them acknowledged that the intensity they felt in our competition made it quite different from the competitions they had joined in the past.
WHOSE dreams will get real?
MEET THE TOP 10
ZSARINA CONCEPCION. Sweet Zsarina becomes a monster performer each time she lands on stage. This 18-year-old Tourism student from Lasalle College Antipolo has won numerous awards including the grand prizes of The Voice of Boardwalk Philippines (Monumento) and Lasalle College X-Factor and best performer for Rising Stars Philippines 2014.
EIFFEL MANANSALA. A licensed civil engineer from Mapua in Intramuros, Manila, Eiffel dreams of sharing his brand of original music to the public. This 26-year-old composer from Makati City is a newbie in talent competitions.
CARMELA RAVANILLA. Her moviestar looks comes with an immense talent. Carmella, an 18-year-old Tourism Management student from Miriam College, has already won several talent searches including the PLDT Singing Idol where she was declared as the grand champion and was a runner-up in the Rizal Idol Season 2.
MICAH LLONA. Sultry lounge singer Micah is a natural performer. This 22-year-old young lady from Tuguig City was once declared the grand champion of the Strepsils Singing Sensation talent search and a runner-up in the Win Big Singing Talent Search of 91.5 Win Radio.
CJ RANESES. A matinee idol in the making, 20-year-old CJ is a first-timer in talent competitions. He is currently taking up Nursing in Far Eastern University of the Philippines (FEU) in Manila and aspires to be a singing nurse.
TRICIA MAY CASAUAY. Band vocalist and composer Tricia is a second-timer in Dreams Get Real. At 19, this beautiful mestiza has already performed in school and corporate events. She is a fourth year BS in Architecture student from National University in Manila.
ERICKSON MALABANAN. For Erickson, nothing can stop him from reaching his dreams of becoming a recording artist. This 23-year-old Tourism Management graduate from Immaculate Concepcion College in Balayan, Batangas worked for an airline company as a ground attendant and as a bar singer in Macau.
KYM PENOSO. A versatile performer, 21-year-old Kym can swing between pop and rock genres. A native of Makati City, she is a Computer Engineering graduate from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and was once a runner-up in her school's battle of the band competition and a semifinalist in the Search for the Next Dorina Penida for "Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical."
ABIGAIL MENDOZA. Abigail may look like your typical rocker chick but here preference to old school music makes her simply unique. A freelance singer, she is one of the Top 5 Girls in the TV show X-Factor Philippines in ABS-CBN and has done opening acts for international artist like Air Supply.
APPLE DELLEVA. A power belter, Apple is an 18-year-old singer from Cabuyao, Laguna. She is a third year AB Communications student at the University of Perpetual Help in Calamba and has represented the Philippines in the Karaoke World Championship Grand Finals in Sweden and a semifinalist in GMA 7's "Bet Ng Bayan."
The grand champion of “Dreams Get Real: The Search for the Next OPM Star” will receive a full album and music video grant; P100,000 in cash prize from McJim Classic Leather; artist marketing support; and a talent management contract.
Like the official McJim Classic Leather Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OfficialMcJIM to be updated on all the happenings in the competition.een pop and rock genres.
