Leyte ICOT Idol opens
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
WITH a new home at the Leyte Provincial Gymnasium, Leyte Icot Idol opened its 7th season with a bang last November 13, said Loydie Loreto, the team leader and musical director of the event.
According to Loreto, Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla, who is the brain and initiated this program, left no stone unturned to make the season more fabulous and really a vehicle for young talents who want to make their dreams come true and make it big in the entertainment industry.
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The Icot’s Dream for the Young Talents of Leyte (Idol) is the longest and the most prestigious talent search in the province.
The opening salvo was a fabulous performance from the young talents of Alangalang Lingganay Performing Arts.
Eleven young talents showcased their singing style and voice power for them to enter the second level of the competition.
Only four out of the 11 performers got the nod of the judges and are qualified for the second level.
They are Lovely Monnica Lopez of Dulag; Mark Dave Lebria of Tanauan; Ermina Meg Magallanes of Tacloban City; and Shanice Kae Suarez of Ormoc City.
The gymnasium was converted into a movable studio-type and was full-packed with family, friends and fans rooting for the budding singers.
Judges during the opening season were singer and music composer Archie Lesiguez; U.P. Prof. Stephen Legarde; host/events organizer May Petilla Militante; and Chinkee de la Cruz who is a singer herself.
The show also introduced its new musical director in the person of mega-talented Gerry Ruiz, a singer and former member of the Assembly Band that performed in Manila hotel circuits in his younger years.
Ruiz is also the president of The Camera Club of Leyte and Samar.
Male and female aged 15-25 possessing excellent quality singing voice passed through screening and audition in different venues.
Not only having a quality voice is being considered, but having star appeal is also given weight by the production team.
For three months, the Icot Idol production team held their auditions in the key cities and town of Eastern Visayas.
They went to the cities of Ormoc, Baybay, Borongan, Maasin, Calbayog, Northern Samar and Sogod, Southern Leyte.
Icot Idol is not only for Leyte talents but is open for singers from other provinces in Eastern Visayas.
Over 50 already auditioned this season and only the final magic 8 can perform in the grand finals.
What started as an idea of Petilla discussed to musical genius Melvin Corpin (now US based) over cups and cups of coffee, is now a great talent show, which people look forward to every year.
Monica Sacay a talent of ABS-CBN is a proud product of Leyte Icot Idol. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)
