Not another Regine or Gary V
By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:53:00 06/29/2008
MANILA, Philippines - True to form, performance mentor Jose Javier Reyes was already raising hell as early as the first week of the ABS-CBN reality search “Pinoy Dream Academy” (PDA).
According to headmaster Ryan Cayabyab, Direk Joey (as he is known in show biz circles) saw red when mentors’ choices failed to make the final cut in the show’s grand launch last month.
In an exclusive e-mail to Inquirer Entertainment, Direk Joey, in a more sober tone, attempts to make sense of the roller-coaster ride that is PDA.
“Talent is as important as X factor, but talent is not enough,” he readily admits.
Magic ingredient
Direk Joey points out that some gifted singers have failed, while “mediocre vocalists have become stars because they are blessed with that magic ingredient.”
In a nutshell, PDA aims to find that rare discovery: Talent mixed with charisma. “We are are looking for sellable performers, outstanding vocalists who can be developed into original Filipino talents who carry media value.”
Herculean task
He concedes that this can prove to be a herculean task especially since “[mass] media has been diminished to templates and [there’s] a prevalence of mediocrity.”
He asserts: “It will be interesting to produce talents who are earthshaking in their originality … I keep telling the kids: ‘We do not need another Regine (Velasquez), Gary (Valenciano), Martin (Nievera) or Bamboo. We need a new somebody.’”
He notes that these scholars can only evolve into originals if “they will be encouraged to be different, to be themselves and not be mere clones.”
This is where the mentors come in.
Direk Joey says that the show’s “mentoring” aspect helped seal the deal for him.
“There is actual learning taking place on this show,” he explains.
He says that mentors like Cayabyab and Kitchy Molina are there to “guide, teach and share their knowledge … What the kids make out of this opportunity is up to them.”
Mentors are also there to give scholars a much-needed “reality check,” he says.
He reiterates: “At this point, anyone can be a winner. The only losers are those who don’t maximize the possibilities of learning. Worse, the even bigger loser is he who thinks PDA has already made him a big star. Huwag malunod sa kalahating basong tubig.”