On Oct. 11, the new SM Little Stars will be chosen from among 12 pairs of cute, talented, and adorable kids will compete in the Grand Finals, which will take place at 6 p.m. at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia.

The Grand Prize winners – a boy and a girl – will each bring home P200,000 worth of cash and Sodexho Gift Passes; P12,000 worth of Gift Certificates from Toy Kingdom; a Birthday Party Package from Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center; and Birthday Party Gift Certificates from SM Storyland.

They will also get a chance to develop their talents through a one-year talent management contract from Stages Product Specalists, Inc., and a Music Academy Scholarship from Trumpets Workshop. Winners can also learn to be a star on the lanes and the rinks with a Bowling Scholarship from the SM Bowling Center; and a day of unlimited ice-skating at the SM Ice Skating Rink.

The Grand Finals is the culmination of a month-long search wherein more than 5,000 kids aged 4-7 all over the country registered to join the search. Twelve pairs were chosen during the Regional Finals last Sept. 20, and the winning pairs will be chosen on the following criteria: 40% for Talent, 30% for Personality, and 30% for Star Quality.

Who will be the next SM Little Stars? Here’s a first look at the finalists:

In the Metro Manila area, SM City North-EDSA’s Rhyth Onyxe Sabio and Jhizhelei Bvanness Deocareza both love to sing, dance, and act, and dream of becoming doctors one day. SM City Fairview’s Angela Bea Galang, 4, is a gifted storyteller and singer, while SM City Taytay’s Nicolette M. Flordeliza loves watching TV and dancing.

SM City Manila’s Queenie Charmay Sulit, 5, shows a lot of star quality when she dances; while SM City Bicutan’s John Mark L. Ibanez is born actor who may one day join showbiz. In the south Metro area, Elijah Christian O. Alejo, 4, of SM City Sucat loves watching cartoons and hopes to be a child actress; while John Mark Pineda, 7, also of the SM City Sucat, dreams of being a commercial model one day.

In the Central Luzon area, Danielle Victoria G. Pacheco, 5, of SM City Baliwag charms the audience with her singing and dancing; while Carl Angelo Artuz of SM City Pampanga, 7, aims to fly high both as an SM Little Star and a pilot. Also in Luzon, SM City Rosales’ Allyson Jessica Greene and Alvincent Casela, are both 5, love singing and dancing, and hope to help others when they grow up – she as a doctor, and he as a soldier.

In the Southern Luzon area, both John Aarhon Novilla and Margaret Lipnitz of SM City Sta. Rosa are talented performers. SM City Batangas’ Kate Gellian Vinas, 5, and SM City Bacoor’s Lexus Libres, all look forward to being models one day.

The contest also drew a lot of star quality from the Visayas region. SM City Cebu’s Rosen Kay Maga, 6, loves watching cartoons and hopes to become a chef one day; while Marl Angelo Cabrera, 6, shows a lot of potential as a singer and looks forward to being a recording star someday. SM City Iloilo’s Mikhaela B. Harder, 4, and Armel Benedict Villanis both delight audiences with their singing and dancing and want to be doctors when they grow up. SM City Bacolod’s Gabrielle Louis H. Ramos, 4, and Joachim Renato Gabayeron, 7, are a talented pair who love singing, dancing, drawing, and swimming.

In the Mindanao region, SM City Cagayan de Oro’s Ikera Olandesca, 6, and Rolando Ng III, 6, went for the gold with their storytelling and reading, and speech and poem writing talents. SM City Davao’s Trisha Lorraine Diaso, 6, and Ranuel Josh Obenario, 7, amaze adults with their imagination as they sing, dance, draw, and act; and when they talk of becoming a nurse and pilot, respectively.

The SM Little Star pageant’s major sponsors include the SM Department Store, Toy Kingdom, SM Storyland, and the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center. Other sponsors are Stages Productions Specialist, Inc., Trumpet Music Academy, Jollibee, Purefoods Chicken Nuggets, SM Bowling Center, and the SM Ice Skating Rink. QTV 11, Events Incorporated, The Sweet Life, X-FM, and Jam 88.3 are the media partners.

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Showbiz families play to bond

From the pigeonhole:

All it takes is engaging in fun games – and sharing good food together – to bring out the closeness in Filipino families. This was experienced firsthand by some showbiz families who participated in the 1st Lucky Me! Pamilyaro Celebrity Edition, which was held at the Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga.

During the two-day event, the celebrity families gamely showed off their physical and mental skills to enjoy fun games, which indeed gave them a chance to bond and rediscover friendships with other celebrity families.

Among the famous clans who joined the event were Joey Marquez and kids Jaye, Jazella, Jacob, Johann, Joshua, Vinny, JB, Jesm, and Paolo; Gary Estrada and wife Bernadette Allyson with kids Gianna, Gabbi, and Icee; Lotlot de Leon with her three daughters Janine, Jessica, and Maxine; and Mayor Boy Asistio and wife Nadia Montenegro with kids Yssa, Ynna, Ykka, Xander, Ysha, Sophia, and Sam.

Also enjoying fun bonding time were Domini Primero and wife Joanne Quintas with kids Rafael, Mulawin and Mayumi; Tania Montenegro and kids Mara, Nico, and Mika; and Mymy Davao with her daughter Rafi and her two nephews.

To make the games even more exciting, Monde Nissin executives and their families also joined the challenge. Present were Louie Medina and wife Anne with kids LA and Chow; Chester Cajucom-Uy and wife Rizza with kids Kyle and Megan; and Jacob Dy and wife Shellane with kids Josh and Marco.

The event was opened by Rufino Tiam-Lee, vice president for Consumer Division of Monde Nissin Corp., the makers of Lucky Me!. Tiam-Lee shared that Lucky Me! has always been committed in building strong family ties. Pamilyaro is part of Lucky Me’s vision that through play, parents can know their children better.

After the exciting games, declared as grand winners were the families of former Mayor Boy Asistio and Monde Nissin’s Louie Medina.

Besides bonding over fun games, the celebrity families also got to share memorable moments together over a delightful dinner feast. The kids also enjoyed the performance by skilled acrobats as well as the enthralling fireworks display.

Indeed, the celebrity families who participated in the Lucky Me! Pamilyaro Celebrity Edition discovered how playing and competing with each other can strengthen their bond as families.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Oct. 10 go to Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Buboy Garovillo of Apo Hiking Society, Nash Aguas and Rodjun Cruz of Star Magic, Mrs. Yaying Dragon, Malu Maglutac, Vivian Uy, Michelle Puzon, Vic Brita, Encarnacion “Lovely” R. Santos, Mrs. Laura del Rosario Milo, Keiko Gardiner, Ricky Alvaran, Anna Vitta-Lim Galagnara, New York-based Luisa Velasco-Datiles and columnist Neal Cruz of PDI. Happy wedding anniversary to Dr. Adrian and Joy Buensalido.