GMA-7’s phenomenal artista search “StarStruck” (now on its fifth season) is getting hotter and more exciting as the aspirants are now down to eight. They could have been less but last week the Factor 2 twist came into play as the “StarStruck V” Council (composed of TV director/writer Floy Quintos, versatile actress Iza Calzado and talent manager Lolit Solis) used their one-time power to stop the elimination, saving Rocco Nacino and Sarah Lahbati.

But this week, the Top 8 Survivors will brace themselves to lose two contenders if Factor 1 takes effect. Factor 1 states that if a survivor lands in the bottom group thrice, it would mean an automatic nomination for him/her. And right now, both Ian Batherson and Nina Kodaka have been part of the bottom group twice.

Five weeks to go and we will know who the Final 4 Ultimate Survivors of the fifth season would be. So in this week’s artista tests and challenges, who will shine among the Top 8 contenders?

Can they survive Factor 1? When will Factor 4 and Factor 5 take effect?

Nina Kodaka

Nina now can speak Tagalog with fluency although she was already 13 when she came over to visit, then after four years had to go back to Japan to be with her parents. She has always wanted to become an actress, Nina said.

She loves to watch movies, especially the horror genre, she revealed. In fact, they say she could do well in a horror movie because she has eyes that could be described as piercing and could captivate. “Kung minsan nga kapag tinitigan ko mga fellow contenders ko, natatakot sila, sabi nila, huwag mo nga akong titigan ng ganyan…”

She’d like to try being in a horror flick in the future, if she had the chance. But of course she’d also like to do comedy or drama.

Steven Silva

Born in California, USA, Steven Silva has Filipino, Chinese and Portuguese blood but he looks more Chinese than anything else. He never thought he could be in anything that could lead to a showbiz career but maybe it was fated to be, he said. He came over last July for his practicum (he was a graduating Culinary Arts students in San Francisco) at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao where his mom’s family are. And, oh, he loves durian!

“An aunt of mine suggested that I audition for ‘StarStruck V’ so I did and luckily I got in. But before the auditions, I had to go back to San Francisco to attend my graduation,” Steven said. “My graduation was in the morning, and in the evening, I boarded my flight back to Manila.”

His mother was so happy for him, proud even that he might soon become an artista. His father, he said, is equally supportive of his new found interest.

Steven, who loves to sing and dance too, said that even if he doesn’t win, he’d still try to make it in show business here. And if doesn’t succeed in this field, he could always aspire to be a chef.

Diva Montelaba

A 19-year-old Cebuana, Diva Montelaba has been singing for quite sometime although not professionally, and she also composes songs. She is proud of this, saying that she hopes someday she would be able to release them through an album.

Diva had to put on hold her schooling (she was a sophomore Tourism student at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu) when she auditioned for “StarStruck V.” She’s crossing her fingers that she would be given the chance to join showbiz after the contest so she could earn proper income. “Bread-winner kasi ako,” Diva who was born on Jan. 14, the start of the Sinulog season, said. Her parents are separated and she was raised by her grandmother.

“I have to help my lola that is why I had to accept singing jobs before,” Diva said. If she is lucky enough to have a showbiz career after “StarStruck V,” she would save up to be able to go back to school and finish her course, she said. This is the reason why she’s doing her best in the contest.

Describing herself as adventurous, she would also like to learn about the different cultures of the world. And she would also like to be a writer. Among the songs she composed and is proud is one that she dedicated to a friend who died. She titled it “Matatag Na Kaibigan” and it is “super malungkot,” Diva said.

Aside from Rocco, Sarah, Ian, Nina, Steven, and Diva, the other two contenders in “StarStruck V” are Enzo Pineda and Rox Montealegre.

To vote for your favorite survivor, text STARSTRUCK (space) NAME OF CONTESTANT and send to 2344 for Globe, TM and Sun subscribers, and 367 for Smart and Talk N’ Text users.

“StarStruck V” airs every Saturday with Raymond Gutierrez right after “Pinoy Records” and every Sunday with Dennis Trillo and Carla Abellana right after “Kap’s Amazing Stories,” while “StarStruck Shout Out” airs three times a day Mondays to Fridays with five-minute updates in the morning, afternoon and primetime blocks on GMA.

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Joy: Make QC entertainment capital

Unknown to many, Joy Belmonte-Alimurong has been in the forefront quietly working for the promotions and development of arts and culture in Quezon City. She is the founder and chairperson of the QC Performing Arts Development Foundation.

“Everyone has talent but not everybody has an opportunity,” Joy said. Today, the QCPADFI has already trained 400 children in music, dance and performing arts.

“They bring pride and honor to Quezon City,” Joy said. Some of the scholars have won in several competitions here and abroad. “We will endeavor to train more scholars in the arts,” she added.

A star-material herself – “Mother Lily has not discovered me yet,” she joked – Joy is a member of the QC Film Commission and she is greatly responsible in the annual selection of the “Most Gender Sensitive Film Award” for the Metro Manila Film Festival.

“I support any initiative that calls for the promotion, development, and improvement of the local movie industry,” Joy stressed. Presently, all local movies being shown in Quezon City are tax-free. “We have to make Quezon City the real entertainment capital of the Philippines,” she added.

Quezon City hosts seven TV networks, and it is also the hometown of several production companies. And movie stars and celebrities also congregate in the more popular night outlets in the city.

Joy finished anthropology and archeology, two courses that are only most attractive to people who do need to earn a living but are more interested in delving into man’s history and heritage.

That’s the very reason Joy is the most qualified to serve in the helm of the Quezon City Museum where she also heads the QC Museum Development Committee.

As an archeologist, Joy has already participated in several diggings in the Philippines and in other countries. Her wealth of experience makes her a great asset in discovering our heritage from the past.

One significant experience she related was about her staying in a remote community in Mindanao where there were no amenities such as water, roads or adequate shelter. She was a volunteer working for the poor or depressed community.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “When you serve, you must have that compassion from the heart!”

She leads several projects in Quezon City designed to uplift livelihood. But these were never – or hardly – reached the limelight. Because Joy works and serves quietly.

That’s why when it was announced that she is aiming for the vice mayoralty of Quezon City, a lot of people immediately asked: “Why, what has she done except that she is the daughter of the mayor (Mayor Sonny Belmonte)?

We cannot list down here Joy’s litany of achievements for the city’s constituents. But everyone will have the opportunity to scrutinize them and know more about her.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Jan. 23 go to Justice Manuel Lazaro, Pinky Marquez, Vicente Singian, Dondon Monteverde, Emerenciana Arcellana, Prof. Wilhelmina Antonio, Rosalina Ellsworthy, Dr. Toto Salgado, Eliza Manebo of Sitio Sta. Lucia, Purita P. Dagang of Asingan, Pangasinan and California; Weena T. Sy, Marilyn Altarejos, Nini Jorge, Ligaya S. Fernandez, Besilda M. Mandapat, Renelyn Calusin, Janet Relos, Neil Gaylor, Armando Bernabe, New Jersey-based Venny Yalong, Kuya Kim Atienza, Belen Aliazas Tagum, Herbert Magtoto of New Jersey, USA, entertainment writer Jerry Donato and MB columnist Shirley Pizarro and son Alfonso. Happy wedding anniversary to Joey and Liny Sy. Belated b-day greetings to showbiz personality Chalala who marked a milestone last Jan. 21.