MANILA, Philippines -- Fifteen pillars of the local music industry, all icons in their own rights, will be honored at the 3rd PMPC Star Awards for Music to be held Sunday night, Oct. 16, at the Irwin Lee Theater, Ateneo de Manila University.

The 15 music icons are Pilita Corrales, Freddie Aguilar, Jose Mari Chan, Celeste Legaspi, Sylvia la Torre, Basil Valdez, Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Buboy Garovillo of the APO Hiking Society, Pepe Smith, Victor Wood, Ryan Cayabyab, Mike Hanapol and the UP Madrigal Singers.

Highlight of the ceremony will be the conferment of the Lifetime Achievement Award to the country’s superstar, Ms. Nora Aunor.

Producing the show is a couple known for being fans and supporters of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), Stanley and Pelita Uy of Beginnings at Twenty Plus, Inc., a one-stop media service provider specializing in event management. They earlier produced successful concerts by Jose Mari Chan, the APO, Ryan Cayabyab, Ogie Alcasid, and The Company.

In producing the third PMPC Star Awards for Music, Ms. Uy said she wanted a theme to make the show more memorable. Thus “Tribute to Icons” was conceptualized.

“We decided to honor Filipino artists who’ve been making a mark in the music industry for about 40 or more years, and whose contribution to the industry is unquestionably great,” Ms. Uy said.

Presented by Beginnings at Twenty Plus Inc., the 3rd PMPC Star Awards for Music is in cooperation with PMPC, Star Express and Net 25. Chairperson this year is Rodel Ocampo. The event will be telecast on Net 25 on Oct. 23 at 9:30 p.m.

The categories include Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Male/Female Recording Artist of the Year, Duo/Group Artist of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, New Male/Female Pop Artist of the Year, etc.

Meet the top 10 Protégés

All roads will lead to one destination today, Oct. 16, as the biggest and widest reality talent search on Philippine TV, “Protege: The Battle of the Big Break,” showcases the Final 10 live via satellite for the very first time.

The much-awaited competition night and live performances will happen in the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage. After the three-month long search, each of the 10 music icons acting as mentors finally has a sole protégé. The mentor-protégé tandems that will battle for the big break are: Mentor Jaya and Protégé Lovely Embuscado from Davao, Mentor Aiza and Protégé Krizza from Cagayan De Oro, Mentor Imelda and Protégé Rosalyn from Bicol, Mentor Joey G and Protégé Samantha from Dagupan, Mentor Rey and Protégé Group So Wat from Pampanga, Mentor Claire and Protégé Jensen from Batangas, Mentor Gloc 9 and Protégé Denise from Mega Manila, Mentor Rachelle Ann and Protégé Nomer from Cebu and Mentor Janno and Protégé Lirah.

Judging the competition are acclaimed composer and musical director, Mr. Louie Ocampo, renowned TV Director and Musician, Direk Bert De Leon and Comedian, TV Host and Songwriter, Joey de Leon. Together with the help of the voting public, they will choose who will stay in the competition.

New Bagets Boys on TV5

Viva Artists Agency has a new group of Bagets Boys, two of them from prominent showbiz clans while the third is from Japan.

They are AJ Muhlach, (half-brother of Aga Muhlach), Josh Padilla, son of top ’80s hitmaker Gino Padilla and Aki Torio.

They are the leads in TV5’s Sunday afternoon teen-oriented show called “Bagets: Just Got Lucky.”

The show is inspired by the ’80s “Bagets” movie. AJ, Josh and Aki said they feel the pressure, knowing how big the movie was.

AJ’s kuya Aga was an original member of the Bagets cast.

AJ said “He (Aga) always reminds me to just do well in everything that I have to do.”

AJ and Aki had their first taste of fame as members of the singing group XLR8 but “Bagets” is Josh’s debut in showbiz. Aki was vacationing in the Philippines three years ago when a talent scout discovered him in a mall.

Aki, who was born to and raised by a Filipino mother and Japanese father in Japan, was supposed  on a vacation for only a month, but he stayed to pursue a showbiz career.

“Bagets: Just Got Lucky” airs every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on TV5. Catch the cast via the Bagets Mall Tour today at SM Clark, on Oct. 21 at SM San Lazaro and on Oct.29 at SM Manila.

EK launches RCBC MyWallet card

In line with its 16th anniversary, Enchanted Kingdom, the country’s only world-class theme park, is launching another special event today, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. the RCBC MyWallet EK Card. Also to be held today at the Boardwalk Party Place is the awarding ceremonies for the winners of EK’s Captured Magic Photo Competition.

EK will also present “The Gathering: 16 Years of Magic, 16 Magicians” at the Bandstand from 2-6 p.m.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Sunday, Oct. 16, go to GMA Network Pres. Jimmy Duavit, Sec. Heherson Alvarez, Ms. Rosa Rosal, Richard Reynoso, Dr. Pacita Gonzales, Eden Arias, Concordia Pascual, Cathy Babao, Fe Aurora Castro, Cynthia C. Sullivan (a.k.a. Zapphire), Princess Violago, Jojo Temporal, Pearlie Cabanizas, Victor Mark M. Santos, Ace Esibal, entertainment columnist Emy Abuan, Gerry Velasquez, Tony Gonzales, Isadora Velasquez, Faustine Nathaniel M. Dela Cruz, Cindy Clavejo-Papa and New York-based Dr. Nora Realuyo and Ernesto V. Martinez, Sr… Happy wedding anniversary to Bobby and Venny Yalung of New Jersey, USA…