THE PROTÉGÉ FINAL 6, from left: Ruru Madrid, Elle Ramirez, Jeric Gonzales, Zandra Summer, Mikoy Morales and Thea Tolentino

The six finalists of GMA’s “Protégé: The Battle For The Big Artista Break” met some entertainment writers last Wednesday and they certainly impressed their visitors with their talents, good looks and potentials to win. It will indeed be a tough job for the judges to choose who the two winners (one male and one female) will be.

Judge Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar admitted that it wasn’t an easy decision for them to send somebody home because all protégés gave impressive acts.

The Final 6 are Elle Ramirez, Jeric Gonzales, Mikoy Morales, Ruru Madrid, Thea Tolentino and Zandra Summer. Two of them will be proclaimed Grand Winners during the Final Battle on Oct. 21.

Elle, 19, is a 2nd year Tourism Management student at CEU Manila. Born in Angono, Rizal, her mentor is Roderick Paulate who always tells her to strive to be friendly and humble.

Jeric, 20, is a nursing student at Calamba Doctors’ College who said “hilig ko talaga mag-artista ever since I was a kid. But I took up Nursing in college to oblige my mom and sister.” Jeric was 1st runner-up to Ginoong Laguna search last April.

Mikoy, 18, is in his sophomore year (architecture, UST) but he has to stop schooling this semester. He said, “itutuloy ko rin unti-unti ang college education ko, but I really want to perform.”

Ruru (Jose Ezekiel M. Madrid) is the youngest of them at 14, and is only in second high school. Since he was small, he has been auditioning for contests, joining worlshops and doing VTRs. He has appeared in stage plays (he in fact played the lead role in “Ibong Adarna”).

Direk Maryo de los Reyes, his manager, urged him to audition for “Protégé.” He said he has learned a lot from his mentor Phillip Salvador.

Thea, 16, claims to be “mahiyain, ngayon lang kasi ako na-expose sa ganito. In the past, I wanted to join workshops to improve my personality, but lagi hindi natutuloy because of financial difficulties.”

Zandra, 18, is taking up Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of San Carlos in Cebu. Like the rest of them, “talagang gusto ko mag-artista ever since maliit pa ako.” So she kept on joining pageants and contest. She was chosen “Mutya ng Sugbu” in 2011.

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‘The Million Peso Money Drop’

Do you want to get hold of one million pesos in cash of about 40 bundles as your prize even before the game show has started?

If so, join the latest game show on TV, “The Million Peso Money Drop,” which will air every Sunday starting today, Oct. 14 at 8:30 p.m. on TV5.

Hosted by the “Bossing of All Game Shows” Vic Sotto, “The Million Peso Money Drop” promises to be more exciting but with a lot of suspense. Imagine giving a pair of participants the jackpot prize of P1 million immediately before the show!

The game is played always by a pair of participants – either husband and wife, a girl and her boyfriend, and so on. “We want them to help one another,” Vic explained.

“The Million Peso Money Drop” is the local version of the worldwide game phenomenon which has aired in over 40 countries.

The game will be conducting another round of auditioning for interested pairs on Oct. 18 at TV5 Delta Studio. Interested pairs must have two valid IDs, one 2x2 photos of themselves, and original NBI clearance, birth certificate, and medical certificate.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 14, go to former Pagcor Chairman Alicia Ll. Reyes, Rep. Dudot Jaworski, Joey de Leon, Richard Merk, Norma Japitana, Lexine Bondoc, Cecilia Batungbacal, Atty. Ruby Ruiz-Bruno, Agnes Payawal, Lita Alejar Faustino, Charlie Antonio, Eva Pinda, Ilonah Jean, Socorro Zarate, Doy Tobias, Charito C. Reyes, Tess E. Santos, Atty. Luz L. Suapengco, Moses Albert Ollero, Katherine Chloe S. de Castro, Erlinda L. Bautista and Brgy. Captain Ramil P. Landingin of Macalong, Asingan, Pangasinan…