JERIC GONZALES and Thea Tolentino with GMA Network Films President Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar and GMA Artist Center Head for Talent Management Arsi Baltazar; (inset photos) Jeric and Thea with SM Supermalls Executives

Thea Tolentino and Jeric Gonzales, both from Calamba, Laguna, together won the grand prize amounting to R12 million during the finale of “Protégé – The Battle for the Big Artista Break.” Aside from the cash prize, the winners also got a management contract with the TV network, house and lot, scholarships, among others.

Though both Thea and Jeric are from Calamba, they never knew each other until they met at the first “Protégé” meeting at GMA-7.

When the “protégés” were introduced, there were about 60 of them, chosen and recruited by “Mentors” who traveled to different regions in the country. The mentors were Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate, Gina Alajar, Ricky Davao, Phillip Salvador, and Jolina Magdangal.

The protégés stayed at a designated headquarters where their respective mentors visited and taught them more on singing, acting, dancing, and hosting! It was an intense competition not only among the protégés but also among the mentors themselves. The mentors of the grand prize winners (Jolina Magdangal and Gina Alajar) got R500,000 each.

The runners-up are Elle Ramirez (Rizal), Mikoy Morales (Roxas City), Ruru Madrid (Zamboanga City), and Zandra Summer (Cebu). They also received cash and other prizes.

“Of course I did not expect to win!” Thea said after the show. “What I knew was that I did my very best!” She was nervous, she said, when she met all the candidates for the first time. “They were all so talented.”

Before she joined the overall talent competition, Thea’s mother had been prodding her to enroll in a personality development workshop. But then came the auditions for “Protégé,” she passed it, and now it’s history!

Jeric had almost the same story as that of Thea. He was preparing himself to take the forthcoming board exam for Nursing when the announcement came about auditioning for “Protégé.” Jeric dropped the nursing board exam and tried his luck in auditioning for “Protégé,” and the rest is history too!

He expressed so much optimism about the future of his newly acquired showbiz career. “I believe I can make it,” he said.

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Matteo And Drew Maui-Bound

Celebrity tri-athletes Matteo Guidicelli and Drew Arellano will go to Maui, Hawaii for the XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Global Championship as part of the Vaseline Men XTERRA Philippine Team.

This year, Drew and Matteo become part of the Vaseline Men XTERRA Philippine team which will represent the country in the XTERRA global championship in Maui on Oct. 28. They will be joined by Coach Noy Jopson and two other triathletes who will be selected via the Vaseline Men XTERRA Tri-Outs Cam: Race to Maui.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 25, go to Senators Lito Lapid and Alan Peter Cayetano, new Comelec Comm. Ma. Gracia Dielo Padaca, Ms. Cristina G. Caedo, Leandro Baldemor, Chary S. Misa, Jackie Cayuca, Santa So, Mrs. Rosario Corrales Miranda, Rey Espiritu of Walnut, CA; Toni Acaylar, Crispina B. Bragado, Ma. Bituin Hidalgo, Ceada Tanopo-Nato, Mario Hernando, Jojo Montemayor, triplets Leonardo Frederick, Alvin Benjamin and Kevin Anthony S. de Leon, and Henry Yap-Espiritu of Campaigns PR… Happy wedding anniversary to Rudolf and Babot Armas; Jessie and Tiffany Simeon; and John and Tini Jacaria…