This article was witten by Walden Sadiri and published in Manila Bulletin. You can double check on the article here.
Called the “Circle of 10 Image Model Search,” it has become a haven for fresh faces wanting to join showbiz or the modelling world.
Like ABS–CBN’s Star Magic Talent Center or GMA’s Artist Center, Circle of 10 taps into the numerous raw talents in the country. Its onset has been inspired by the abundance of talented young Filipinos nationwide. And with the demand of advertising agencies, TV networks and movie producers for new faces, the Circle of 10 search is indeed timely and needed.
But according to Icon Entertainment, the organization behind Circle of 10, making it into the business does not entirely depend on having a pretty or handsome face. That is why each aspirant has gone through numerous auditions and talent workshops or modeling seminars to improve themselves. In fact, Icon Entertainment has made its annual search the most comprehensive casting pool of models for print and TV. Icon Entertainment has Tony Co as executive producer, Ms. Babes Enriquez as chief operating officer and Bill Ibañez as creative director.
From past Circle of 10 Image Model Searches, Icon Entertainment has produced a number of prominent young actors and actresses. Most of the in-demand young models we have have come from Icon’s search. And among the popular celebrities spawned by the search include soap opera sensation Karen delos Reyes, model-turned actor Richard Some, Theresa Paron, Paula Rosales, Jonas Olmedo, Mike Olivarez, Randolf Stamatelaky, Miguel Lim, Eric Eleazar, John Borjal and Grace Apuad. Most of the contenders (and winners) of GMA-7’s “Starstruck,” the first reality TV-based artista search, came from the Circle of 10. They include fast-rising TV actress Jennylyn Mercado, Nadine Samonte, Jade Lopez, Alvin Aragon, Dion Ignacio and Rainier Castillo.
Icon Entertainment winners have undergone extensive training to meet the high standards dictated by the market. And they are very proud and happy to see their past contestants or winners already making names for themselves in the realm of showbiz and modeling.
Now on its fifth year, choosing the members of the this year’s prestigious Circle of 10 batch has become harder than ever for Icon Entertainment. A nationwide search produced 41 exciting young faces vying for a spot in the Circle of 10. The Circle of 10 search culminates on Aug. 22 at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo.
To be aired at ABC-5, the “Circle of 10 Image Model Search” will be hosted by Toni Gonzaga and Paolo Fabregas. Directed by Ding Bolaños and choreographed by the dance group, Hotlegs, the pageant night will also be an entertaining event as Jennylyn Mercado and Jay-R perform some numbers.
“The Circle of 10 is really an exciting event to watch. Name four or five newcomers in showbiz and chances are two or three of them may have been discovered first on their print or TV ads,” explained Tom Andrales, executive director and founder of Cirlce of 10 Image Model Search.
The contenders of this year’s Circle of 10 are (for the female) Aikee Larena, Raine Cabral, Katrina Santos, Nadj Flores, Liezl Ramos, Chen Sarte, Rexy Mino, Isabel Sison, Jasyrr Garcia, Kalai Cabarroguis, Cecile Jose, Jamie Macarasig, Sam Samlani, Jelaine Santos, Aileen Sison, Vicky Prieto, Bamba Jose, Joanne Castillo, Jasmine Maierhofer and Lalaine Labis.
The male candidates are Marvin Luna, Elmer Sunga, Andrei Macaisa, Jayson Abalos, Jomari Tinga, Karlo Valerio, Arvi Encelan, Terence America, Lorenz Tumlos, Kenneth Maligalig, Alex Wynman, Benjie Pacia, Ryan Sunga, Von Olo, Nico Bana, Aaron Rangasajo, Crismon de Vera, Roel Berot, Joshua Moises, Arjay Legaspi, and Earl Toribio.
The search is sponsored by Madiraka Flowers and Events, WYSIWYG Media, Diadora, QClub London, Details Trading, Porcupine, STI College Global City, BUM, Spider and Charm Sunglasses, Maxicom Entertainment, Inc., Universal Records, SMINT, Regenere The Medical Spa, Jump Cut Posy Production and media partners Manila Bulletin and 105.1 Crossover.
Raw, young, determined and committed to make it big, these are the candidates of Circle of 10 Image Model Search, our country’s future showbiz personalities on the rise! (Watch out for them!)