RIYADH, 4 May 2006 — The ultimate showdown of nine TFC Popstar finalists who are representing the three regions of the Kingdom will be seen live at the Liwasang Bonifacio of the Philippine Embassy on Friday, starting at 5 p.m.
The final nine, who emerged after a rigid elimination process, are:
• From the Eastern Region: Kimverlie Molina, Jazmine Mae Abrenica and Alma Sheila Allen;
• From the Western Region: Edgar Vicente, Aubrey Caparros, and Caroline Joy Lopez; and
• From the Central Region: Cyndy Dela Cruz, Richard Balgos, Jr. and Stephen Fuentes.
The TFC Popstar quest is being conducted annually since its inception in 2004 in Dubai.
This is the first time that Saudi Arabia is joining the contest. Two winners who will be selected on Friday will represent the Kingdom in the grand Middle East showdown in Dubai on June 2.
“We opted to extend the search to Saudi Arabia since the most number of subscribers are based in the Kingdom,” Arturo Los Baños said in a telephone interview from Dubai.
Los Baños is the senior manager for sales and marketing for Middle East of ABS-CBN Global.
Los Baños said that the grand prize winner in Dubai will receive a house and lot in the Philippines worth more than 1 million pesos, plus airline tickets, cash prize and home electronics products. Stardom also awaits the new winner.
Los Baños said The Filipino Channel has awarded the franchise to SE Productions (SEP) to conduct the Kingdomwide search for the singing sensation.
Western Union and Speed Cash are among the major sponsors of the event, he said.
TFC is the first all-Filipino 24-hour programming channel introduced in the region as early as December 1997.
