It's Showtime's "BidaMan" segment is set to hold its grand finals this Saturday, August 10, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.
Twenty-one finalists were able to make it to the final round this week, which will determine the final number of grand finalists who will compete on Saturday to become its winner.
Twenty of these finalists were presented to members of the media for a press conference yesterday, August 7, at Taggo Bar in Quezon City.
They are: JR Baring, Yuki Samamoto, Wize Estabillo, ohannes Rissler, Chemp Rana, Dan Delgado, Jin Macapagal, Jervy delos Reyes, Kristof Garcia, Jay Dizon, Polo Laurel, Eris Aragoza, Jiro Custodio, Ron Macapagal, MJ Evangelista, Kyle Sabinay, Nathan Garcia, John Padilla, Thor Garcia, and Miko Gallardo.
Finalist Vien King was not present during the press conference.
This week, the 21 finalists were grouped into five to re-enact scenes from ABS-CBN shows Home Sweetie Home, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, Los Bastardos, The General's Daughter, and Sino Ang Maysala?
Two winners would be picked to compete in the grand finals for each day.
As of today, Polo, Eris, Yuki, John, Wize, JR, Jiro, and Dan already made it to the finals. Three more BidaMan finalists are expected to be part of the Saturday show: two winners for the Friday acting test and a Hurado's Choice awardee.
During the press conference, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked the producers of It's Showtime what will happen to the career of the BidaMan winner.
Associate producer Jerome Vargas revealed that even though there will only be one winner, all of the finalists will be automatically part of It's Showtime.
As for the winner, he said, "Meron po siyang movie with ABS-CBN Films."
Vargas also said that as early as now, drama units of ABS-CBN are already inquiring for the BidaMan finalists to be part of teleseryes.
He explained, "Meron na pong actually nakaabang doon sa... hindi pa man sila nanalo, marami na pong offers, nag-i-inquire na rin po kung pwede na silang kunin.
"But, of course, since nasa competition pa sila, we just cannot give them right there and then. So, after po ng competition, pwede na po namin silang isalang sa teleseryes."
This is the main reason why their final tests involve individual acting pieces.
"Mas mate-test yung acting nila, lalo na sa Sabado, so kailangan talagang tutukan ng mga tao kung paano sila mag-e-excel."
BIDAMAN MOMENTS WITH HOSTS
PEP.ph also asked BidaMan finalists about their most memorable moments on stage with It's Showtime hosts Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, and Vhong Navarro.
Eris Aragoza answered, "Di ko lang malilimutan yung pinaghubad po kami ni Vice sa stage... Ngayon ko lang na-experience yun!
"At saka sobrang babait nila, mga staff, mga hosts."
For Jiro Custodio, he appreciated that Vhong recognized his hairstyle inspired by his favorite superhero, Superman.
He said, "Siguro po, yung unang araw na nakaapak ako sa stage ng Showtime, isa po sa pangarap ko kasi... naging idolo ko po si Superman, ito pong buhok ko na ito yun.
"So napansin po ito ni Kuya Vhong at sinabi niya na inspired ba yan by Superman. At yun, sinabi ni Anne Curtis na kung maging superhero ako, ano daw pong pangalan ko, ayun nga po Super Jiro.
"After po noon, nagkaroon po ako ng identity po sa mga taong nakapanuod."
But for Jay Dizon, who has been trying to pursue showbiz for a long time, he feels lucky that they are already given the chance to show their talents on the It's Showtime stage.
"Contestant pa lang po kami pero binibigyan na po nila kami ng chance na makapagperform po ng live kasama yung mga bigating artista.
"Kumbaga, sa amin, napaka-blessed po namin kasi contestant pa lang nga kami pero andun na po kami para maipakita kung ano yung talento namin.
"Ang kagandahan po noon, nagkakaisa po kami, hindi po namin iniisip yung magkakalaban kami, iniisip namin, magkakapatid kami."
Here are the 20 finalists of "BidaMan" present during the press conference, including their showbiz experiences.
Some of the finalists already joined past reality shows, such as ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother and Idol Philippines, and GMA-7's The Clash and StarStruck:
Johannes Rissler already had experiences in modelling and pageantry, but BidaMan is the first televised competition he joined.
Jin Macapagal already joined the 2016 ABS-CBN reality show Pinoy Boyband Superstar, but he only reached the mid rounds.
Yuki Samamoto was part of the band that originally performed the song "Sa Isang Sulyap Mo." Apart from modelling, he was also an extra in the 2017 Kapamilya series La Luna Sangre.
Wize Estabillo already joined a previous It's Showtime segment called "Gandang Lalake" and reached the Top 15.
Jervy Delos Reyes joined the third season of Pilipinas Got Talent.
Dan Delgado has had experience in theater before joining BidaMan, his first time to join a TV show.
Chemp Rana used to be a part of a boy band before he became a part of the Top 62 of GMA-7's The Clash.
Jay Dizon joined ABS-CBN's Star Circle Quest in the past. He also joined BidaMan's predecessor in Magandang Tanghali Bayan called "TV Idol: Ur 'D Man," the contest that Ahron Villena won. Jay was supposed to be part of StarStruck's third season, but he was disqualified because he had a manager back then. He then did an indie movie called I Love Dreamguyz.
JR Baring, a commercial model, was also part of Maneuvers Ignite.
Kristof Garcia did bit roles in the Kapuso TV shows Tadhana and Dear Uge.
Ron Macapagal was a TFC viewer when he was in Saudi Arabia. He said that he wanted to audition for Goin' Bulilit when he was a child. When he returned to the Philippines, Ron appeared in short films.
Miko Gallardo used to play bit roles in films and TV shows, including La Luna Sangre.
MJ Evangelista has been playing bit roles in TV shows and movies for eight years.
Thor Gomez says it is his first time to join a reality competition.
John Padilla had tried to join showbiz in the past via ABS-CBN's The Voice and Idol Philippines.
Jiro Custodio auditioned for Pinoy Big Brother and Idol Philippines, and also tried to join It's Showtime's boy group, Hashtags.
Nathan Garcia was a member of a boyband and also auditioned to be a member of Hashtags.
Kyle Sabinay also tried his luck in Pinoy Boyband Superstar
Eris Aragoza was also a bandmate of Nathan.
Polo Laurel had a boyband in 2013 called The Brat Boys. After his career did not take off in the band, he tried modelling and pageantry and won Face of the Year 2019.
