With only two Saturdays left before the finale, Are You The Next Big Star? finalists are now busy campaigning for people's text votes, which will be added to the judges' scoring next Sunday, August 23.
During the pocket interview prepared for the remaining six contenders—Jay Perillo, Geoff Taylor, Alex Santos, Frencheska Farr, Camille Cortez, and Zyrene Parsad—three of them gave each member of the press a small photo card that had instructions on how to vote for them through text messages.
Aside from photo card, Camille of Antipolo also did her own "school tour" to introduce herself to her "kababayans."
"Marami po akong efforts [to get votes] like nag-school tour po ako. Nagpunta po ako sa munisipyo, sa DepEd, lahat pinuntahan ko. Nag-campaign po talaga ako, Fatima College and World City College sa Antipolo, San Isidro public school and Holy Spirit Antipolo. Sa area ko po talaga ang tinarget ko," said Camille.
Like Camille, female finalist Zyrene also visited her alma mater, Assumption College in Makati. She said, "Sa mga madre po, talagang very supportive sila sa akin. Ganun na lang po 'yong suporta nila sa pagkanta ko because sa kanila po ako nagsimula, e."
Zyrene also noted that the nuns in her previous school acknowledged her improvement in singing. "[Sabi nila], ‘Zy, you've been developing youself maturely and you've been performing good.' Siguro ang natatanggap ko na big comment is that I'm so poised and very elegant. Siguro kaya ako nasasabihan na very poised and elegant because I came from that kind of school na talagang I'm so close to the nuns. Kaya I make it a point na I sleep in the convent once a week, talagang very prim and proper."
Councilor Alex of Bulacan, on the other hand, was glad that he was saved by text votes in the last elimination round. He believed that most of the people who voted for him were his constituents in Marilao, Bulacan.
He added, "Doon ko po nasubukan na hindi man po ako mayaman, mayaman naman po ako sa kaibigan. Siguro dahil councilor nga po ako sa Bulacan, siguro 'yong pinakisama ko, ngayon inaani ko. 'Yong mga taong natulungan ko, mga taong sinuportahan ko, siguro ngayon ko lang naani lahat ng mga support nila."
Meanwhile, Jay of Tondo, related that his followers from Star in a Million, the contest that he joined in 2005, were still united to give him the support he needed for Are You The Next Big Star?
Then, he related that although he could not personally encourage everyone around the country to vote for him, he believes that Pinoys are wise audience.
"Alam ko naman po 'yong mga viewers, alam nila kung ano ang ginagawa ko, efforts ko, and 'yong dedication ko nakikita naman po nila. So, it's up to them kung feeling nila karapat-dapat ako to become the ‘Next Big Star.'
Geoff of Cagayan Valley shared the same opinion with Jay. He admitted that he was fortunate to have the support of the viewers onthe night when he was almost eliminated.
"Before worried po ako noon na-bottom ako," he said. "Pero ready naman na po ako sa lahat before, e. If ever na mabo-bottom man ako, ready na ako kasi alam ko ang ganitong klase ng competition at hinanda ko na po ang sarili ko. Buti nga po at nagkaroon ng ganitong twist 'yong competition namin, so na-save pa po kami. Ngayon po siguro aasa na lang po ako sa mga Ilocanos at mga kaibigan."
Lastly, despite having positive comment from the judges most of the time, Frencheska honestly said that she's still nervous about the upcoming finale.
She said, "Pressured po ako every time na kakanta po talaga ako kasi from the start po, sinabi na po nila sa akin na nagiging consistent po ako. So, dapat tuluy-tuloy lang po, hindi po pwedeng lumagpak ang performance ko."
At 16, the "next big star" aspirant from Las Piñas hopes that she could give inspiration to the Pinoy televiewers. "Nakakapag-inspire ng ibang tao. Gusto ko bawat tao po na nakikinig sa akin, gusto kong maging inspirasyon na tuparin ang mga pangarap nila," she said when asked what it takes to be a "star."
To vote for your favorite contender, text NBSNAME OF CONTENDER and send to 2344 for Globe, Touch Mobile, and Sun or 367 for Smart and Talk ‘n' Txt. Voting is up until August 23, noon.
Watch the final performances of this top six contestants as they face-off in a three-way showdown—Alex vs. Geoff vs. Jay and Camille vs. Frencheska vs. Zyrene—on August 15 and August 22, respectively. And find out who will emerge as the "next big star" next Sunday, August 23.