Last Sunday, 23 adorable and talented kids competed in the Grand Finals of SM Little Stars 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage.
Now on its 10th year, SM Little Stars is a nationwide search for cute, bright and promising kids aged 4 to 7 in a talent competition. Through the years, SM Little Stars has also become an avenue for brighter things as past winners are continuously shining in the field acting and modelling in commercials, television shows and movies.
The Grand Prize winners (one boy and one girl) went home with over P6.5 million worth of great prizes. Each winner had a Suzuki Ciaz brand new car; half a million worth of cash and shopping money; and a five-day and four-night trip to China for two including round-trip tickets, hotel accommodations and tours. They also received a four-year college scholarship grant from National University and a one year Talent Management Contract with TV5. SM’s Little Stars winners also received P15000.00 worth of gift certificates from Toy Kingdom.
The First Runner Up received P50000.00 worth of cash and shopping money and a four-year college scholarship grant from National University; while the Second and Third Runners Up got P30000.00 and P20000.00 worth of cash and shopping money respectively, and tuition fee discounts from National University. Runners up will also each get a five-day and four-night trip to China for two, P6000.00 Toy Kingdom gift certificates, and also a one year Talent Management Contract with TV5.
Jasmine Curtis Smith hosted this year’s finals with a board of judges who also acted as mentors: movie and TV director Mac Alejandre (mentor for acting) and celebrity judges Bianca King (mentor for modeling), Tuesday Vargas (mentor for hosting) and Alwyn Uytingco (mentor for dancing). They chose the winners based on the following criteria: 40 percent for Star Quality, 20 percent for Personality and 40 percent for Talent.
Here’s a look at the finalists.
In the metro area, SM City Marikina’s Shamir Jarred Parungao likes acting, rapping and breakdancing, and dreams to a be an actor someday; while SM City San Lazaro’s Camille Ronquillo and SM City Sta. Mesa’s Raymond Earl Curry enjoy showing their talents in dancing and modelling.
SM City Novaliches’ Jarra Arden Tan and SM Southmall’s Celine Loreal Bathan love gymnastics, and SM City BF Parañaque’s Ydian Dreique Bellosillo likes drawing; while SM Center Muntinlupa’s Miguel Gabriel Diokno enjoys playing basketball. SM City North EDSA has a talented duo: Timothy Mendoza who is into acting, singing, modelling and dancing; and Ria Marie Encinas who wants to become either an architect or a singer.
In Northern Luzon, SM City Tarlac’s Luis Bernard Guzman, SM City Rosales’ Rhijah Krische Onia, and SM City Clark’s adorable pair Franco Latiff Hussain and Christal Grace Sanchez charm the audience with their dance moves. SM City Pampanga’s Marcus Rayden Cabais dreams to become a basketball player; while SM City Baliwag’s Raimien Luzmer Ramos wants to be a chef.
Going south, sweet girls SM Center Molino’s Sheena Kirtsten Bentoy and SM City Santa Rosa’s Lilyana Mallabo enjoy singing and dancing. SM City San Pablo’s Johan Jozef Yalong wants to be an engineer; while SM City Lipa’s Ezekiel Joash Martinez dreams to become an actor.
SM Little Stars also drew a lot of star quality from the VisMin region. SM City Bacolod’s Brianna Nikola Ang who loves to answer puzzles, dreams to become a singer-songwriter; while SM City Iloilo’s Niño Paul Nathaniel Patrimonio who enjoys singing and dancing, wants to be a policeman.
SM City General Santos’ Jeretch Ramzes Arnol and SM City Cagayan de Oro’s Lulu Silvester who both enjoy dancing, joined SM Little Stars to showcase their talents.
SM Little Stars is one of the many exciting events of the SM Supermalls