Related Celebrities

Celebrity Duets, third time around!

Author: Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor
Column: Life

It is so back! This is the general exclamation of most people who enjoy watching Celebrity Duets. The novel singing contest that pits non-singers, who are celebrities in their respective fields, to sing duets with equally famous showbiz personalities, is airing its third season.

The past ultimate winners of Celebrity Duets were queen of flamboyance Tessa Prieto-Valdez and ang B.F. ng Bayan and wannabe president Bayani Fernando.

The first season became the battleground of the county's leading beauty and aesthetic centers, namely, Manny Calayan (head honcho of the Calayan Surgicenter), Hayden Kho (formerly affiliated with the Belo Medical Group, former paramour of Dr. Vicki Belo, and videographer of intimate moments), and Jessica Rodriguez Bunevacz (formerly the spokeswoman of Beverly Hills 6750).

The singing contest was also the springboard that propelled Kho's short-lived and ill-fated career in entertainment.

The second season, meanwhile, gave the public two adorable hunks: Everybody's favorite Brit, soccer sensation Phil Young Husband and chef JL Cang.

Hosted by singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid and Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez, with judges Prieto Valdez, Freddie Santos and Danny Tan, Celebrity Duets now assembles nine celebrities that will compete for the bragging right and get the opportunity to donate in whole or in part the P1 million grand prize to his or her chosen charity.

Here are the nine contenders with what this writer thinks are their strengths and weaknesses:

Jomari Yllana, actor and producer.

Strengths: Just two and an adjective, "fearless," and a surname, "Singson," whose first name is Ryan, his partner in their production outfit.

Weakness: The fans of his league of extraordinary exes Aiko Melandez, Ara Mina and Pops Fernandez will make sure he will not be victorious this time.

Janina San Miguel, former beauty queen

Strength: She feels confident right now.

Weakness: She may "give in" to the pressure, right now.

Maxie Cinco, costume and fashion designer of the stars

Strength: He might convince the "pink" voters to give him the title.

Weakness: His manner of speaking uncannily resembles that of the late great Inday Badiday, and we all know La Badiday could not sing!

Mikaela Bilbao, beauty maven

Strength: The metropolis is adorned by the oh-so-plenty billboards of Pops Fernandez, Rufa Mae Quinto and Ruffa Gutierrez, who are the image models of her skin center. Ergo, she has much needed moolah for the text votes.

Weakness: Her last name sounds so porky. Vegans and healthy living Pinoys might give her a thumbs down.

Joel Cruz, lord of scents

Strength: While we weren't looking, he made a name for himself and made his presence felt through a plethora of scents that the masses love.

Weakness: His sunshiny shampoo commercial hair is so distracting.

Gina Alajar, award-winning actress and director

Strength: With her numerous awards as credentials, she can be the Philippines' answer to Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia.

Weakness: She may be seen as too matronly.

Akihiro Sato, Brazilian-Japanese male supermodel

Strength: He is the leader of the Brapinos Manila model invasion and, yes, it's not his fault most of metro and mega Manilans find him "hot" and "yummy."

Weakness: Singing with a Japanese accent is assaulting to the ears.

Niccolo Cosme, fashion photographer

Strength: The fashionistas, elitistas, Ingliseros, Ingleseras and fashion editors will root for him.

Weakness: For the hoi pollois, the who?

Nonito Donaire Jr., WBA Interim Super Flyweight World Champion.

Strength: Everybody loves a champ! And he sings with so much feeling.

Weakness: Can somebody please tell this boxer to just concentrate on boxing!

Celebrity Duets Season 3 airs every Saturday, after Wish Ko Lang, on GMA Channel 7.

Source: The Daily Tribune