Top 20 StarStruck hopefuls meet the entertainment press

The remaining 20 hopefuls in the ongoing StarStruck The Next Level,
GMA-7's first and original reality-based artista search, were
presented for the first time to the entertainment press last night,
December 27.

The 10 boys and 10 girls each paraded their talents—30 seconds of
singing or dancing—to the press attending the launch at Studio 3 of
the Kapuso Network.

The top 10 boys are Aljur Abrenica, 16, of Pampanga; Chad Burden,
20, Cebu; Dave Valentino, 20, Marikina; Dex Quindoza, 17, Manila;
Jan Manual, 20, Laguna; Kiko Junio, 16, Pampanga; Lui Perez, 19,
South Cotabato; Mart Escudero, 16, Cavite; Paulo Avelino, 18, Baguio
City; and Prince Stefan, 17, Iloilo.

The top 10 girls are Chariz Solomon, 17, of Pasay; Hazel Uy, 19,
Cebu; Jean de Castro, 17, Mandaluyong; Jesi Corcuera, 16, Pasay;
Jewel Mische, 16, Bulacan; Kris Bernal, 17, Quezon City; Lizzy
Pecson, 19, Pampanga; Renee Lascuna, 17, Davao; Rich Asuncion, 17,
Bohol; and Stef Prescott, 16, La Union.

This fourth batch of StarStruck contestants is one of the most
interesting in the history of the talent search of GMA-7. There are
the sob stories—someone who is a product of a dysfunctional family
or someone looking for a missing biological parent—that have become
a staple among contestants in artista-searches since StarStruck
began.

This year's roster also includes a son of royalty from Saudi Arabia
(Prince Stefan), a Sam Milby-look alike (Dave Valentino), a former
talent of ABS-CBN (Mart Escudero), a son whose father is in jail for
drug possession (Kiko Junio), a Japan entertainer-wannabe (Chariz
Solomon), and a girl who is openly lesbian (Jesi Corcuera).

For the first time in the four-year history of StarStruck, four
equal winners will be named and three titles are at stake: Ultimate
Sweetheart, Ultimate Hunk, and Ultimate Loveteam.

On New Year's Eve, December 31, these 20 hopefuls will be reduced to
the standard Final 14 in an episode airing live from Raja Sulayman
Park, Baywalk, Manila.

The fate of the StarStruck Top 20 rests on: (1) the votes of the
Council, composed of multi-awarded actress Lorna Tolentino, multi-
media director Louie Ignacio, and top-caliber talent manager Douglas
Quijano; and (2) the text votes from their fans and supporters.

To vote, just text STARSTRUCKName of Survivor and send to 2344 for
Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers and 367 for Smart and Talk N'
Text users.

StarStruck The Next Level is hosted by Dingdong Dantes, Raymond
Gutierrez and Jolina Magdangal.

Past winners include Mark Herras, Jennylyn Mercado, Mike Tan, Ryza
Cenon, Jackie Rice, and Marky Cielo.