LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Homegrown performers from various towns and cities in Pangasinan showcased their breath-taking talents at the 1st Pistay Dayat Got Talent dubbed ‘Keliaw na Talento ed Dayat’ staged on April 26 at the Capitol Food Park, here.
Bagging the main title and Php10,000 cash prize in a field of 13 contenders was Pulang Korona, a hiphop group from Lingayen town.
Runners-up were Sta. Barbara’s singing idol Alysa Erasquin and singer Renz Lee Perez from Mangatarem town, who went home with Php5,000 and Php3,000 prizes, respectively.
A gathering of local performing artists in the province, the Pistay Dayat Got Talent was organized by the JCI Lingayen Liberation II in partnership with the Pangasinan Visitors’ Bureau (PVB), powered by HCA Productions with the support of the provincial government and various sponsors.
Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Malu Elduayan, Vice Chairperson of Pistay Dayat 2017, bared during the grand finals opening ceremonies that the Pistay Dayat Got Talent gave opportunity to Pangasinan youth for them to showcase their innate talents and skills via their performances.
“This talent search is staged at the Capitol Food Park, a new addition to the Pistay Dayat set-up which is inspired by Governor Amado I. Espino, III,” Elduayan said.
Meanwhile, PVB President Michelle Lioanag expressed gratitude to the patrons of the Capitol Food Park as she noted that aside from the food park, the PVB has also organized major events included in Pistay Dayat activities to include the beach party on the eve of April 28.
Prior to the grand finals, semi-finals was held on April 24 which gathered seven performers who advanced in the final face-off. Six golden flag winners, on the other hand, automatically advanced to the grand finals after earning the nod of the judges during the auditions held from April 17-20.
Third to 11th runners-up in Keliaw talent search were: Malasiqui’s The Original Fire Duo; Rica Mae Maer of Villasis; Teens Unlimited Dancers from Bani; Sta. Barbara’s singing belter Alexandra Tamayo and Lingayen’s singing sensation Margarette Jimenez; Dagupan City’s Arielamie Apalis; beat box performer Denver Banate of Lingayen; singer Irish Paladan of Aguilar; young singer Niel Austin Tamayo of Sta. Barbara; and magicians Ryan Mejia and Frederick Urbano of Binmaley.
The panel of judges was composed of DVM Mix and Match owner Robert Malicdem, Gielicious Catering Services Proprietor Magielyn Pabilonia, JCI Hundred Islands President Jan Marrione Fontelera, choir trainer Alma Nepascua, Secondary School Teacher III Jim James Pablico, freelance journalist Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Ocampo and Teatro Republika Inc, Plaridel Bulacan Director Edmund Santiago.
By Dexter A. See