This year’s B.C. finalists are, for the Open Category, Elizabeth Garcia, Harianne Alindogan, Aleah Cepe, Marc Betsayda, Alyssa Gutierrez, Johnette Sevilla, Raymond Merginio and Mavie Dato, and the Junior Category, Abigail Hennick, Rafael Paul Occena, Jasmine Stacey, Camilla Chan, MJ Ancheta and Julianne Nacorda . Trophies and gift certificates are in store for the winners of the big night.

The December 14 finals event is sponsored by the following Co-Presentors, namely, Phinma Properties , and TV5 , and major Sponsors, Marie Yngson- Team 3000 Realtor, Grazie Suites international, Bro, Marv Plumbing & General Construction; and Minor Sponsors are JB Bistro in Delta, Dr. Gloria Samosa, Filipino Seniors Club of BC, Forever Young Seniors Society of BC, Primeline Autobody & Painting, Dr. Daniel De Jesus. Dr. Marina R. Balleza, Filipino Construction of BC Olympia Restaurant, and Java Jazz Bis­tro.

The Canada-wide cham­pionship will be held in 2014 around the months of March and April. Finalists in the PNT Singing Idol- Yukon competed last No­vember 17. Contests are ongoing in Calgary and Edmonton. One competition is scheduled in Toronto.

This year marks the 6th sea­son of PNT Idol. It started in 2008 here in BC. This is the first year that other provinces are joining the contest. The Canada-wide champi­onship will feature big prizes that include one AREZO con­do unit from Phinma Proper­ties, two round trip tickets to the Philippines with pocket money, guesting on TV5 shows, and one week stay at Grazie Suites. Welle Medina is the overall coordinator and musical di­rector of PNT Idol.

The competition is a brain­child of Rey Fortaleza, chair of the ReyFort Media Group that publishes the Philippine Asian News Today and produces TV shows EveRIAthing and Bali- tang Vancouver.
“PNT Idol has grown and I’m hoping it gets even bigger in the coming years,” Fortaleza said. “I’m proud of Pinoy New Talent contestants and I wish them all the best.”