A Voice out of Poverty The Voice of the Philippines.

Yes, it is the latest in the deluge of amateur singing competitions that has been a mainstay of Philippine television since this much prized broadcasting medium was introduced. Filipinos have always been a very musical race. For many of our poor who cannot afford an education, joining and winning singing contests, not only provides for them a very enjoyable activity, but it also gives them the chance to win some lunch money in the short term, and hopefully, pave the way for them to become successful singers and lead more comfortable lives. But what is it about the The Voice of the Philippines that ABS-CBN, the TV network that is showing it, is banking on? What differentiates it from the many other similar shows like Star Struck, Pinoy Idol, and Star for a Night? What is going to raise the ratings for this show and stir more excitement in the Filipino audience? Like all those other shows, The Voice of the Philippines has the celebrity host in the person of Toni Gonzaga, the celebrity judges: international broadway star Lea Salonga, local rock legend Bamboo Manalac, Filipino rags-to-riches pop princess Sarah Geronimo, and Apl.de.Ap, the philanthropist and lead singer of the widely successful American band, Black-eyed Peas, and of course the much coveted prizes of not just cash but more importantly, the recording contract and the promise of a grand career in the music industry. Two things set The Voice apart from all the other past and existing shows. First of all is their blind audition. As the word suggests, the judges will be blind to the contestants. The four judges will be seated faced away from the stage while the hopeful contestant sings. Based on vocal quality and the delivery of the song, without any bias on the looks or the movements of the singer, the judge will turn around for the one he or she feels has the talent to win in the competition, and who he or she wants to be part of the 13-man team he or she has to initially form. The blind audition opens up a world of opportunities to those who simply do not have the looks or moves to complement their vocal talents. It puts every contestant on equal footing, and makes the show a real singing competition in every sense. Secondly, the celebrity judges also become the coaches of their teams. They will have to work closely with the contestants. This will allow the contenders to develop deeper relations with their coaches, and give them a better opportunity to earn their mentors respect and eventually their support for any musical career these hopefuls might pursue. Moreover, as the teams compete with one another, the audience will also see how the celebrity mentors compete with one another. And of course, a competition with celebrity competitors always has more draw for the audience. Will these two unique features of The Voice really make the show a success? Will it bring in the paying commercials, which is the lifeblood of TV stations? Well, the producers are certainly banking on this. For the networks, The Voice is supposed to be a money-making venture. For most of the Filipino audience, The Voice is just another entertaining show where we root for our favorite contestants and celebrities. And when the season is over and the winners announced, we applaud and then, unless someone reminds us of them, relegate them to the back of our minds and continue on with our lives. But for the contestants on the show, The Voice,or any other singing contest for that matter, is their lifeline, maybe the only one they will ever get, to a better life. And when you see them pouring out their hearts into their songs singing as if their very lives depend on it, maybe it really does.

The Voice of the Philippines is one of the latest television shows in the Philippines, and it has attracted a lot of attention too. However, it is just like any other amateur singing show in the Philippinesonly taken one big step higher. Why then, has it become so very popular among Filipinos? What makes this show so special? The Voice of the Philippines is a reality show in ABS-CBN. It is based on The Voice of Holland. This show is hosted by Toni Gonzaga, and Robi Domingo and Alex Gonzaga serve as the shows V Reporters or the social media correspondents. Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo Maalac, Lea Salonga, and Apl. de. Ap are the four coaches and judging panel of the show. The first season premiered on June 15, 2013. For many Filipinos, this show is like a hope for them to get out of poverty. It is something that may give them fame and a lot of opportunities in the future. Also, since most Filipinos are very artistic in nature, this show is a chance for many of them to shine. That is why many Filipinos aspire to take their chance and join The Voice of the Philippines. Also, almost twenty-eight percent of the Philippine population is in poverty. Most of these people cannot afford to have education, and there are not enough good job opportunities for the people. These poverty-stricken people thus put their hope in the entertainment industry. A lot of famous singers such as Charice Pempengco and Sarah Geronimo were once poor and in poverty before they started in the show business. These people served as inspirations to the Filipino people that they too, can make it. The Voice of the Philippines is different from the normal singing shows held in the Philippines, for it is a nation-wide competition where everyone can see the contestants and their potential in singing. It opens up the contestantsif they are found to be exceptionally goodto many different possibilities in their lives. Why is The Voice of the Philippines attracting so many people? It is simply because it is a whole new opportunity to all the Filipinos striving for a better life.