Tawag ng Tanghalan

***Tawag ng Tanghalan*** (lit. Call of the Stage) is an amateur singing competition currently aired as a segment of the noontime show *It's Showtime* that first aired on January 2, 2016. Dubbed as "*Your all-time favorite search for outstanding amateur talents*", the competition is open to Filipino contenders from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

This is the latest revival of the original *Tawag ng Tanghalan* talent search show which debuted in 1953–1972 and later revived in 1987–1988. OPM legends like Armand Panlilio, Nora Aunor, Novo Bono Jr., Pepe Pimentel, Edgar Mortiz and Diomedes Maturan were among the biggest winners of the original show. Noven Belleza emerged as the grand champion for the first season that spanned a year (2016-2017).

The second season of the regular edition premiered on June 12, 2017 and ended on June 2, 2018 with Janine Berdin emerged as the grand champion for second season.

The third season of the regular edition premiered on June 25, 2018 and ended on September 29, 2019, with Elaine Duran being crowned as Grand Champion.

Season 4 premiered on January 2020 and ended on February 2021, with JM Yosures as the Grand Champion.

## Overview

Regional contenders from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao compete daily on a live performance and are scored by a panel of judges. The criteria for judging are as follows:

* Tone quality 40%
* Voice projection 30%
* Stage impact 20%
* Intonation 10%

For the Semi-Finals and Grand Finals Round, scores from text votes (50%) of madlang people (audience) and hurados' (or judges') scores (50%) are combined to decide a winner.

However, if the contender goes off-tune or if the judges deem his/her performance to be particularly bad, the *punong hurado* (or head jury) will signal the gong-master with his hand to hit the gong three times, thereby stopping the performance and eliminating the contender, *à la-Major Bowes Amateur Hour*.

The daily winner can challenge the current defending champion and claim the golden microphone. Contestants who achieve a five-time winning streak will advance as a semi-finalist but may opt to continue up to ten times and become part of the Hall of Fame. The longest winning streak achieved so far is 10 times.

Among the semi-finalists, a Grand Champion will emerge in the Grand Finals. Losing contenders may come back to compete, known as Resbak. For Semi-Finalists, it is known as Ultimate Resbak.

## Cast

### **Main hosts**

* Vhong Navarro
* Anne Curtis
* Vice Ganda
* Amy Perez

### **Host relievers**

* Jugs Jugueta
* Teddy Corpuz
* Jhong Hilario
* Karylle
* Kim Chiu

### **Gong masters**

* Jhong Hilario (a.k.a. "GONG-cilor Jhong")
* Teddy Corpuz (a.k.a. "Teddy-set-GONG")
* Ryan Bang (a.k.a. "GONG-bassador" and "Ryan BANG-BANG-BANG")
* Jugs Jugueta

### **Guest hosts**

* Kim Chiu (2016-2017)
* Robi Domingo (2016-2017)
* Angel Locsin (2016-2017)
* Luis Manzano (2017)
* Pia Wurtzbach (2017)
* Bela Padilla (2017)

### ***TNT* Updates hosts**

* Jugs Jugueta
* Teddy Corpuz
* Tyang Amy
* Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla
* Vice Ganda
* Hashtags
* GirlTrends

### **Former hosts**

* Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla (2016)
* Kuya Kim (backstage host)
* James Reid
* Nadine Lustre

## Judges

The jury or *hurados* are mainly composed of professional singers and composers in the Philippines, including those who became contenders or grand champions of the original *Tawag ng Tanghalan*. Among the panel of judges, one is called the *punong hurado* or head jury. At most, 5 judges are present each day.

### **Head judges**

* Rey Valera
* Yeng Constantino (reliever)
* Louie Ocampo (reliever)
* Ogie Alcasid (reliever)
* Gary Valenciano (reliever)
* Billy Crawford (reliever)

### **Regular judges**

* Yeng Constantino
* Louie Ocampo
* Ogie Alcasid
* Billy Crawford
* Edgar Mortiz (Year 1 Quarter 1-2)
* Rico J. Puno
* Erik Santos (Season 1 Quarter 3-present)
* Jaya (Season 1 Quarter 3-present)
* K Brosas
* Karla Estrada
* Karylle
* Kyla (Season 1 Quarter 3-present)
* Mitoy Yonting
* Nyoy Volante
* Jolina Magdangal (Kids edition-present)
* Jed Madela (Kids edition-present)
* Sitti (Year 2 Quarter 2-present)
* Dulce (Year 3)
* Randy Santiago (Year 3)
* Zsa Zsa Padilla (Year 3)
* Angeline Quinto (Year 5-present)
* Klarise de Guzman (Year 5-present)
* Julie Anne San Jose (Year 7-present)

## Prizes

### **Daily Round**

Daily winners receive ₱10,000, with a consolation prize of ₱5,000 to the other contenders. The defending champion receives ₱25,000 and may continue to defend the golden microphone; losing contenders, however, can come back and try again, known as *Resbak*.

### **Semi-Finals Round**

The total earned prizes may vary among Defending Champions who advanced as semi-finalists with a winning streak of five times or more. The top two advance as Grand Finalists and receive ₱150,000 and a gold medal. Losing semi-finalists who lost can become *Ultimate Resbakers* or Wildcard and will receive the same prize as Grand Finalist.

### **Grand Finals Round**

The Grand Champion will receive cash prize, a house and lot from Camella, music package from JB Music, *negosyo package*, a recording contract from Star Music and a trophy, plus ₱2,000,000 cash. The 2nd and 3rd place will receive ₱500,000 and ₱250,000 cash respectively. Those who are able to advance to the Top 6 but were not able to advance to the Top 3 were given a consolation prize of ₱100,000 cash.

## Season 1 (2016–17)

The final score of each Semi-Finalist will be the combined *hurados'* (judges') scores (50%) and public text votes (50%) during the week-long competition.

In the Quarters, the eight Grand Finalists were chosen: Maricel Callo (Mindanao), Mary Gidget Dela Llana (Luzon), Pauline Agupitan (Luzon), Marielle Montellano (Visayas), Eumee Capile (Luzon), Noven Belleza (Visayas)
, Carlmalone Montecido (Visayas) and Sam Mangubat (Luzon). During the Wildcard Rounds, Rachel Gabreza (Metro Manila) and Froilan Canlas (Luzon), who were eliminated, were announced as the 9th and 10th grand finalists.

### **Grand Finals**

The week-long showdown for the Grand Finals took place on March 6–11, 2017 held at Resorts World Manila. Click here.

Noven Belleza from Visayas emerged as the Grand Champion, followed by Sam Mangubat and Froilan Canlas as runners-up.

## Season 2 (2017–18)

### **Semi Finals**

The final score of each Semi-Finalist was the combined *hurados'* (judges') scores (50%) and public text votes (50%) during the week-long competition.

### **Quarter I**

The first quarter of the contest covered the months from June to August. The week-long showdown took place on August 7–12, 2017. Click here.

Jovany Satera and Alfred Relatado (Mindanao) were the first two grand finalists.

## Season 5 (2021)

Season 5 of the competition began on February 8, 2021 and concluded on September 18 of the same year, making it as the shortest season so far. The season ran for 171 competition days, the shortest season so far caused by the surge of COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted ABS-CBN to temporarily halt its daily live program productions.

### Grand Finals: Ang Huling Tapatan

Reiven Umali emerged as the Season 5 Grand Champion, besting Adrian Manibale and Anthony Castillo in finale. Umali took home ₱1,000,000 cash, a music recording contract from ABS-CBN Music, a talent management contract under Polaris of Star Music, the highly coveted TNT Season 5 trophy, and a Brand New House and Lot from Camella.

## Season 6 (2021-2023)

The sixth year of the competition is considered the longest season in the history of the modern era of the show, as the season lasted from November 22, 2021 to May 6, 2023 in the Grand Finals, with Lyka Estrella (Mindanao) being hailed as the Grand Champion of the 6th season. The season lasted for 456 competition days, excluding Sundays.

### Grand Finals: Ang Huling Tapatan

Lyka Estrella has won the grand finale achieving a 98.9% score from the hurado, followed by Nowi Alpuerto (Luzon), who came in as the runner-up with 95.1%, and Jezza Quiogue (Luzon) who earned third place with 89.6% score.

Estrella also received ₱1,000,000 cash, a music recording contract from ABS-CBN Music, a talent management contract under Polaris of Star Music, the highly coveted TNT Season 6 trophy, and a Brand New House and Lot from Camella. Alpuerto received ₱150,000 cash prize as the runner-up, while Quiogue received ₱100,000 for being the third placer.

#### Year 6 - Ang Huling Tapatan Hurados

* **Punong Hurado: Louie Ocampo**
* Jolina Magdangal
* Jed Madela
* Jonalyn Viray
* Marco Sison
* Nyoy Volante
* Erik Santos
* Klarisse de Guzman
* Darren Espanto
* Gary Valenciano

## Season 7 (2023-present)

The seventh season of the competition commenced on July 3, 2023, and is expected to conclude on January 27, 2024, being the second shortest season after the fifth season of the segment that ran in 2021. The entire season ran for 180 calendar days excluding Sundays.

### Grand Finals: Ang Huling Tapatan

This will mark the first time that the week-long grand finals will return since the fourth season of the competition, in which ten grand finalists will battle it out to become the Grand Champion of the 7th season, expected to conclude on January 27, 2024.

The Grand Champion of the season shall receive the following prizes: ₱1,000,000 cash from SCD, a music recording contract from ABS-CBN Music, a talent management contract under Polaris of Star Magic, and the Season 7 trophy of the competition.

## Controversies

Rey Valera has often as a judge been criticized by viewers and critics alike for his offensive comments to contestants regarding their physical appearance. He has received backlash on the internet for repeated incidences of body-shaming several female contestants and failing to focus on the contestants' singing skills.

Karla Estrada's qualification as a judge has also been questioned by some viewers.

Judges' scores and text votes results are also questioned by many viewers either for lack of transparency, a faulty system that fails to confirm their votes thru SMS, allegations of unfair judging and similar claims that the show is rigged.

In the 2017 Grand Final, acclaimed actress Nora Aunor, the original *Tawag ng Tanghalan* Grand Champion in 1968, was scheduled to be the special judge but pulled out at the last minute due to a conflict with Vice Ganda, one of the main hosts of the show. According to reports, Aunor believed Ganda's brand of insult comedy was against her moral beliefs and made her deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being on the show.

## References

1. ↑ (November 08, 2021) Magpasikat 2021: 'Showtime' to celebrate 12th anniversary on November 27 - ABS-CBN News
2. ↑ (May 06, 2023) Lyka Estrella wins Tawag ng Tanghalan Year 6 -Pep.ph
3. ↑ It's Showtime to hold auditions for Tawag ng Tanghalan, Mini Ms. U - ABS-CBN News