Sing Galing/1998

## *Sing Galing*

***Sing Galing*** is a 1998 Philippine videoke singing reality game show created and developed by the Associated Broadcasting Company (now TV5). The show had become a household name and a constant top-rated show during its first run on ABC and enjoys recognition as one of the most successful, original and innovative shows in Philippine television history.

The show first aired on March 6, 1998 with Ai-Ai delas Alas, Allan K., John Lapus and Kristine Florendo served as its first hosts. It was renamed *Sing Galing: The Trio-oke Showdown* in 2004 with both delas Alas and Lapus served as hosts; then renamed again to *Sing Galing ni Pops* the same year hosted by Lapus and Pops Fernandez, until the end of its original run on April 30, 2005. It was also the launching path for comedian Ethel Gabison also known as Ethel Booba, *Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2* winner Laarni Lozada, and *Philippine Idol* winner Mau Marcelo.

## History

The program premiered on March 6, 1998 with comedian Allan K. and beauty queen Kristine Florendo as hosts.

The show's mechanics were simple – the contestants must know the right lyrics to any randomly chosen song, be it Filipino or foreign, without going out of tune. If the contestant fails to sing the right lyrics and in tune, an animated genie would pop up on the screen and strike an animated gong to signal the end of the unfortunate aspirant's chance at instant wealth and glory.

After a few months, ABC chose comedian extraordinaire Ai-Ai delas Alas to replace Florendo as Allan K.'s co-host. It was a serendipitous choice – Ai-Ai and Allan were best friends and they had perfect chemistry. The show was a big success during the incumbency of this team which lasted a long time. It was the "golden era" for Sing Galing.

When Allan K. had to leave for the competing program *All Star K!* on GMA Network, John Lapus replaced him. Delas Alas and Lapus took Sing Galing to a new level; the title and mechanics were altered. Sing Galing the Trio-Oke Showdown, the tweaked version, premiered in March 2004.

Instead of four individual contestants vying for the "Videoke Singing Star of the Night" title, the new Sing Galing had three groups with three members each to compete in the elimination round. The trio must have something in common – like the same occupation. They could be a group of beauticians, clerks or drivers and so forth. In the elimination round, the three members of each group will take turns in singing a portion of the song assigned by the pachinko machine.

It wasn't long before the show would lose Ai-Ai as her mother network ABS-CBN suddenly invoked an exclusivity clause in their contract. By that time, she was doing the TV adaptation of *Ang Tanging Ina* which was aired along this program, aside to this are her other commitments with the network. ABC retained John Lapus, however, and acquired Pops Fernandez, who used to star in a self-titled musical variety show *P.O.P.S. (Pops On Primetime Saturday)* on ABC in the early 1990s, to co-host with John. In October 2004, Fernandez and Lapus gave a new spin to Sing Galing which then became ***Sing Galing ni Pops***.

In 2021, it was revealed that the show would be revived as a blocktimer on TV5 by Cignal Entertainment with Cornerstone Studios as a line producer on April 5, replacing APT Entertainment-produced game shows *Fill in the Bank* and *Bawal Na Game Show*.

## Hosts

### As *Sing Galing* (1998–2004)

* Kristine Florendo (1998)
* Ai-Ai delas Alas (1998–2004)
* Allan K. (1998–2004)
* John Lapus (substitute host for Allan K., 1998–2002; host, 2004)

### As *Sing Galing: The Trio-oke Showdown* (2004)

* Ai-Ai delas Alas
* John Lapus

### As *Sing Galing ni Pops* (2004–2005)

* Pops Fernandez
* John Lapus

## Home video release

In 2001, Ivory Records (now currently as Ivory Music & Video) released a limited edition Sing Galing VCD featuring the songs that are usually played and used as musical piece by the contestants. The songs included are:

* *Sexbomb* by Tom Jones feat Mousse T.
* *On The Wings of Love* by Jeffrey Osborne
* *Livin' la Vida Loca* by Ricky Martin
* *Bridge over Troubled Water* by Simon & Garfunkel
* *Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin* by Martin Nievera
* *Nakapagtataka* by Hajji Alejandro
* *Vision of Love* by Mariah Carey

## Spin-offs

In 2012, another TV5-produced variety show *Game 'N Go* had a spinoff segment of the program called Sing Galing Go.

## Awards and recognition

**PMPC Star Awards for Television**
* 2000 Winner, Best Game Show
* 2003 Winner, Best Game Show and Best Game Show Host for Ai-Ai delas Alas and Allan K.
* 2004 Winner, Best Game Show and Best Game Show Host for Ai-Ai delas Alas and John Lapus