What’s new on Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2

June 11, 2008 6:52 PM

Ryan Cayabyab and Billy Crawford were formally welcomed into the Pinoy Dream Academy family during a July 3 presscon for the second season. Along with hosts Toni Gonzaga and Nikki Gil and Season 1 mentors Joey Reyes, Kitchy Molina, and Monet Silvestre, the two new inclusions promise to make PDA into one exciting show.

Maestro Ryan, who has been teaching music for over two decades, will take over headmaster duties from Jim Paredes, who has decided to return to Australia. International pop-R&B sensation Billy will be hosting the daily afternoon show Uberture, giving updates and other factoids on the PDA Dreamers. Toni will host the primetime edition of PDA while Nikki will be delivering daily updates. Toni and Billy will also host the weekly performance and expulsion nights.

Another new aspect of the show is the inclusion of a live-in voice mentor. Monet Silvestre will be staying inside the house to provide guidance to the scholars both in and out of the classroom. “This is something you should look forward to because it is a different take on PDA. Ibang klase,” Headmaster Ryan says. Voice master Kitchy and performance master Joey are also back to help mold the scholar’s talents and personalities.

This new season also heralds the start of including Little Big Dreamers into the show. These are younger singing aspirants who will also undergo classes and have a special performance every Sunday. Out of these young contenders, there will also be a top three students, just like the PDA scholars. “The academy will be open to them on weekends, but they will come in later on. We thought we should also open it up to younger aspirants. Kasi ‘di ba the younger they are, the better to teach the kids. Since nandito na yung PDA, hindi pa naman alam kung kelan mangyayari yung Little Big Star, we’re already opening it to younger singers. Mas importante yung may matutunan sila kesa yung competition itself. So abangan ninyo nalang yun,” shares PDA Business Unit Head Lauren Dyogi.

Pinoy Dream Academy Updates

Billy Crawford hosts Pinoy Dream Academy (Manila Bulletin)

Billy Crawford is back. This time, the international performer has chosen to be Kapamilya. Billy has been tapped to host Pinoy Dream Academy.

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 begins on June 9 (PEP)

For the past nine weeks, ABS-CBN has been introducing the potential scholars of Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 via a segment integrated with the Saturday edition of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus. This primer, hosted by Yeng Constantino, introduced the 32 PDA dreamers-with all of them giving the public a sample of their own brand of music.

Toni Gonzaga to host “Pinoy Dream Academy” (ABS-CBNNEWS.com)

Actress and host Toni Gonzaga is working hard as if there is no tomorrow. With only a few days left before the finale of “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus” on June 7th, Saturday, Gonzaga will be seen again as the host for the second season of “Philippine Dream Academy” (PDA).

FIRST READ ON PEP: Ejay Falcon voted Big Winner of “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus” (PEP)

For 75 days, the teen housemates lived as tenants of Big Brother inside his yellow house in Quezon City. Tonight, June 7, the viewers voted on who should emerge as the Big Winner out of the 14 teens that have been part of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus . Their journey, which started last March 23, ended earlier tonight with much festivity at the Araneta Coliseum.

Director Lauren Dyogi explains how Billy Crawford became host of “Pinoy Dream Academy 2″ (PEP)

Nakorner ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Direk Lauren Dyogi pagdating niya sa solo presscon na binigay ng ABS-CBN para sa international star na si Billy Crawford last Friday, May 30. Si Direk Lauren ang Business Unit Head ng Pinoy Dream Academy ( PDA ) 2.

Ryan Cayabyab is PDA’s new headmaster (ABS-CBNNEWS.com)

He’s one of the best when it comes to music–”The Maestro” Ryan Cayabyab is now the newest headmaster of ABS-CBN’s reality show “Philippine Dream Academy (PDA) Season 2.”

PDA: Only the tough survives (Philstar.com)

Yes, Virginia. Some people with half the talent do become stars who shine brighter than those brimming all over with talent. They go on to mount sold-out shows, release gold records, even do a hit movie or two.

Painting Araneta red (Manila Standard Today)

The futuristic theme of the PBB Teen Edition Plus at the Big Dome was an apt setting for its big night, especially when ex-housemates came together and welcomed promdi hottie, 18-year-old Ejay Falcon, as this edition’s Teen Big Winner.

Updates

Cristina Aldecoa
19 years old
Madaluyong City

Though she has been calling New York City home since she was 5-years-old, Cristina is always a Filipina at heart and visits her relatives in the Philippines as often as she could. They have deeply ingrained in her a love for music and she has since wanted to pursue her dream of performing. After meeting singer Carmen Patena in a charity event last July 2007, Cristina finally had the courage to leave everything behind in the US, including her studies as a first year pre-med student, and audition for Pinoy Dream Academy. Going after this ambition of hers is a big risk but for Cristina it’s now or never. “I realized that you don't let go of your dreams, I don’t want to be 30 and look back, tell myself 'di ko ginawa to. So I have to try.”


Hansen Nichols
23 years old
Taguig City

Hansen was one of the 30 NCR finalists in Pinoy Dream Academy's first season but unfortunately he didn't make it to the scholar shortlist. However for this Fil-Am guy, he's not ready to give up on his dream just yet and he's back to give singing another shot. Although his identical twin brother is pursuing an acting career in Hollywood, Hansen chose to follow his career in his home country. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer after surviving a car crash, Hansen was told that he might not sing again and almost did not push through with his surgery. He's very thankful though for he still has his voice and is able to share it with others. "It's worth the move, worth the sacrifice...It was a tough battle, but I'm still here."

Kathrina Pambuena
20 years old
Cainta, Rizal

When Kathrina's former group disbanded, she didn't feel sad at all and has instead seen this as an opportunity to grow as a solo perfomer. Upon learning of the Pinoy Dream Academy auditions, this Nursing student knew that this was her time to shine. Some people have told her that she doesn't have what it takes to be successful in the music industry but Kathrina did not let those words get her down. And she's going to make these detractors of hers sit up and listen when she becomes a scholar on PDA's second season.

Christian Alvear
25 years old
Taguig, Manila

He may be short in stature but this Taguig resident’s talents more than make up for his lack of height (due to a growth deficiency). Aside from his impressive singing talent, effortlessly hitting the high notes, Christian is also a dubber for anime shows on ABS-CBN and Hero Channel. This small but terrible contender is also into jujitsu, which landed him a sidekick role in Cesar Montano’s “Bullet.”

Dreamers!

Jay Bugayon Michelle Belmonte Marc Macapinlac Mary Karen Malinao Van Louell Pojas Laarni Losala Rafael Ting 18 Pasig City Click for more Star Dreamers!

Watch the Pinoy Dream Academy Dream Minute on our Kyte Channel! You can catch it also every day on WRR 101.9 and on MOR at 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.!