Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: Ang Pagtatapos

Like any other school, Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) wrapped up its season with a grand graduation finale last weekend. After three months of rigorous training, performance examination and all the drama behind the scholars’ dream, Laarni Lozada was declared as the 2nd Grand Star Dreamer in a celebration filled with show stopping performances, great upsets, loud shrieks and jam-packed audience at the Cuneta Astrodome. The “Independent Woman” from Sultan Kudarat, a virtual unknown prior to joining PDA, bested the heavy favorite Bugoy who came in far second and even five time Star Scholar Liezel Garcia who just managed to grab the fourth spot.

Talent Over Attitude
It was an emotional victory for Laarni Lozada who struggled in the early part of the contest and was in danger of elimination in her very first week in the academy. She also got in spats with fellow scholars because of her constant mood swings and some shades of attitude problem. But talent wise, Laarni is said to be the most gifted of them all because of her wide vocal range. She always impressed the audience and the judges week after week with her performances. PDA, first and foremost, is a talent search and as such, has succeeded in presenting Laarni as this season’s cream of the crop.

The Great Upsets
Laarni’s victory came costly for others. For one, a lot of people were rooting for Bugoy Drilon to win the top prize. Aside from being uniquely different, in both attitude and singing style, Bugoy’s single in their compilation album is the one getting the most airplays and has the potential of becoming a hit. Laarni’s patriotic piece, “Manalig Ka’, on the other hand is not the type the masa will dig to hear. As for Bugoy, he’s still thankful for the opportunity for bringing him closer to his dreams. His emotional speech was the most applauded when he said that “Mangarap po tayo. Kahit simpleng tao pwedeng mangarap!”

Another disappointment was when balladeer and former Pinoy Idol finalist Miguel Mendoza took the 3rd place instead of early favorite Liezl. Many people believed he doesn’t have the voice and he’s too bland for a performer and he just won because of the text votes lobbed by his wealthy family. Well, that might be a little unfair to say considering that Miguel, aside from singing, is also a gifted composer and musician.

The Rest of Six
Though she has been the front runner early on the show, Liezl Garcia of Dubai wasn’t able to translate her equally unique vocals to important text votes. And as such, our Beyonce wannabe plummeted only to take the 4th spot, taking home nothing but the opportunity, like what she said, to be trained by the best mentors inside the academy.

The bottom two PDA finalists are more of showbiz materials than singing sensations. Blessed with pretty faces rather than amazing set of pipes,

Chris Pastor and Van Pojas delivered mostly so-so performances all through out their stay in the Academy and as such, not so many were expecting any one of them to claim the top prize. Though winners are determined via text votes, viewers and PDA supporters have matured enough to know who deserves to be real singers.

End of School
So another PDA season has passed. From an original cast of fifteen scholars and a handful of mentors for voice, dance, performance and counseling, we have witnessed before our TV screens the lives of our favorite scholars, their attitudes, their aspirations, their backgrounds, their transformation and even how each of them have been chosen to be expelled one by one.

For three months that we’ve been watching their every note, we have come to love them for their singing prowess or hate them for their nasty habits and attitudes. By and large, PDA is one great show to watch, compared to other reality singing shows. More than looking for the new singing idol, it goes deeper into the making of an all around performer.

The Alumni
Many scholars of PDA Season 1 have gone successful, most notably are Yeng Constantino, Jay-R Siaboc and Ronnie Liang. Yeng’s albums have all gone platinum. Jay-R has successfully ventured to TV acting while Ronnie Liang has also made it big as a balladeer.

PDA Season 2 graduates still have to prove their worth as winners. Their careers have just begun. And while they start a life with their new found popularity, may their talents, coupled with the lessons they’ve learned from their mentors guide in achieving fast their dreams, which not so long ago was just a star that they were trying to reach.