Two Cebuanos vie for StarStruck's Final 14

After months of intensive auditions and tedious screenings, StarStruck The Next Level has reduced the number of its surviving artista hopefuls from the 10,000 who auditioned all over the country down to a select group of 20 aspirants aged 16-21 who believe that they have what it takes to survive the many challenges leading to their StarStruck dream.

Hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Jolina Magdangal with Raymond Gutierrez, StarStruck The Next Level is fast becoming the most talked about StarStruck season. For the first time in the history of the original artista search, this fourth StarStruck offering will produce four equal winners by the end of the contest. Aside from the customary pair of StarStruck Ultimate Survivors, there will also be a StarStruck Ultimate Hunk and a StarStruck Ultimate Sweetheart - all four of whom will win P 1 M cash and P 2 M exclusive GMA management contract each plus an attractive range of additional prizes.

Being in the StarStruck Top 20 is still not the final cut to this fourth StarStruck batch, however, as the number will still be reduced to the standard Final 14. Today, more than one finalist will inevitably be eliminated from the Top 20 in an episode airing live from Raja Sulayman Park, Baywalk, City of Manila, where GMA will be holding its live New Year countdown. It could be a mass elimination from which the Final 14 will readily emerge or it could just be a couple of finalists facing the end of their StarStruck dream as the year comes to a close - which makes the December 31 live StarStruck elimination a must-see episode.

This early in the competition, the StarStruck Top 20 has proven to be an exceptionally diverse mixture of personalities and promising talents. Out to put their best foot forward and survive their way to StarStruck The Next Level's elite Final 14 are Aljur Abrenica of Pampanga, Chad Burden of Cebu, Chariz Solomon of Pasay, Dave Valentino of Marikina, Dex Quindoza of Manila, Hazel Uy of Cebu, Jan Manual of Laguna, Jean De Castro of Mandaluyong, Jesi Corcuera of Pasay, Jewel Mische of Bulacan, Kiko Junio of Pampanga, Kris Bernal of Quezon City, Lizzy Pecson of Pampanga, Lui Perez of South Cotabato, Mart Escudero of Cavite, Paulo Avelino of Baguio, Prince Stefan of Iloilo, Renee Lascuña of Davao, Rich Asuncion of Bohol and Stef Prescott of La Union.

Aside from the votes of the StarStruck Council - composed of multi-awarded actress Lorna Tolentino, multi-media director Louie Ignacio, and top-caliber talent manager Douglas Quijano - the fate of the StarStruck Top 20 will also rely on text votes from their fans and supporters. SMS voting has officially started to help decide who among the Top 20 will make it to the Final 14. To vote, just text STARSTRUCKName of Survivor and send to 2344 for Globe and Touch Mobile subscribers and 367 for Smart and Talk N' Text users.

Directed by Rommel Gacho, StarStruck The Next Level airs every day - weeknights after Atlantika, Saturdays after Wish Ko Lang!, and Sundays after Ang Mahiwagang Baul.