Tia Dely, Pepe in ‘Hamon sa Kampeon’

In 1963, the singing contest show Hamon sa Kampeon started airing on radio and television, with Tia Dely (Magpayo) and Pepe Pimentel as hosts. It lasted for more than 20 years, watched and listened to by millions all over the country.

In 1964, Sampaguita Pictures made Hamon sa Kampeon into a movie, its 28th anniversary offering, topbilled by the studio’s most popular loveteams, Gloria Romero and Luis Gonzales, Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez. Tia Dely and Pepe also starred in the movie.

Tia Dely and Pepe Pimentel with trophy(left)...at the Channel 3 studio, where the show was regularly held(right)

Then Tia Dely was the First Lady of Radio, while Pepe was a noted host and singer, the first grand champion in the ’50s of another top-rating singing contest, Tawag ng Tanghalan.

A particularly memorable day in the history of Hamon sa Kampeon was mounted at the Independence Grandstand in Luneta, watched live by hundreds of thousands. It won an award from the Citizens Council for Mass Media.

Ad of the Hamon sa Kampeon movie(left) ...announcing the transfer to Channel 3 and DZXL(right)

The biggest product of Bagong Kampeon is Regine Velasquez (then known by her real first name Chona), just as the biggest ‘alumna’ of Tawag ng Tanghalan is Nora Aunor.

Tawag ng Tanghalan has been revived by ABS-CBN. Will GMA do the same for Hamon sa Kampeon? — RKC