3 Filipino acts eye AGT grand prize

Who will win though will depend on the public. Fans can help a Filipino act take home the crown again (after El Gamma Penumbra in Season 1) by voting on Google Search and Facebook Messenger until April 10, 10:59 p.m. Results Show happens on April 11, 8:30 p.m. on AXN, where only one act will be awarded the grand prize of US$100,000.

SINGAPORE — Three Filipino acts have advanced to the grand finals of Asia’s Got Talent (AGT) Season 3. Hand shadow play artist Shadow Ace, acrobatic pair Power Duo and hip-hop group Junior Good Vibes put out performances that drew cheers and laughs from the audience, and high praise from judges David Foster, Anggun and Jay Park in Thursday’s episode that revealed the nine grand finalists based on Judges’ Pick and votes.

The STAR attended the taped live show at Marina Bay Sands and not totally heard or seen when it aired was the audience reaction, such as the laughter at the funny antics of Shadow Ace’s nimble hands, or the standing ovations that went to Junior Good Vibes and Power Duo. There were audible gasps for Junior Good Vibes’ every tumble mid-air — as well as for Power Duo’s spins and lifts, and that final drop where one caught the other with heart-stopping flourish. It wasn’t hard to feel the #PinoyPride when media from other countries like Malaysia and Singapore would name this Pinoy talent or that talent as also their personal bets during the presscon later on.

Who will win though will depend on the public. Fans can help a Filipino act take home the crown again (after El Gamma Penumbra in Season 1) by voting on Google Search and Facebook Messenger until April 10, 10:59 p.m. Results Show happens on April 11, 8:30 p.m. on AXN, where only one act will be awarded the grand prize of US$100,000.

In the post-show interview last Thursday, the Philippine reps appealed for more support. “I think, my talent is unique. It’s something that you can’t see every day. So, if you want to see more of it, please vote for me,” Shadow Ace, whose real name is Philip Galit, said.

Shadow Ace auditioned for AGT in the previous two seasons but failed on both tries. “Parang gusto ko ng sumuko (I almost wanted to give up). And then on my third try (I made it). They say, third time’s the charm, so now I’m here, in the grand finals.”

Power Duo

Among the three acts, Shadow Ace was the one who went straight to the semi-finals after receiving the Golden Buzzer from the hosts in the first round. He learned shadow play as a kid to entertain himself on dark nights when electricity at home was cut off because they had no money to pay for it.

“I’m very happy because I was able to perform in Marina Bay Sands with my parents. I never expected to be able to travel abroad with my parents. Actually, this is their first time to ride an airplane. This was just a dream of mine. That’s why I’m very proud because mula sa talent na ito, na nagmula sa kahirapan, nagmula sa kabataan ko, na imbis gawin itong hindrance, ito naging tulay para makarating ako abroad at mag-perform (this talent is the result of poverty and my childhood, that instead of becoming a hindrance, it became a bridge for me to travel abroad and perform),” he said.

Should he win, he vows to use the money for the renovation of their house and help an auntie who is suffering from Stage 4 cancer. If he doesn’t, Shadow Ace will continue to perform. “Maybe, I will not just think of Asia but hopefully join other competitions like America’s Got Talent or Britain’s Got Talent.”

Meanwhile, Junior Good Vibes, already felt like a winner to be dancing for their family, fellow members who couldn’t make it to AGT and Filipino supporters, and to have them feeling proud of them for reaching this far in the competition. “Feel namin na panalo na kami. Worth it lahat ng hirap (all the difficulties), hard work and sacrifices namin from the start,” said the dance crew that would discover and practice dancing in the streets of Sampaloc, Manila. They formed in 2005, with members aged 17 to 25, who have long aspired to make it to AGT.

Nevertheless, they thought they would never move past the auditions, much less the semi-finals. However, they were one of the Judges’ Picks. “We’ve been given the chance to level up and I think, pinakita namin yung best namin. Sinabi namin sa sarili namin, ito na yung last chance na ipapakita namin kung sino ang Junior Good Vibes, ibigay na natin ang best natin, then ibigay natin kung paano sila mapapasaya. (We told ourselves, this is our last chance to show who we are, so we have to give our best and all that what we can do to make (people) happy.”

If the group emerges as the winner, the money will fund the construction of a dance studio, which can be used for free by dance groups to rehearse in.

For Power Duo, they also dream of putting up their own dance studio for those “who also dream to achieve what we have so far achieved.”

“Mga kababayan, please vote for us and help us raise the flag of the Philippines,” said Power Duo’s Jiven Minor and Ajha Portales. “We believe we gave it our all.”

The former Pilipinas Got Talent champion thrilled the audience with how they brought their real-life chemistry to the AGT stage. Jiven proudly said of his girlfriend, “Every day that we are together, my love for her grows deeper and deeper. Whatever happens in the future, I will catch her when she falls.”

Earlier during the show, the contestants received all the encouragement they could get from David, Anggun and Jay Park.

Shadow Ace earned the judges’ appreciation for making his talent showcase a family affair. “I loved the fact that you do it as a family, with Shadow Dad and Shadow Mom,” said Jay.

Shadow Ace with family and hosts Alan Wong and Justin Bratton

“I think with your parents, with the love of your parents, thank you for raising this beautiful child,” Anggun added.

As for Junior Good Vibes, Anggun couldn’t believe how far they’ve gone. “It’s still incredible for me that you rehearsed on the streets, and then tonight, you’re on Asia’s Got Talent and this is the grand finale. I want to wish you the best of luck, I want to wish you a lot of success in your life.”

David was visibly impressed by the dance crew. Addressing the crowd, the American hitmaker said, “People, do you realize how hard it is to do what they did?” adding, “It’s probably the most unique dance group and performance that I have ever seen since I’ve been seated in this chair for three seasons.”

The judges also noted how deserving it is for Power Duo to be part of the grand finals.

David said, “I said it in the semi-finals that they belong in the finals and here they are on the grand finals stage.”

“Why did you do that to my heart? I was so scared,” Anggun told the dancing pair. “Power Duo, you’re definitely one of our strongest performers on Asia’s Got Talent. That performance was solid, beautiful, graceful, at the same time, poetic. There’s no denying your love for each other. And that last bit, my God! You know, you really have to trust each other, and that’s where your love comes in handy, I guess. But what a performance!”

“That ending might win you Asia’s Got Talent,” Jay Park ended.

The rest of the nine grand finalists are magician Eric Chien (Taiwan), dance crew Maniac Family (Taiwan), cyr wheel dancer Yang Shih Hao (Taiwan), girl group Nama (Malaysia), math genius Yaashwin Sarawanan (Malaysia) and singer Siti Saniyah (Indonesia). 

(For more details, visit www.AXN-Asia.com/AGTVote.)