The Clash Final 12 Contestants

And then they were twelve. Yes, I’m talking about the last few contestants of The Clash singing their way to stardom through an original conceptualized show on GMA. We visited their set a couple of days ago to witness what is to be another elimination night.

But on a lighter side, we asked them a few questions literally before they went on stage (although we got to talk to 6) and asked them how they felt about going to Manila and having this competition. They are friends already, but I felt they understood the consequences of being in the top 12. They will further battle, some of them will win, and some will lose. But they are hopeful in the last few stages of the competition that they can stay as friends. They will give it all tomorrow. Watch them, wish them well and enjoy the songs. It’s time to see who reigns supreme in The Clash!

They already are the top 12 finalists so this means they will be part of the GMA's show Studio 7.

The winner of The Clash rwill receive an exclusive management contract from GMA Network. They will also win a brand new car, 1 million pesos and a house and lot from Bria Homes. The rest of the top 5 and special awardee will get 100,000 pesos each, not bad right?

The Clash Season 2 Starts on the 21st!

Starting on September 21, The Clash will be back on TV with new hosts, tons of singers from all around the country. During the screening, they had Golden Cañedo sing in front of the media. This is their second season, and Golden shares “A lot of things have happened and it was awesome to have been able to get a lot of things done like singing and acting. I have always wanted to work with Ms. Lani and hopefully we can do it in the US. For the contenders, I only thought of it as a way to achieve my dreams, so I could help my family. I thank God for giving me this gift!” and oh man has she got pipes!

Rayver says “When I transferred, I got to do singing as it is one of my passions. I have been doing a lot in the past years, I am very confident I guess, I want to learn other things other than dancing. It’s an opportunity that my Mom would be proud with. This is my first year but I got a lot of friends now because of GMA. My songs just got opportunities because of Studio 7 and there, we have a lot of production numbers, she teaches me a lot of things.”

Julie adds “When this was offered to me it was a few days after my concert, I was so happy and blessed because I wanted to be part of season 2. I also am excited to work with the artists and Golden who won Season 1. We all were in Studio 7 and this is something I looked forward to. I don’t think we will be performing in Clash but we might, perhaps in Studio7, it will be less of us and more spotlight with the contestants. I never really had a hard time working with Rayver because he’s a pro, recently, we had workshops so we could build rapport and work on it. Our goal is to make people understand stuff, he delivers quite good.”

Christian Bautista says “I wanna be moderate, in the first few rounds, but will be more strict in the later rounds. They know they have to learn everything they can, in moderation. In the auditions, it can be young and old, pro and not, but in live performances, it could turn out bad and it really depends on their vocal quality. There will be differences, we will be twists like our first episode but in different times. We all look for opportunities and GMA has given us all acting, dancing and singing opportunities.“

Lani Misalucha says “We don’t show our favorites because it changes when they think about it, they might not give their all if that happens. We see potential, but when they get matched with good ones you’ll have second thoughts, and the genre might be same, we might choose a cute one, joke!”

Rita adds “Julie anne and Rayver will be at the clash arena but Ken and I will be talking to the contestants. We will have to dive into their lives a little before and after the competition. You will hear more of us before they are introduced.”

Golden says “I have a lot of things happen to my career, my Studio7 stint, my guestings, I have my friends also getting their own singles out and I am so proud of what is happening. I wish to be able to sing also with the next Clash Season 2!”

The Clash Season 2 will air at 7PM right after Pepito Manaloto. You better watch it because it’s going to be exciting! All 4 You The Clash Concert is also happening October at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center in LA.

Garrett Bolden and Mirriam Manalo Launch Singles

Sat down over coffee and got us interviews with GMA Music's Garrett Bolden and Mirriam Manalo. They're out with new singles called "Handa Na Maghintay" and "Una Ka" under the same label. They looked ecstatic from where we were seated.

Garrette says "I am so excited for you to hear Handa Nang Maghintay. It's about being a martyr, for those who want to wait for that perfect time to love somone. There is a performance video, it's already on YouTube. Meeting my real Dad, I waited for that. I didn't know how to do it but it did come, when we had communication, it felt it was something I wanted but it did come. I hope it would be more albums, songs, hopefully concerts and international exposure too. I am not expecting this at all, and I realize it is a hard path. I have always wanted to have a duet with Qwest and South Border or Julie Anne San Jose. I am still learning the ropes on how to compose and I hope I can do songs with other Clash artists as well. I have done gigs and set aside money so I could go to auditions outside the country. I did it with my own funds, hopefully I could do festivals and do the country proud. I still look at them now and the availability. I have tried Miss Saigon as well, but fear when it was just too big for me but I would still like to experience it because some artists do tell me it fits my voice. I have experienced TV acting and I enjoyed it and I hope this is just a start of opportunities to come. Maybe I could sing something for Descendants of the Sun, perhaps insert songs like this into that series. Hopefully soon. I wish to advise The Clash season 2 finalists to just be patient, take risks, and never doubt yourself. If you take a big step it will be a huge thing for people who will listen to you. Take the step."

Mirriam Manalo says "This is my dream, my first single, it's high tech and I have waited for this since I was 12. I hope this becomes a part of a teleserye. My first child reacts quite nicely, my voice was gone when I gave birth and I couldn't belt anymore. I accepted it and the baby was a nice trade for the voice, a bit hard but this is my happiest time. Very fulfilling, I love being a Mom. I have consulted doctors, they told me this happens. I was thinking more of what will happen to my daughter when I was singing and she was still in my womb. I want to do a collab with Ms. Regine, with Garrette, I got stressed but when I see my daughter, I feel it's all worth it. My song is about dreaming, you get inspired with the person you love, more inspirational than pop. I sing to her and sometimes listen to Jazz, it gets us to sleep. I look up to a lot of jazz artists, they inspire me to sing. When I was 8 nobody believed I could sing, I joined contests and did it on my own in karaoke. I was 11 when I joined contests, my folks thought I was so confident on stage and started doing gigs when I was in my teens. I fell in love when I heard the song, I knew it was my song and knew this is it. This is perfect for me, I felt the song chose me. I still wish to be the next Lani Misalucha and how she soulfully do songs. I didn't change my goals, I still wanted to sing in a cruise ship, to write songs and perform it. When I got to The Clash, I still I felt it was out of my league but this is all happening, becoming a recording artist is surreal. I hope I get to build my own home, my business and bring up my kids a better future. I am training get my groove back but you know there are a lot of songs I could still sing, hopefully I would recover soon."

She also told us it was so hard to record this unlike before where it would have just taken minutes. But really, when we heard her it was just like before. She's really good. Now go download their music on Spotify and other digital stores worldwide because they deserve this huge break!

They're really good.

The CLASHers Sign with GMA Artist Center

Met the finalists of The Clash 2018 this afternoon as they signed with GMA Artist Center. As you may know, the reality competition ended already with Golden Cañedo winning the competition. She hails from Cebu and is no stranger to the contest circuit as this provides for her needs and her family. GMA Executive Lily G. Rasonable was also there to welcome them during the affair.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I really fought for it. For those singers who want to achieve their dreams, you really have to fight for it. Don’t let others judgement affect you. Thank you for the opportunity, for us 6, you made our dreams come true.” -Golden Cañedo 

“Joining clash was a platform to introduce ourselves are artists. Just like him, I wanted to work with Julie Anne SanJose.” - Jing Madaliday

“This is my first national competition and being in the top 16 was a way to let me be known by a lot of people. We now have Studio 7, they have done so much for us and we are thankful!” -Josh Adomado

“There is always a rainbow after the rain. We are thankful and grateful for the opportunity to be with Artist Center.” - Miriam Manalo

“The experience gave meaning to what we wanted to do, it’s why I chose The Climb as my final song, it is so me. I have been chasing this dream for a long time. Thank you so much GMA for this.” -Anthony Rosaldo

Here’s the rest of the things that happened during our interview!

Make sure you wait for them to appear in GMA shows and Studio 7 this month. This new generation of singers have interesting stories, I bet they will go far judging from how we saw these talented people belted out their songs that afternoon.

Be very very ready!

KUMAGCOW 

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THE CLASH Finalists Backstage Interview

Took some time out to talk to the finalists of THE CLASH a few days ago, some really good singers I must say. I mean they wouldn’t be in the finals if that wasn’t the case right? I was a little nervous doing this interview because apart from just watching the show, I don’t know much of them on a personal level. In a way it was hard for me to ask them because I didn’t know more about them, so I did the best thing of doing this from a fans point of view. I asked them about their beginnings, things they were doing before they auditioned for the show... and some about their personal life so I’d get to know them even for the few minutes we had the chance to interview these guys and gals. It went without to say, a very happy chat with them instead of a nervous wreck I anticipated. I felt that they were just ordinary people like you and me, just a little more special because of the biological setup of their pipes, which has taken them places literally.

Most of these guys hailed from small towns in Visayas and Mindanao, of which only a handful of them coming from Valenzuela and nearby cities. Most of them are amateur singers who frequent Barangay Fiestas and join shows to win things to put food on the table, while others are first timers who just one day said “I’m going to try this out!” to see where this takes them. I remember one of them also saying he didn’t even join contests outside school, which I felt humanized this competition to ultimately get their stars to shine, on a national stage. Some are OFW’s finding a silver lining, earning for their family and thinking about their survival.

Clad in their gowns, suits, hair rollers, little to no makeup before the show, these men and women of The Clash taught me something, that it doesn’t have to be all complicated. There are hindrances that life may present to you, but a dream is a dream. Let no one tell you that you don’t deserve this shot -and GMA has given them the platform to make their dreams into reality. With the show almost ending, I’ve seen standouts and worthy adversaries for the last showdown, but I’m keeping my cards private. They all deserve to win but only one will be chosen, this will be a hard predicament, a hard choice, but the judges have to do ther jobs. Do not hate them if your bets don’t win, it’s a vicious cycle, but they have to do it.

We had the courage to ask them about their crushes on the show, this is fun!

Congratulations to whoever is going to win! Thank you for being so nice and candid during our short interview.

KUMAGCOW

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Converse Sneakers Clash

This sight just brought me back to second year college while I was in the brink of insanity because of my AC/DC circuits subject. Though this one has very good load on it because CONVERSE just released their Spring 2014 collection. This is part of a worldwide release of an homage to the old Converse All Star '70 designed by Chuck Taylor. This is Sneakers Clash.

Included in this collection is the camouflage and zebra prints. It was first seen in the Converse All Star Chuck '70. They are bringing the nostalgia and put them into new styles now as seen above. This also contains a heavier, thicker canvas textile, a smaller toe box, reinforced stitched heels and strips, plus premium nickel metal parts, thicker and cushioned interiors.

They also introduced Michael Carandang as one of their endorsers. On this shot is the President and CEO of Filcon Manufacturing Corporation Ms. Margie Go. Carandang says Converse is like second nature to him and he can't remember not wearing them even in the US. Michael is the producer of shows like Jerry Springer, America's Next Top Model and the Tyra Banks Show. He's a full pledged Filipino and has decided to stay here now. I've seen him countless times in Philippine Fashion Week and shows from other brands but he looks happy here.