Filipino community radio broadcasters are contemplating to stage an Australian version of onetime popular amateur talent quest in Manila called “Hamon sa Kampeon” late this year with the preliminary elimination rounds to be held in six community radio programs in Sydney.
Convenor of the ad hoc association Sydney Filipino Press Group of Sydney (Filpress), Mr Jimmy Pimentel said he invisions to promote, during the holding of the event, Australian awareness on the richness of Filipino culture.
Sydney’s Filipino local radio broadcasters have continued to discuss the idea during the monthly “kapihan” of the Filpress held last Friday 15 February at the Dooley’s Club in Regents Park, NSW.
Among those who attended the “kapihan” were Violi Calvert, Radio Sandigan (Burwood); Josie and Gerry Musa . Radio Adhika (St. Marys) ; Marili Eftekharhastroudi, Radio Agila (Auburn -Bankstown) ; Mon and Nilda Carpo, Radio Dalisay (Chatswood), and Cen and Ruben Amores , of defunct Radio Mabuhay program. Broadcasters Charles Chan , Radio Rizal (Campbelltown) and Bless Salonga and Oliver Gadista , MOB Radio (Blacktown) were not able to attend.
Mr Pimentel said Filipino local community broadcasters in Sydney earlier met initially, but an idea is to highlight during the event original Filipino songs including kundiman, recent Filipino composed songs and lastly compositions that have been popularised by well known Filipino performers.
Mr Pimentel said initial plan calls for holding of the “Hamon sa Kampeon” finals in a Western Sydney venue which can accommodate a large audience, with the event well promoted and supported by Filipino community businesses and community organisations.
Mr Pimentel said preliminary eliminations rounds will be held in the half a dozen or so Filipino radio programs in community radio in Greater Sydney area for about four to five months, leading to December.
The radio programs themselves will schedule singing contestants to be heard in their program, judged by appropriate singing judges, with the winner in each category representing the radio program to the final..
“The Hamon Sa Kampeon in 1987 was a year-long amateur singing contest, the very first kind in Australia, featuring Filipino songs and it was produced by Lito Cruz and myself. It was in the grand final in November 1987 that we brought in Pepe Pimentel to emcee the contest conclusion and then to star in the second half of the night’s program as featured singer,” said Jaime Pimentel.
Mr Pimentel said a local travel agent has already pledged a round-trip ticket to the Philippines as one of the major prizes.