This is what Kapuso creative genius Michael V. answered when asked at the media launch what the audiovisual fest Lip Sync Battle Philippine Season 3 will bring to national entertainment. The series premieres on Easter Sunday, April 1, after Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
“(It will be) grander in a sense that we won’t be only having two-way battles; we will, in fact, be having three-way battles and four-way battles as they do in the US,” explained multi-talented TV host-actress Iya Villania-Arellano as the color commentator.
More battles are underway for the grand return of Lip Sync Battle Philippines. The hosts revealed what makes this season a lot more striking than the first two seasons.
“Pilipino tayo. Ang galing kaya natin manggaya,” Michael V. quipped.
Beethoven del Valle Bunagan in real life, Michael V. spotted the trend from Dubsmash Queen Maine Mendoza. An adaptation of the hit American TV series, Lip Sync Battle Philippines debuted on GMA Network on February 27, 2016. The game pits two Kapuso celebrities against each other in a lip sync battle for two rounds: Round 1 is the ‘Strip Down’ and Round 2 is the ‘Full Blown Concert.’
The celebrities can lip sync the song/s of their choice. Then the crowd determines the winner of the battle after the two rounds have been completed. A very entertaining show featuring GMA’s well-loved actors, it is a high-rating show explaining the new season.
Michael V, lovingly called by admirers as Bitoy, is known for his comedy genius. The creative director/lead actor of Bubble Gang and Pepito Manoloto is a graduate of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod Ng Maynila where I also studied.
Iya is now wife to Kapuso footloose-cum-gourmet host Drew Arellano with a son and on the family way for their second offspring. She is also doing the entertainment news and lifestyle content with public information icons Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez.
The winner gets the bragging rights to be the Lip Sync Champion and gets the much-coveted Lip Sync Champion Belt, which is announced at the end of each episode. Matinee idol Dennis Trillo holds the distinction as the first battler to receive the championship belt.
Iya attests that battlers take their performances to heart seriously. A sampler is the love tandem of Bianca Umali and Miguel Tan Felix, who were teammates in last season’s show. They will return to season 3, this time around as rivals.
Joiners can present themselves with pitches, while they also invite others over to to rock the stage with their lip sync skills. “Actually halo halo ang approach nila, may mga iba na nagpe-present na gusto nila,” he shared.
Ex-joiners, on the other hand, can re-apply in the new seasons. But they have to be paired with someone and come up with something new. While almost all Kapuso stars have participated, they still have a wish list of names of celebrities that they’d be happy to have on their stage.
BIG STARTLE. “McCoy Fundales, the singer?” I inquired from GMA Entertainment Group senior vice president Lilibeth Rasonable, who joined me at the reserve table. Surprised by his introduction when the conference proceeded as the host introduced the GMA executives and the cast and crew, who graced the lunch event, she proudly added, “Yes, McCoy has been with us since Season 1.”
McCoy has been missing from the band scene except occasional gigs with Area One doing Beatles tributes. Kenyo no longer performs since his former band, Orange and Lemons, reformed.
The beaming McCoy raised both arms when introduced as writer of Lip Sync Battles Philippines, which he has been doing, it turns out, for three years already. Starting with Pepito Manoloto, he has diversified with Lip Sync Battles Philippines.
“He now also acts occasionally,” volunteered his mentor Michael V. He acts as a security guard in Pepito Manoloto, the lead character’s nameless vexer. “Kaya laging may ‘SG’ sa script niya,” Michael V. joked. He also has bit roles in Dear Uge.
McCoy is clearly happy with his new creative direction as he is perpetually in smiling mode. His work brings him back to his first love, songwriting. He composed the theme song of the Eat Bulaga! pre-program of the same title, “Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw,” as interpreted by Ralf King.
SEASON 3. Beginning April 1, viewers can get ready for crazy yet delightful Sundays for the musical-reality competition that offers a whole new level of entertainment as it treats its viewers with outrageous, amusing and even more exciting performances every week.
Making the third season more special are new things to look forward to such as the three-way battle and thematic episodes that will pave the way to a more intense head-to-head challenge of your favorite celebrities and personalities. Kapuso viewers can also expect guest color commentators who will participate in the show as they add more fun in the program.
Michael V excitedly presented the changes that will happen in this season. ‘Excited ako kasi sinala talaga namin ‘yung mga battlers ngayon and magkakaroon ng bagong battles. So ang masasabi ko talaga, mas aabangan ito kasi yung mga napiling battler, ready talaga sila,’ he shared.
Iya expressed her gratitude to be working with Michael V. again because of his warm personality. ‘I am just happy to be working with Kuya Bitoy because, you know, he is very approachable and friendly and lahat ng galaw ko sa set, he is there to help and assist me so hindi talaga ako nahihirapan,’ she explained.
Under the helm of Rico Gutierrez, catch the return of Lip Sync Battle Philippines every Sunday night beginning April 1 on GMA7.
Get the latest updates about Lip Sync Battle Philippines from the GMA Network website
Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.