ABS-CBN and GMA Network continue to rival each other, even in their all-female performers in their respective Sunday variety show.
New Gen Divas
The Kapamilya Network introduced its New Gen Divas on April 25 as part of their Sunday variety show, “ASAP Natin ‘To.” Formerly a trio, it became a four-member group comprised of Elha Nympha, Janine Berdin, Sheena Belarmino, and returning singer, Zephanie Dimaranan.
Upon their introduction, the New Gen Divas drew hundreds of thousands of views after their debut performance was uploaded on YouTube.
Its members were all excellent singers. Elha Nympha was a product of ABS-CBN’s kid’s version of the singing competition “The Voice”. Elha joined “The Voice Kids” in 2015 and eventually became its grand winner. In 2017, she was nominated for the Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist in the 30th Awit Awards.
Janine Berdin was the season two grand champion of It’s Showtime’s Tawag ng Tanghalan segment. Though she began her career as an actress, her passion for music was stronger. In 2019, during the World Class Philippines Council, Janine was awarded the “Most Promising Female Music Artist”.
Another product of Tawag ng Tanghalan but this time its kid’s edition, Sheena Belarmino. Despite not becoming its grand champion, Sheena has shown potential at a very young age. And now, she is already part of the New Gen Divas.
Lastly, Zephanie Dimaranan, the returning diva. Zephanie won in the first season of Idol Philippines, a singing competition produced by ABS-CBN. She returned to ABS-CBN after a 3-month stint in TV5’s defunct “Sunday Noontime Live!” She also has proven to be one of the most versatile singers of this generation as Zephanie, at the young age of 18, already has won numerous awards as a singer-songwriter. During the Himig Handog 11th Edition, Zephanie both won the MOR Entertainment Choice Award and TFC’s Global Choice Award for her song, “Tinadhana Sa’yo”.
Queendom
GMA Network also has its own group of Divas. Called Queendom, it is an eight-member group comprised of Lani Misalucha, Aicelle Santos, Julie Anne San Jose, Rita Daniela, Golden Cañedo, Thea Astley, Jessica Villarubin, and Jennie Gabriel.
First off is Lani Misalucha, Asia’s Nightingale. The experienced singer belongs to this group and is one of the most renowned singers in the country. In the Awit Awards in 2000, she won the Best Performance by a Female Artist for her song Can’t Stop Loving You. Lani also has a number of albums such as Greatest Hits (2005), Silver Series (2006), and 18 Greatest Hits (2009).
Aicelle Santos is GMA Network’s Soul Flair Songstress. She became famous after achieving eight straight wins in the network’s “Pinoy Pop Superstar”. Not just that, Aicelle also played Gigi in Miss Saigon.
Julie Anne San Jose’s career kicked off after winning GMA Network’s reality competition “Popstar Kids” in 2005. Not just a singer, she is also an excellent actress who starred in “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan?” (2008), “Tween Hearts” (2012), “Buena Familia” (2015), “My Guitar Princess” (2018), and her most recent teleserye, “Heartful Café” which is a hit. Julie Anne’s prowess in singing was already proven as she had a sold-out concert in 2018 titled, #Julie.
Rita Daniela also belongs to this group. The versatile singer-actress was the grand champion of the very first season of GMA Network’s Popstar Kids. Not only is she a good singer, but she is also one of the top primetime actresses of the Kapuso Network.
Golden Cañedo has been joining singing competitions ever since she was young. She was the first grand winner of the Kapuso talent competition, The Clash. Since winning the contest in 2018, Golden has released 8 songs of which four of them were used as OSTs for Kapuso shows.
Another The Clash product, Thea Astley rose to fame as “The Fighting Pride of Doha, Qatar.” This year, Thea sang the OSTs of the hit Kapuso teleserye “First Yaya”.
The “Power Cebuana Diva” Jessica Villarubin is also part of this group. She was the winner in the third season of The Clash.
And lastly, Jennie Gabriel, the “Diva with a Million Voices.” Jennie was known for her incredible talent of voice impersonation. She can perfectly impersonate Jessa Zaragoza, Queen of Soul Jaya, and even her co-Queendom, Lani Misalucha. Still, her original voice was so powerful that during the third season of the Kapuso reality singing competition, The Clash, she bagged the first runner-up title and is now a mainstay of GMA Network’s All-Out-Sundays.
So among these two powerful groups of singers from GMA Network and ABS-CBN, which among them is your bet?
