Bet Ng Bayan Western Visayas regional finals was held in Bacolod last October 18 and was aired last night at GMA Kapuso Network. We were lucky to be in the front row seat and it was my first time to experience a live TV production. All the props, dancers and staff were flown in from Manila and everything seems to work like clockwork. So that’s how complicated it was behind the camera.
Unlike other reality talent search, Bet Ng Bayan search for local talents to represent their region in singing, dancing, and novelty performance (kakaibang talento). For Western Visayas, the battle was between Iloilo and Bacolod (Negros Occidental). The representatives from Negros Occidental has the hometown advantage since the regional finals was held at the Peoples House in Bacolod City on the eve of the city charter celebration and MassKara Festival. And we’re glad we were there instead of the maddening crowd of Lacson Street.
Bet Ng Bayan is hosted by the Songbird Regine Velasquez and Pambansang Dimples Alden Richards. The celebrity judges were Louie Ocampo, Kuh Ledesma and Allan K. It was like a homecoming of sort for Kuh and Allan K since they were both from Bacolod City. The jurors were composed of choreographers and tourism experts from Iloilo and Bacolod. The judges are like mentors who give comments on the performances and it is the jurors who determine the winners.
The production number of the contestants with Ms. Regine Veleasquez and MassKara dancers set the stage for a night of sizzling performances. If you watched the airing last night then you know how the contest turned out. If not, let me recap it for you.
For Bet sa Kantahan, it was a showdown between Iloilo’s Mae Sumagaysay and Bacolod’s Aya Antiporda. They both have touching stories about losing a loved one but in singing, our Aya Antiporda lost to Mae Sumagaysay. But she errr he, didn’t look like he lost. Pumipeg ang lola kay Regine. Nagpalit pa ng costume! Winner!
For Bet sa Sayawan, the battle is between Real Family Dancers of Iloilo and Caren and Michael (CAPA-DS) of Bacolod. The dance sport duo Capa-DS floored the boy group Real Family Dancers. The couple were obviously having a lot of fun and already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and it showed in their coordinated dance moves.
For Bet sa Kakaibang Talento, Iloilo’s Master of Pain Jess Caigoy battle it out with Negros Occidental’s beatboxing group First Beat Effect. Jess Caigoy is a professional novelty stuntman and already holds Guinness World Record for his death defying stunts. We were at the edge of our seats when he swallowed Christmas lights and lifted himself up through a fluorescent bulb.
Here are past stunts of Master of Pain. Kids, if you’re watching this, don’t ever do this.
We were very lucky to have the Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma serenade the crowd with her sultry voice and Allan K showed his kababayans he knows how to make them laugh. Alam na alam nya ang kiliti ng mga Bacolenos.
Other Kapuso stars from Hiram na Alaala also came to entertain the crowd until it was time for the countdown for Bacolod’s Charter Day and the sky exploded with fireworks and confetti.
What a fun-filled night! The winners were all deserving and we are betting on them until the grand finals. What’s good about Bet Ng Bayan is that it doesn’t only showcase the best local talents but also the best of the regions. It encourages Filipinos to take pride in their hometown and to strive for excellence.
Here are some behind the scenes photos.
