2019 J-pop Anime Singing Contest Ends on a High Note
2019/2/21
Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) - Press Release No. 17- 2019
From left to right: Ms. Nancy Ayson, General Manager for Leisure, Universal Holidays, Inc.;
Mr. Nestor Palabrica, General Manager, Toei Animation Philippines; Mr. Julius Matthews, Third Place Winner;
Ms. Junko Sato, Director, Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan; Ms. Shielah Faye Labadan, Grand Prize Winner;
Ms. Donjie Reyes, Administrative Assistant, Nihongo Center Foundation; Ms. Racianne Castro Elorde, Second Place Winner;
Mr. JJ Manuel, Head for Sales, Marketing & Talent Management, Center for Pop Philippines; Mr. Hiroaki Uesugi, Director, The Japan Foundation,
Manila; and Mr. Akihiro Hosoya, General Manager, All Nippon Airways together with Yakult and Lady Yakult Mascots
Ten (10) participants battled it out in the Grand Finals of the 2019 J-pop Anime Singing Contest on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the SM Cinema Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia. In order of stage appearance, they were: Tensai; Franz Uy; Marjorie Gocela; Nicx; PatYam; Julius Matthews; Zaine Gabarda; Racianne Castro Elorde; Shiela Faye Labadan; and MAYDEN.
Outshining other competitors and emerging as winners were Shielah Faye Labadan (1st Place), Racianne Castro Elorde (2nd Place), and Julius Matthews (3rd Place). They won special prizes and goodie bags from various sponsors, including a 4-day trip to Japan for the Grand Prize winner courtesy of the All Nippon Airways and Universal Holidays, Inc.
Four contestants namely, Marjorie Gocela, MAYDEN, PatYam, and Zaine Gabarda got acknowledged as Bandai Namco’s Best, while two others— TENSAI and Nicx— were awarded Toei’s Favorite. They received exclusive merchandise from Bandai Namco and Toei Animation, respectively.
Over 500 people attended the event, which also featured special performances from Yakult mascots, the 2018 J-pop Anime Singing Contest Grand Champion Ms. Johannie Velasco, Pikachu from The Pokémon Company, and members of the Philippine idol group MNL48.
About the Contest
The J-pop Anime Singing Contest was launched over a decade ago as part of the festivities for the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month held every July. Since then, the contest has continually expanded, taking on many forms and including dance and cosplay competitions at some point. Through it all, the event has remained true to its mission, which is to promote Japanese language and foster friendship and understanding among the people of Japan and the Philippines through J-pop and anime.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Japan, in cooperation with the Japan Foundation, Manila, and with support from the SM Cinema, SM Mall of Asia, All Nippon Airways, Universal Holidays, Inc., Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation, Bandai Namco Philippines Inc., Sony Philippines, Canon Marketing Philippines, Yoshinoya, Nihongo Center Foundation, Center for Pop Music Philippines, Toei Animation Philippines, Inc., The Pokémon Company, Hallo Hallo Entertainment, Inc., Yakult Philippines, Inc., HERO, Ajinomoto Philippines and the Lyceum of the Philippines University.