In November 1995, STAR CIRCLE Batch 1 was formally launched featuring 8 new faces including RICO YAN, REGINE TOLENTINO, and VICTOR NERI. They became instant stars and so, Star Circle Batch 2 was soon launched in April of the following year. The new group was headlined by DIETHER OCAMPO, MARVIN AGUSTIN, MYLENE DIZON and PATRICK GARCIA. Artists from this batch became the stars of the teen drama show, GIMIK, which was launched in June 1996. It also starred Rico Yan and BOJO MOLINA—another Star Circle artist. The show became very popular among young viewers and the clamor for its stars grew along with it; in particular, the Jolina-Marvin, Mylene-Bojo, and Rico-Juday (Judy Ann Santos) love teams. In August of the same year, a Gimik Fans Day was slated to happen at the SM Mega Trade Hall. The event drew an enormous crowd of screaming fans that caused a near breakdown of the venue. Hence, the organizers postponed the occasion for another 2 weeks, and it was later held at the Delta Theater in Quezon City. By September, a third batch of Star Circle was launched featuring PIOLO PASCUAL, KAYE ABAD, PAOLO CONTIS, CHESKA GARCIA, CARLOS AGASSI, KRISTOPHER PERALTA, and Bojo Molina. They were among the first to be cast in ABS-CBN’s new daily afternoon drama anthology entitled FLAMES, which was launched in October 1996. A month later, the ANG GIMIK CONCERT was staged at the Loyola Gym, Ateneo de Manila University. It was a major get-together for all Talent Center artists and their fans.
In February 1997 Star Cinema Productions began filming for FLAMES: THE MOVIE, which starred Jolina Magdangal, Rico Yan, Marvin Agustin, and CLAUDINE BARRETTO among others. Around the same time, Star Circle Batch 1’s Regine Tolentino gave prestige to Talent Center and the country as the first Filipina veejay for international channel, MTV Asia. In March, Star Circle Batch 4 was launched, led by CAROL BANAWA, JERICHO ROSALES, NIKKI VALDES, DOMINIC OCHOA, KRISTINE HERMOSA, PAULA PERALEJO, and JULIA CLARETE. A new teen-oriented variety show, KAYBOL: ANG BAGONG TV, was also launched and featured more Talent Center artists. Come July, FLAMES: The Movie was released in theaters and reaped at the box office. This success was followed by the launch of Star
Circle Batch 5 which featured the boy group KOOLITS (composed of JOHN LLOYD CRUZ, MARC SOLIS, and BARON GEISLER), BERNARD PALANCA and DON LAUREL. SERENA DALRYMPLE (who was first featured in a fast food chain commercial), and SHAINA MAGDAYAO (sister of popular singer-actress Vina Morales) were signed up as talents and launched as new Talent Center stars. In August, ABS-CBN launched OKATOKAT (with Diether Ocampo, Rica Peralejo, Jericho Rosales, Paolo Contis, and Ena Garcia), WANSAPANATAYM , and ONLI IN DA PILIPINS (with Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin). These shows became launch pads for the featured artists’ enduring careers. Star Circle Batch 6 was launched in November, featuring CARLO MUNOZ, DRINIE AGUILAR, BEARWIN MEILY, and JUSTIN CUYUGAN. ROSELLE NAVA, one of Talent Center’s first homegrown recording artists, capped off 1997 with the launch of her first album under STAR RECORDS which turned gold only after 2 weeks of release.
1998 – Rise Of The Movie Stars
1998 was the start of a streak of hit movies for Talent Center’s prime artists. In January, Star Cinema released the hit Jolina-Marvin starrer KUNG AYAW MO HUWAG MO. In March, Cheska Garcia, Carlos Agassi, Nikki Valdes, Kristine Hermosa, Baron Geisler, and Paula Peralejo joined the Gimik barkada. The following month, Talent Center mounted HIGH FIVE: TALENT CENTER’S 5TH ANNIVERSARY TV SPECIAL. It was a huge party with the fans shown on-air on ABS-CBN. Another Star Cinema made it big at the box office around the same time starring Serena Dalrymple in ‘TONG TATLONG TATAY KONG PAKITONG-KITONG. In May, Star Cricle Batch 7 welcomed MIKO SAMSON, ALESSANDRA DE ROSSI, TRACY VERGEL, and JODI SANTAMARIA into the roster of Talent Center stars. Star Cinema’s DAHIL MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA starring Rico Yan, Claudine Barretto, and Diether Ocampo took its turn at the box office in June, and became a big hit. ABS-CBN also opened the DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER, a high school accredited by DECS (Department of Education) which offers flexible school services for kids in showbiz. Another movie, LABS KITA, OK KA LANG starring Marvin and Jolina, was released in August and gained major box office acclaim, along with its Star Records soundtrack. New artists outside of the Star Circle mold were introduced in October. They were WILMA DOESN’T, BENTONG, 92 A.D. (Talent Center’s first and only singing group), MICHELLE AYALDE, SANDRA GOMEZ, CELINE LIRIO, and MO TWISTER. In November, the afternoon TV variety show CYBERKADA was launched and gave birth to JCS—the band composed of JOHN PRATS, CARLO AQUINO, and STEFANO MORI. It was also the first show that was line produced by Talent Center. December of the same year, Talent Center mounted the TV Special/Concert/Concept Carnival, and Bazaar project called KRISMASKIPAPS SA FOLK ARTS. It was a day-long activity that culminated in a major concert in the evening that was well attended by over 150 artists of Talent Center and their fans.
1999 – Concert Stars Hit The Stage
Roselle Nava, one of Talent Center’s homegrown divas, staged her first major
Solo concert in April 26 at the Music Museum entitled ROSELLE UNFOLDS, with guests Randy Santiago and the Hotlegs. In May 9, Star Circle Batch 8 was launched in ASAP, led by Close-up Commercial Model LEANDRO MUNOZ and Australian beauty JANET MC BRIDE. Others in the batch were SARAH CHRISTOPHERS, MIKO PALANCA, CHRISTIAN SANTINO, MIKE YUSECO, and JENNIFER ILLUSTRE. Talent Center began to expand its search to include sexy character actors and video jocks in their lineup. Auditions were held weekly to seek out new artists for new types of shows. In October, Talent Center came out with the first edition of their Artist Video Catalog which was produced in the two weeks of photography and videotaping sessions to come up with a sales and marketing tool for the artists among agencies and producers. There were 160 artists listed in the said Catalog. In the same month, five new artists of differing categories were launched on ASAP. Among them were comedian extraordinaire GABE MERCADO, funny girl IAN “DUDAY” GALLIGUEZ, child diva AYKO MORALES, thespian and singer JM RODRIGUEZ, and actress PAMELA DE LOS SANTOS who was re-launched from Star Circle Batch 1. In November, Sandra Gomez, became the first Talent Center artist to make an international film, under the banner of ABS-CBN ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL. Talent Center celebrated an early Christmas in December of that year with 2.0 CHRISTMAS AT THE FORT Christmas Carnival, at the Fort Bonifacio Global City.
2000 – Future Super Stars
In March 2000, premier diva Carol Banawa represented the Philippines in the Asian Music Festival held for the first time in Manila at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In April, G-MIK NATION, the first major musical synergy project of Talent Center, Star Records, ABS-CBN Regional Network, ABS-CBN Publishing, and ABS-CBN Entertainment kicked off in Baguio City. The 10-city roadshow series featuring the stars of G-MIK, the off-shoot of the original teen drama GIMIK which starred JOHN PRATS, CARLO AQUINO, STEFANO MORI, CAMILLE PRATS, ANGELICA PANGANIBAN, and MIKO SAMSON. It commenced until October in sold-out venues across the country. In June, Talent Center tied up with Star Teens Canada 2000 and signed up pageant winners CAROLINE NAVARRO and MICHELE BAYLE into ABS-CBN Talent Center contracts. The two star potentials arrived in Manila the following month to begin training for Star Circle. On June 16 Talent Center launched CASTING CHIKA, the first Casting Party arranged for its new, aspiring stars, and the members of the Talent Center ARTIST REGISTRY. It took place at ABS-CBN’s Studio One. The new artists who participated were mostly theater actors and commercial models who already have some experience in acting and wanted to crossover to film and television. ABS-CBN’s creative community (producers, writers, and directors) came to grace the event and met the new artists.
In May, ABS-CBN introduced STAR DRAMA THEATER, a mini-series that featured Talent Center’s prime stars in exceptional storylines that run through four to six weeks in once-a-week, one-and-a-half hour episodes. Among the favorites was STAR DRAMA PRESENTS: BURN, which starred DIETHER OCAMPO, VANESSA DEL BIANCO, ONEMIG BONDOC, and hot new discovery CARLA GUEVARA, along with model turned actors JET ALCANTARA and JC CASTRO. This began a new trend in television drama, a stylish treatment on an emotion-provoking story. Around the same time, Star Cinema released what would be its all-time box-office top-grosser film, ANAK, which starred Claudine Barretto and the Philippines’ Star For All Seasons Ms. Vilma Santos. It became one of the most highly acclaimed Filipino films worldwide. It premiered simultaneously in Manila and in Hong Kong where a huge concentration of Filipino OFWs convened to support the film and the cause it espouses—to bring overseas worker parents and their children in the Philippines together in a film that celebrates true family values. ANAK also featured Talent Center artists Baron Geisler, Leandro Munoz, Don Laurel, and HAZEL ANN MENDOZA.
In August, Piolo Pascual, one of Talent Center’s drama princes was highlighted in the Crown Seven film production LAGARISTA, directed by Mel Chionglo. This is Piolo’s launching movie as topbilled solo actor. The first-ever STAR STUDIO SPORTSFEST was held in October at Celebrity Sports Club, Quezon City, where 95 artists from Talent Center competed in six sports events. The excitement-filled and star-studded sports fest was aired over the STAR STUDIO show on its 11:00AM timeslot in ABS-CBN. The following month, Star Cinema’s KAHIT ISANG SAGLIT premiered in theaters and hailed a new love team in the person of PIOLO PASCUAL and Judy Ann Santos. The film also starred Leandro Munoz. It became a huge box-offic hit that spinned off to a music recording project and other merchandising projects that also did very well in the market. In December, Star Cinema capped off its very successful year with yet another top-grosser—the multi-awarded film TANGING YAMAN, by highly-acclaimed director Laurice Guillen in her directorial debut.
2001 – Pop Stars
Matinee idols Jericho Rosales, Carlos Agassi, Diether Ocampo, Bernard Palanca, and Piolo Pascual were reinvented and re-introduced on ASAP as THE HUNKS in March 2001. It was Talent Center’s answer to the burgeoning boy band demand. They had a regular segment on the hit concert show and performed to a wild, sold out crowd at the Music Museum for their first live concert in July. It was then followed by a road show series and a US tour in November. They also starred in their own sexy comedy show, BORA. Star Circle Batch 9 was launched led by commercial models RAFAEL ROSELL IV and MONIQUE DEL MAR, L.A. MUMAR, JANUS DEL PRADO, HEART EVANGELISTA and Hazel Ann Mendoza. This batch was noted for the having mostly commercial models and relatives of other famous stars as its members. In June, new shows featuring the rising stars batch 9 were launched, including YOUR HONOR (a Richard Gomez starrer with L.A. Mumar and Leandro Munoz), ETO NA ANG SUSUNOD NA KABANATA (with DENISE JOAQUIN, MICHELE ESTEVEZ, CHERRY LOU, Rafael Rosell, Monique Del Mar, and Gabe Mercado). Around the same time, Talent Center introduced musical thespian RJ ROSALES of Singapore Theater fame as he crossed over to the pop concert scene. International beauty Michelle Bayle also gave pride to Talent Center as she became the image model of the Philippine’s first internet search engine, YEHEY.COM.
The Piolo Pascual-Judy Ann Santos love team continued to soar and reaped yet another unprecedented box office success with BAKIT DI TOTOHANIN, Star Cinema’s biggest romantic offering in August of 2001, featuring the alluring ballad “Bakit Di Totohanin” sung by resident diva Carol Banawa. A fresh new batch of Talent Center artists were launched in September 2001 via ANG TV 2, an encore of the hit show that featured the likes of Shaina Madayao, Serena Dalrymple, DANIEL REYES, ALWYN UYTINGCO, ISSA FABREGAS, LUIGI MUHLACH, KATRINA
NAZARIO as its lead stars with a dozen other promising child stars. ABS-CBN also introduced a new brand of seriously hilarious sitcoms with differently exciting themes—WHATTAMEN, featuring Marvin Agustin, Rico Yan, and Dominic Ochoa, back to back with ATTA-GIRL, starring ANDREA DEL ROSARIO, Vanessa Del Bianco, DESIREE DEL VALLE, and Michelle Bayle.
In October of the same year, ABS-CBN’s top rating noontime show, MTB toured the United States with mainstay Talent Center stars Marvin Agustin, Dominic Ochoa, Rico Yan, Bentong, and Vanessa Del Bianco along with the rest of the zany cast. On October 28 of the same year, Talent Center launched Star Circle Batch 10 through a press conference held at the new 9501 13th floor Function Hall of ABS-CBN’s ELJ Building, and a matching media launch on ASAP. MAOUI DAVID, ALFRED VARGAS, ROBBIE MANANQUIL, MARC ACUEZA, DENNIS TRILLO, BEA ALONZO and ADRIAN ALBERT were all part of this batch of 24 new artists.
On November 11, more than 2,000 fans filled the Glorietta 4 Activity Hall for the first major Piolo Pascual Fans Day in Manila. His love team partner, young superstar Judy Ann Santos also came to grace the event. It solidified their team up’s status in the industry as the new love team to beat. By year end, closed-doors pictorials and remote locations were booked and scheduled for the first-ever controversial 2002 METRO BODY CALENDAR of ABS-CBN PUBLISHING. It featured The Hunks and other sexy stars like Star Circle Batch 10’s Robbie Mananquil in never before seen layouts.
2002 – Commercial Stars And Milestones
The 2002 Metro Magazine Metro Body Calendar was finally released, and along with it was the release of STAR MAGIC – The 2000 Talent Center Yearbook, a magazine type photo album of all the 170 stars of the ABS-CBN TALENT CENTER. This same month, a pictorial for Metro Magazine was set for all Talent Center artists in preparation for the group’s 9th Anniversary in May. Around the same time, Carlos Agassi proved his worth as the new Amir Of Rap by going on a series of live lounge shows called DICKIE’S NIGHTS which kicked off at Makati’s HARD ROCK CAFÉ, rolling out to Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dumaguete and Iloilo.
In February, GOT 2 BELIEVE N MAGIC, Star Cinema’s valentine film offering became a huge box office hit. The film starred Claudine Barretto and Rico Yan with Nikki Valdes and Dominic Ochoa in supporting roles. The following month, another success came knocking at Talent Center when The Hunks captures the US Territories Guam and Hawaii and San Diego in the US West Coast in a 3-leg concert tour in March. However, coinciding with this big world tour was one of the biggest tragedies in the ABS-CBN Family—the passing of 27-year old Talent Center artist, Rico Yan, on March 29. With his closest buddies Dominic Ochoa, Marvin Agustin, and Claudine Barretto, the whole network and the country mourned the demise of this very talented and well-loved young actor with monumental memorial TV coverage.
Things continued to move on forward in good faith. In April, commercial endorsements became the fad among Talent Center’s stars. MOLECULES launched Marvin Agustin as their new image model. Carlo Aquino modeled for WAGGLE. Kristine Hermosa was signed up by HAPEE TOOTHPASTE, ABE Computer School, and MAXIPEEL Cosmetics. The Hunks were also featured in a COCA-COAL TV ad. John Prats also bagged an endorsement deal for HAWK Bags. TALK N’ TEXT also featured
Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa in a fresh new television campaign.
In June, Metro Magazine released a special edition issue with the Talent Center stars and Mr. Johnny Manahan on its cover, celebrating its 9th year. K2BU, a new teen drama, was launched around the same time. It starred beautiful teen actress PIA ROMERO along with Star Circle 9’s ANGELENE AGUILAR, Ang TV2 star Shaina Magdayao and Star Circle 10’s Bea Alonzo. The show also top-billed Alwyn Uytingco and DANIEL KING REYES. A new telenevola, KAY TAGAL KANG HININTAY, starring Ms. Lorna Tolentino, was also launched with Talent Center stars John Lloyd Cruz, DIMPLES ROMANA, Rica Peralejo, and Bea Alonzo also in the lineup. This show gave birth to the John Lloyd-Bea love team. In June 26, another major love team from the teleserye fame, PANGAKO SA YO, made another milestone. Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa starred in Star Cinema’s FOREVERMORE, which crystallized the love team’s dominion over TV and film audiences.
In July, Claudine Barretto celebrated her birthday through a TV special directed by Johnny Manahan shot at the Folk Arts Theater, entitled JOURNEY OF MY HEART. The star-studded night paid tribute to the actress’s many years of sterling acting performances in her many films and TV shows. Another celebrated milestone was the release of Star Cinema’s JOLOGS. The long-awaited film directed by Gilbert Perez was released in August top-billed by Assunta de Rossi, John Prats, Onemig Bondoc, Dominic Ochoa, Julia Clarete, Patrick Garcia, Diether Ocampo, Jodi Sta. Maria, Baron Geisler, Michelle Bayla, and Vhong Navarro. The film was a box office success, and was touted to be one of the most sterling ensemble films made with Talent Center artists. Around this time, the streak of commercial success still continued with Piolo Pascual’s endorsement of MAX’S Restaurant.
The Hunks continued their world domination performing for Filipinos in the Middle East in September. This was the third leg of their world tour, the first two having been in the US and in JAPAN. The group continued to hit Hong Kong in October. However, one of the the group’s members, Piolo Pascual, was also quickly gaining individual acclaim. He was featured with Donita Rose in 9 MORNINGS, a Star Cinema release directed by Joey Reyes and sealed an endorsement deal with SPLASH Styling Aids. Kristine Hermosa capped off the year as she was launched in a new HEAD AND SHOULDERS shampoo ad campaign.
THE STAR MAGIC CONTINUES...
ABS-CBN Talent Center, now known as STAR MAGIC, now on its 17th year, is indeed growing and getting brighter than ever! To kick-off the anniversary celebation, ASAP 09 shall showcase the Star Magic artists in superb production numbers beginning on June 14. Expect to see Star Magic artists led by Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto and the rest of your favorite Star Magic Jewels, Heartthrobs, Cover Boys, Gigger Boys, Cute Girls and love teams. Star Magic also boasts of the products of ABS-CBN’s reality shows, the faces everyone loved to follow when watching Pinoy Big Brother, Pinoy Dream Academy, Pinoy Fear Factor and many more that will surely be a feast to the eyes! Also on June 14, Star Magic shall launch its 2010 catalogue, a must-have for producers, casters and fans.
Star Magic is also gearing up for an exciting extravaganza this June in the
U.S. This is definitely something to watch out for as more than 40 stars from the roster of Star Magic shall fly to the US to perform for our Kapamilyas. The shows are on June 27 at the Citizen's Bank Arena, Ontario, California and June 28 at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California. Leading the group are Star Magic’s biggest and brightest stars namely Ultimate Hearthrob PIOLO PASCUAL and Optimum Star CLAUDINE BARRETTO. They will be joined by Rockoustic Hearthrob SAM MILBY and Primetime King and Queen JOHN LLOYD CRUZ and BEA ALONZO. The ever beautiful KRISTINE HERMOSA and dashing DIETHER OCAMPO will also grace the events.
For sure, fans are looking forward to seeing Tayong Dalawa stars KIM CHIU, GERALD ANDERSON, and JAKE CUENCA. Another loveteam that will bring the house down with kilig is the pair of MATT EVANS and MELISSA RICKS. The young ones will surely be thrilled to see the GIGGER BOYS display their stuff on the dance floor. They are SAM CONCEPCION, DINO IMPERIAL, AJ PEREZ, CHRIS GUTIERREZ, ARRON VILLAFLOR, ROBI DOMINGO and ENCHONG DEE. Girls will scream their hearts out with the COVER BOYS, namely, ZANJOE MARUDO, VICTOR BASA, RAFAEL ROSELL and JON AVILA. Guys need not fret as the likes of ANGELICA PANGANIBAN and ROXANNE GUINOO will make temperatures rise on the onset of summer. Fresh and oozing with talent, it would be such a delight to watch the likes of EMPRESS SCHUCK, ERICH GONZALES, LAUREN YOUNG and MEGAN YOUNG.
More dancing is in store with the likes of MAJA SALVADOR, SHAINA MAGDAYAO, RAYVER CRUZ and MICKEY PERZ. Rap is also covered with the Amir of Rap, CARLOS AGASSI. Not to mention, be serenaded by the crooners of Star Magic such as SHERYN REGIS, JED MADELA, NIKKI GIL, RICHARD POON, RONNIE LIANG,
JAYR SIABOC, and YENG CONSTANTINO. Any show will be incomplete if there is no one to tickle our funny bones. Laugh your hearts out as KITKAT, EMPOY, CHOKOLEIT and POKWANG take centerstage.
Star Magic has truly gone a long way from the time when then ABS-CBN
President and Chief Operating Officer Freddie Garcia and Johnny Manahan hatched the idea of creating a stable of new stars exclusively for ABS-CBN. 1992 was the magical year as ABS-CBN Talent Management and Development Center was brought to life. October that same year, Ang TV, the hit youth afternoon show that spawned many mall shows, live concerts and record albums, was launched. Ang TV was also the door for the likes of the young Claudine Barretto, Angelica Panganiban, Rica Peralejo, Kaye Abad, John Prats, Angelu de Leon, Victor Neri and many more to enter showbiz. Later in November 1995, Star Circle Batch 1 was launched, led by the late Rico Yan. 16 years…16 batches of stars…for sure, ABS-CBN Star Magic shall be around for many years more and the magic ever continuous!
