“PROTEGE” Top 20 Finalists

Few hours ago at the Studio 7 of GMA Network Center, The Top 20 Protégé Finalist was finally announced! This is the result of those several months of intensive nationwide hunt, now Protégé will finally unveil the coveted TOP 20 aspirants who will go head-to-head in the weekly elimination nights and outdo each other in hopes of winning over the judges' and the viewers' votes.

This reality-based competition is touted to be the grandest artista search this year as 5 celebrity mentors are tapped to train, supervise, and educate the Top 20 protégés in every rehearsal, workshop, weekly tests and trainings.

Five mentors who were sent out to different parts of the Philippines to find their four (2 boys and 2 girls) protégés include acclaimed actor and TV director Ricky Davao (for Northern and Central Luzon), seasoned actress and TV director Gina Alajar (for Southern Luzon), drama and action film legend Phillip Salvador (Mindanao), multimedia icon Jolina Magdangal (for Visayas), and multi-awarded actor Roderick Paulate (for Mega Manila).

There are 4 judges on this competition: talent manager and director Bert de Leon, multi-awarded drama actress Cherie Gil, entertainment guru Joey de Leon, and GMA Network Films President Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar. Kapuso heartthrob Dingdong Dantes is the Gala Presenter and Carla Abellana will be the Journey Host.

Two winners will be proclaimed at the finals night -- one male protégé and one female protégé. At stake are P12,000,000 worth of cash prizes and a management contract from the Kapuso Network.

“PROTEGE” Top 20 Finalists

From thousands of young dreamers who auditioned nationwide for a stab at stardom, Protege narrows down the list to the coveted Top 20 aspirants who will compete in GMA's original artista search.

Here they are in alphabetical order:

ANDRES VASQUEZ

21, Manila

APPLE VEGA

21, Dipolog City

ARNY ROSS

21, Dasmarinas, Cavite

BRYAN BENEDICT

21, Cebu

DAVID JOHN LLANAS

19, Cagayan de Oro

ELLE RAMIREZ

18, Rizal

GLENN ROY

18, Tarlac

JAPS DE LUNA

20, Nueva Ecija

JERIC GONZALEZ

19, Calamba Laguna

KELLY D

15, Pasig City

MIKOY MORALES

18, Roxas City

MITCH CAPILI

15, Bohol

MYKEL ONG

20, Batangas

REESE TAYAG

16, Tarlac

RURU MADRID

14, Zamboanga

SHELLY HIPOLITO

16, Nueva Ecija

STEFFI PACHECO

16, Davao

THEA TOLENTINO

 15, Calamba Laguna

VIEN ALLEN

19, Quezon City

ZANDRA SUMMER

18, Cebu

Can't get enough of PROTEGE?! You can follow the backstage drama & catch some exclusive inside scoops on the lives of the Top 20 aspirants inside the Protege Quarters through the 15-minute daily updates on "Inside Protege" hosted by Jennylyn Mercado, Mondays thru Fridays after "One True Love."

You can also visit the official website www.gmanetwork.com/protege and catch webjock Maxene Magalona for your daily fix of Protege goodness.