ABS-CBN, Hallo Hallo Unveil Pop Star Talent-Search Format

ABS-CBN and Hallo Hallo Entertainment are teaming up to search for 48 Filipinas who will become part of the next all-girl pop group, which will be called MNL48.

The search for the members of MNL48 will start soon on ABS-CBN. It will give Filipinas the chance to be part of the next pop group phenomenon and the opportunity to fly to Japan to personally train and learn from the creators of AKB48, a Japanese pop group.

Laurenti Dyogi, ABS-CBN’s TV production head; Aldrin Cerrado, the chief finance officer; Cecilia “Macie” Imperial, OIC for integrated acquisitions and international sales and distribution; Mercedita Gonzales, business unit head; Hallo Hallo Entertainment’s CEO, Yasunari Okada; and its president, Paulo Kurosawa, inked the partnership agreement in a ceremonial signing held at ABS-CBN’s ELJ Communications Center Building in Quezon City.

“We are bringing the very popular idol group format from Japan to Manila,” said ABS-CBN’s Dyogi. “In Japan, it’s called AKB48. Here in Manila, we will be looking for young, talented Filipinos who will become part of MNL48. This will be one of our biggest talent searches on television for young girls.”

“This could be a new page for the Philippine showbiz industry because we have a new system for the selection process,” added Hallo Hallo Entertainment’s Kurosawa. “It will be wonderful for Filipinos who will be joining.”

“We are so happy to partner with ABS-CBN and spread Japan’s pop idol culture to the Philippines,” said Hallo Hallo Entertainment’s Okada.