L ast Sunday, showbiz welcomed two new aspiring actors into its fold. The seventh season of the original artista reality search Starstruck named Shayne Sava and Kim de Leon as the Ultimate Female and Male Survivors, respectively.

These are the same titles that were bestowed to Jennylyn Mercado and Mark Herras, who are both still active and with the network that gave them their breaks, in 2003.

Artista searches don’t necessarily churn in the best actors after its weeks-long search. Winners win because of varied factors that include votes from show judges and from the viewing public.

Those who have won the public’s approval, specifically, do not have to be the best in the prerequisites of being an artista. Most of the time, an attractive face becomes an advantage. Talent such as acting, singing and dancing can come later as the show progresses.

As ironic and absurd as it sounds, it has been the practice until recently.

THE Final Four with their mentors Kris Bernal, Mark Herras, Katrina Halili and Yasmien Kurdi.

The live finale last Sunday showed how it has been trying to change this perception. Shayne and Kim and the two other finalists, Allen Ansay and Lexi Gonzales, were in production numbers featuring today’s hottest star, Alden Richards.

During its customary production numbers before the live announcement of the winners, the Final Four showcased their capabilities as artistas.

Shayne and Lexi sang a song with Alden. As one of the spectators that night, it was refreshing to hear aspiring actors being able to carry a tune. Their voices are not only karaoke-friendly. There was that timbre in their voices that denoted texture. Allen and Kim, on the other hand, grooved to the dance tunes. And again, it was wonderful seeing two aspiring actors being able to dance, not look like they do not know where their left or right feet are.

Their acting skills were put to test, week after week, and them reaching the Final Four stage amid public pressure and under the eagle eyes of the council which is composed of Cherie Gil, Heart Evangelista and Jose Manalo, already says a lot.

These are early days for the winners, and even the runners-up and the entire batch of the latest season. For sure, they will be working nonstop, at least expectedly for a year. GMA Network will ensure that they will be visible on its programming like what they did with the previous batches, which includes stars we see now in TV not just in GMA, but also in rival TV station, ABS-CBN.

It’s now the time for real talent to shine. Apparently, star-makers now know that people do not want to be shortchanged when it comes to choosing to patronize talents they see and hear onscreen.

Amid trending viral videos of local girl and boy groups lip-syncing and performing unsynchronized dancing, there are two promising groups that is upping the quality of Philippine acts.

XOXO is a quartet composed of former singing contest hopefuls. GMA’s The Clash can only name one winner, who is Golden Cañedo, but it does not mean the contenders are not good enough to launch their own singing careers.

Obviously getting tricks from Simon Cowell’s playbook, GMA decided to put together four contenders and name them XOXO.

starstruck named (R) Shayne Sava and (L) Kim de Leon as the Ultimate Female and Male Survivors.

Muriel (Riel) Lomadilla, Melbelline (Mel) Caluag, Lyra (Lyra) Micolob at Danielle (Dani) Ozaraga have recently racked up YouTube views with their covers and performances.

Common comments were that the girls were commendable for singing and dancing live; that they’re individually outstanding and even better as a group; and that the next best thing after La Diva disbanded a few years ago. That the girls were compared to La Diva, which comprised of Aicelle Santos, Jonalyn Viray (now more popularly known as Jona after transferring to ABS) and Maricris Garcia, is already a feat. Had the trio not disbanded, they’re arguably the best vocal trio, often applauded for their almost-perfect blending and harmony.

Another group also gained netizens’ approval with their snappy dance moves and live singing. SB19 might look like a K-Pop idol group from afar, but they are no Korean group. They’re Filipinos who bring with them the rigorous training and discipline the K-Pop star-making system is known for.

It was in 2016 when Korean company Show BT looked for Filipinos who wanted to be professional performers, and after a rigorous selection process, Josh, Ken, Sejun, Stell and Justin became SB19.

They’re marketed as P-Pop or Pinoy Pop, with their songs in English and Filipino. But the K-Pop influence is apparent in the way they’re dressed up and in their manner of performance. They’re a sing-and-dance group that puts emphasis in synchronicity and fluid dance moves. There’s almost always not one member left behind in terms of footwork and body movement.

The boys admitted in an interview that they still have a lot of work to do but as their latest, chart-topping single says, they have nowhere to go but up.