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ABS-CBN's popular love team MayWard, composed of Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber, are hosting the recently launched global online singing competition, Star Hunt Global Showdown.

The said project is a collaboration between ABS-CBN's successful grand audition program Star Hunt and the fastest growing social media app in the country, Kumu.

The global singing competition premiered online last night, November 6, just right after Maymay and Edward were introduced as the hosts via a digicon held at ABS-CBN’s ELJ building.

The online contest airs every Wednesday night thereafter via the Star Hunt channel on Kumu. 

Maymay and Edward, who both rise to stardom via the reality show Pinoy Big Brother, both say they can relate to the contestants really well as they also underwent several audition process, especially Maymay, who says she waited to become a teen so she could audition and was only able to get her chance to be in as a PBB housemate at 19. 

The only difference now is that auditions can be purely done online. No lining up and such; but the mixed feeling of uncertainty and hopefulness remain the same. 

As they both recalled their audition days, Maymay, says she just kept auditioning (she even auditoned for The Voice Teens back then), because she knows in her head when to actually stop.

“Hindi napasok sa utak ko na sumuko ako kasi siguro, ang dami ko pang pangarap...hindi lang ’yon,” Maymay explains “Kasi ’yong pag-a-audition ko sa ABS [CBN] sa para maging artista ka, parang imposible po di ba kung titingnan mo?

“So dahil doon, dapat may back up din na dream ka. Ako po kasi tatlo ’yong dreams ko. So, pag hindi para sa akin, meron pang dalawa. So, hindi ako masasaktan. Gano’n po kasi ’yong mindset ko kaya parang go lang ako nang go.”

Maymay even recalls how his elder brother kept teasing him back then every time she fails an audition. But she says his the most supportive when she finally made it. In the meantime, her mom, who is residing in Japan and whom she visits every now and then, went paranoid when she was finally called in to come to Manila from General Santos City.

Maymay recalls her mom saying “‘Hindi mo ibibigay ang passport mo diyan, ma-ano ka do’n, ma-prostitute ka do’n.’ Hala, tinawagan na lahat ng [PBB bosses]... ‘Ma, ibigay mo na yang passport, makapasok na ako [sa PBB].

Edward, for his part, says he only audition to boost his college entrance resume back in Germany, as he realized he had nothing to show for because he never really pursued anything in hisw young life.

“The reason why I wanted to do it is...actually pag 16 years old ka sa Germany, they will start preparing you for the university ‘pag 18 ka na,” recalls Edward. “I looked back on my life, wala akong ginawa.

“As in tumigil ako sa sports, wala akong group sa school...so, inisip ko, kailangan ko ng something na interesting para if I have an interview for the university, they can say, ‘Ano ’to, nag-udition sa isang reality show.’ Parang kakaiba ’yon. 

“Hindi ko talaga in-expect na makakapasok ako sa bahay ni Kuya...kasi wala akong alam. I didn’t know what PBB was...I know ’yong basics, alam ko ’yong Big Brother, but hindi ko alam ’yong culture ng PBB, kung ano ’yong mangyayari...I didn’t watch any of the past seasons.

“Hindi naman gano’n ka-special ’yong pag-a-audition ko compared  to Maymay...di ko alam pero ’yon talaga ang dahilan kung bakit.”
But once inside the PBB house, Edwardl, freshly uprotted from Germany back then, says he enjoyed it tremendously.

“Pero sobrang nag-enjoy ako sa PBB,” says the half-British, Germany-reared looker. “Kasi hindi ko alam kung sino ’yong mga artista...snob ako no’ng makita ko si Daniel Padilla...no’ng pumasok si Kuya Daniel, hindi ko siya kilala no’ng time na ’yon. That’s why it’s I had so much fun kasi lahat bago, lahat unique , lahat special...”

But as fate would have it, they both made it. And here they are now as the MayWard tandem that millions of followers adore.

To date, the loveteam has already accomplished so many projects such as movies, TV series, TV hostings, endorsements deals, print and runway modeling, concerts, and online various shows.

When Maymay was asked to share tips for the top 25 finalists from Australia, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, USA, and the Philippines, Maymay said: “Enjoy, have faith, and  be always positive to whatever the outcome of the competition.”

“Don't put so much pressure to be on top right away," shared Edward. "Step back. Come and learn to be the best along the way.”

The grand winner of the Star Hunt Global Showdown singer search will receive $10,000, a management contract with Star Hunt and a recording contract with ABS-CBN Music.