Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City brings aspiring models – from children to young adults – closer to their dreams as it holds Season 7 of “Road to Fame,” and help them boost their self-confidence for a chance to stand out.
This season’s open casting call is set on May 19 for children 4-8 years old, and May 20 for tweens up to young adults aged 9-28 at the Expansion Hall, Upper Ground Floor, Expansion Wing. Aspirants will meet with top model agencies, casting agencies, TV networks to ensure a safe process only with verified agencies with castings and portfolio services (photography, makeup, and styling) that are completely free of charge. Qualifying for Road to Fame requires a Php 1,500 minimum purchase requirement from non-food retail shops in Festival Mall, which will serve as the entry fee.
Six talent agencies will be present per casting day, with the Alliance of Model Managers of the Philippines (AMPP) taking photos of the participants to be distributed to over 40 legitimate modeling and talent agencies. Final callbacks are set on May 26, with the event culminating in a fashion show on May 27, at 3 p.m.
Aside from being a stepping stone to stardom, the Road to Fame castings have served as a training ground for the younger ones to develop their confidence and further hone their modeling and acting chops. Many graduates have found success through the castings, earning them modeling and acting contracts that have helped launch their careers.
Child actress Hannah Lopez Vito has made waves on television as the young Serena Marchesa (later played by Liza Soberano) in “Dolce Amore” and later on as Kitty, daughter of Anton Noble (played by Ian Veneracion) in hit teleserye “A Love to Last.”
“I let my Hannah join casting calls and from there, she got invites for casting in different networks. Road to Fame became my consultant and adviser ever since and they keep on inspiring me to not give up and to just wait for great results,” shared Mitzi Lopez Vito, Hannah’s mother.
Young actress-model Ameera Johara has been racking up television appearances since she joined the Road to Fame back in 2012. She has been featured in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho as the “Pinay Wonder Woman” for her stunning cosplay of the DC superhero. As a GMA Artist Center talent, she has starred in shows such as “Mulawin vs. Ravena” and “GRIND (Get Ready It’s a New Day).”
Sixteen-year-old Ataska Mercado, a Road-to-Famer batch 2012, is now building her career as a commercial and print model and an Awit Awards-nominated Viva recording artist. Other notable Road to Fame alumni are GMA Artist Center’s 10-year-old Chlaui Denise Malayao of “Encantadia;” Angela Evangelista, another GMA Artist Center talent who starred in “Mulawin vs. Ravena;” and Stanley Abuloc, who starred in “Maalaala Mo Kaya: PaMEALya.”
“Festival Mall believes that there are a lot of talents out there who are just waiting for a break. We want Road to Fame to be the platform that can provide today’s selfie generation the link to legitimate modeling and talent agencies,” says Rose Nuqui, Vice-President for Marketing, Exhibits and Conventions, and Amusement at Festival Mall. “We also want to give them an experience to walk the ramp through a fashion show that will cap the four-week-long event.”
Festival Mall is the heart of Filinvest City, a place where needs and passions find balance and the community’s dreams find expression.