The first season of Idol Philippines aired on ABS-CBN (under the full title Search for the Idol Philippines) from April 21 to July 28, 2019, replacing World of Dance Philippines and was replaced by the fourth season of The Voice Kids. It was the first season to air on the network following two defunct iterations from different networks. Billy Crawford hosted the season; while the judging panel was composed of singer-actress Regine Velasquez, comedian and television presenter Vice Ganda, singer-actor James Reid, and singer-songwriter Moira Dela Torre.
Zephanie Dimaranan of Biñan, Laguna was named Idol Philippines, winning an exclusive recording contract from Star Music and ₱2,000,000. Lucas Garcia of Lipa, Batangas finished as the runner-up with Lance Busa finishing in third place.
Overview Development On October 17, 2018, it was announced that ABS-CBN will broadcast the third incarnation of the Idol franchise in the Philippines after it had sealed a franchise deal with Fremantle and 19 Entertainment, the co-owners of the format.
Prizes The winner of the season received ₱2,000,000, a paid vacation trip to Taiwan, a House & Lot from Camella Homes and an exclusive recording contract from Star Music
Judges and host
In October 2018, Regine Velasquez was revealed as the first judge after signing her exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. With her 32 years in the entertainment industry, this will be a first time for her to judge a singing competition. Following this announcement, there were rumors that Jessica Sanchez, the runner-up of the 11th season of American Idol, will be added as a judge but it has been denied by her. Speculations also circulated that David Archuleta, the runner-up of the seventh season of American Idol, was also considered to become a judge for the show, but the rumors were downplayed by him saying that he was not invited by the network's management.
In November 2018, Billy Crawford confirmed his role as the host of the local franchise which is part of his renewed contract deal with ABS-CBN.
On February 26, 2019, Philippine Entertainment Portal unofficially revealed that James Reid, Vice Ganda and Moira Dela Torre will join Velasquez as the show's judging panel. According to the website, a reliable source sent them a photo of the four judges standing behind a judges' table similar to those of the other Idol franchises. The three remaining judges' were later confirmed on the same day, after they were officially introduced on TV Patrol, ABS-CBN's primetime newscast. Among the four judges, Vice Ganda is an experienced judge—having been a judge for It's Showtime besides being a host, Pinoy Boyband Superstar, and two seasons of Pilipinas Got Talent. It was revealed in an interview that Vice Ganda was the only judge handpicked by Fremantle.
Companion online show An online show, called Idol on the Road, airs together with the main program on Idol Philippines Facebook and YouTube accounts; it is hosted by BoybandPH and comedian Jervi Li, commonly known as KaladKaren Davila. The said show airs live from the Idol Philippines Bus.
Pre-auditions The pre-auditions for the premiere season took place in different key cities in the Philippines. Auditionees must be 16 to 28 years old.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; line-height:16px; width:auto; font-size:100%;" |+ class="nowrap" | Shortlist of the locations for the ''Idol Philippines pre-auditions |- ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" | City ! scope="col" | Ref. |- | rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;" | November 15, 2018 | Center for Multiple Intelligence School | Lapu-Lapu City
| Karesh Commercial Complex | Bogo, Cebu
| Rock Republic | Cebu City
| Tulay Bar | Maasin, Southern Leyte
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;" | November 16, 2018 | Brown Academy School | Cebu City
| Monterey School, Inc. | Talisay, Cebu
| Pier Capitan Superdome | Ormoc, Leyte
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;" | November 17, 2018 | Barili Gymnasium | Cebu City
| Manros Plaza Building | Cebu City
| Municipality of San Jose Function Room | San Jose, Antique
| style="text-align:left;" | November 17 & 18, 2018 | Palo Leyte Academic Center | Palo, Leyte
| style="text-align:left;" | November 23, 2018 | Bukidnon National High School | Malaybalay, Bukidnon
| style="text-align:left;" | November 24, 2018 | Sanguniang Panlungsod Building | Gingoog
| style="text-align:left;" | November 24 & 25, 2018 | Lipa City Youth and Cultural Center | Lipa, Batangas | rowspan="3" | |- | style="text-align:left;" | November 25, 2018 | University of the Philippines–Baguio | Baguio |- | style="text-align:left;" | November 30, 2018 | Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila | Intramuros, Manila |- | style="text-align:left;" | December 1, 2018 | Surigao State College of Technology–Del Carmen | Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte
| style="text-align:left;" | December 1 & 2, 2018 | University of Negros Occidental–Recoletos | Bacolod City | rowspan="2" | |- | style="text-align:left;" | December 2, 2018 | Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila | Intramuros, Manila |- | style="text-align:left;" | December 3, 2018 | CFC School of Morning Star | Butuan
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" | January 19 & 20, 2019 | Pacific Mall | Mandaue City | rowspan="2" | |- | People's Gym | Digos, Davao del Sur |- | style="text-align:left;" | January 26 & 27, 2019 | Starmall Alabang | Alabang, Muntinlupa
Aside from ground scouting and pre-auditions held all over the Philippines, the online auditions was also launched in November 20, 2018.
Competition summary Color key
Top 69 contestantsZephanie DimarananLucas GarciaLance BusaDan OmbaoMiguel OdronElle OcampoSheland FaelnarFatima LouiseRenwick BenitoTrish BonillaRachel LibresMatty JuniosaCharmagne AlgarioDenize CastilloEnzo AlmarioJasper LacsonJeremiah ToraynoKevin HermogenesMichelle PrimaveraRoque BelinoAlyssa QuijanoAmeurfina Martinez IIIAngie Kristine GorbulevCarlo BautistaDiane VergozaErika TenorioGello MarquezIbrahim OnggoIsaiah TiglaoJehramae TrangiaJulia JoaquinKier KingKrissha ViajeMia VillafloresRainier NatividadRamil PermigonesTrix CorpezVanya CastorYarah EstrellaAbby ManguinaoAli AguilaAna May delos ReyesAngelo PinedaBella FallBrandon DiamanteCalvin EncomiendaCarmella RavanillaClyde AquinoCyra JureidiniDea FormillezaEndy AsidorEunice TorionGeca MoralesJap-Jap TalaniaJhamil VillanuevaJuancho GabrielJulian Lee Vasquez Kathleen GalulaKyran OliverLeann GanzonLucho BeechLuvlou UlandayMargarette JimenezMicoline AcederaNic GalanoNicoll del FinadoSean OliverShai GomezZeke Villanueva
Auditions The auditions were recorded at the One Canvas Events Place in Makati. In the televised auditions, contestants will perform in front of the panel of judges. Each contestant must receive three "yes" votes from the judges in order to advance and receive a golden ticket to Idol City. The first audition episode was aired on April 21, 2019, with the final audition episode being aired on June 8, 2019. 69 Idol hopefuls were able to advance and receive their respective golden ticket to Idol City. Summary of the auditions for Idol Philippines season 1Episode(s)Air DateGolden ticketsApril 21, 20193April 27, 20193April 28, 20194May 4, 20194May 5, 20194May 11, 20195May 12, 20194May 18, 20194May 19, 20195May 25, 20196May 26, 20197June 1, 20196June 2, 20198June 8, 20196Total no. of contestants69
Theater rounds The theater rounds were recorded at the ABS-CBN Soundstage at San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and first aired on June 9, 2019. These are composed of three rounds – the Group, Do or Die, and Solo rounds.
Group round In the Group round, the Idol hopefuls were grouped based on their genre and sound. As a group, they selected a song from a list that they think is the best for them, additionally they gave a name to their group. At the end of the group rounds, thirty-nine Idol hopefuls remained.
Color key: Contestant was chosen by the judges to advance to the Do or Die round Contestant was eliminated
Episode Order GroupSongContestantHometownResult Episode 15 1 4th Dimension "Stay with Me" – Sam Smith Ali Aguila Quezon City Eliminated Jap-Jap Talania Nueva Ecija EliminatedKevin HermogenesTaguig City AdvancedLucas GarciaLipa, Batangas Advanced 2 3GH "Try" – PinkAmeurfina Martinez IIILucena Advanced Charmagne AlgarioBulacan Advanced Elle OcampoPampanga Advanced Krissha ViajeQuezon City Advanced 3 Soul Effection "Tila" – Lani Misalucha Carmella Ravanilla Taytay, Rizal EliminatedDiane VergozaParañaque City Advanced Endy Asidor Davao EliminatedRachel LibresPasay Advanced 4 Voltes 4 "Always Be My Baby" – David CookDan OmbaoBataan Advanced Jhamil Villanueva Taguig City EliminatedMiguel OdronIndiana, USA Advanced Sean Oliver Iloilo Eliminated 5 WHAMAS "2002" – Anne-Marie Abby Manguinao Tagaytay City, Cavite Eliminated Denize Castillo Cavite Advanced Eunice Torion Cebu Eliminated Margarette Jimenez Lingayen, Pangasinan EliminatedVanya CastorMandaluyong Advanced 6 The Current "Best Part" – Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R.Angie KristineSiargao Advanced Bella Fall Quezon City EliminatedErika TenorioNueva Ecija Advanced Leann Ganzon Iloilo Eliminated Mia Villaflores Pasay Advanced 7 Beyonce3Men "I'll Make Love To You" – Boyz II Men Gello Marquez Makati City Advanced Lance Busa Agusan Del Norte Advanced Lucho Beech USA Eliminated Matty Juniosa Mandaluyong Advanced Episode 16 1 Girls on Fire "Fighter" – Christina Aguilera Alyssa Quijano Manila Advanced Cyra Jureidini Cavite Eliminated Kathleen Galula Los Baños, Laguna Eliminated Michelle Primavera Caloocan Advanced 2 Collidal District "Iris" – Goo Goo Dolls Carlo Bautista Mandaluyong Advanced Renwick Benito Angeles City, Pampanga Advanced Roque Belino Baguio Advanced Trix Corpez Olongapo City Advanced 3 Rated PG "Born This Way" – Lady Gaga Ana May Delos Reyes Lapu-Lapu City Eliminated Dea Formilleza Compostela Valley Eliminated Luvlou Ulanday Parañaque City Eliminated Yarah Estrella Parañaque Advanced Zephanie Dimaranan Biñan, Laguna Advanced 4 A-Boys "214" – Rivermaya Angelo Pineda Digos Eliminated Calvin Encomienda Dasmariñas City Eliminated Clyde Aquino Cagayan de Oro City Eliminated Jasper Lacson Sorsogon City Advanced Kyran Oliver Parma, Italy Eliminated 5 Beautifour Voices "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" – Celine Dion Julia Joaquin Bohol Advanced Micoline Acedera Antipolo City Eliminated Nicoll del Finado Binalonan, Pangasinan Eliminated Trish Bonilla Lucena City Advanced 6 Popsicles "Mahal Na Mahal" – Sam Concepcion Brandon Diamante Bacolod City Eliminated Isaiah Tiglao Advanced Rainier Natividad Sta. Maria, Bulacan Advanced Zeke Villanueva Bohol Eliminated 7 Blush "Shout Out To My Ex" – Little Mix Fatima Louise Lagueras Quezon City Advanced Geca Morales Sampaloc City, Manila Eliminated Jehramae Trangia Talisay City, Cebu Advanced Shai Gomez Canada Eliminated Sheland Faelnar Caloocan Advanced 8 Power Pop Boys "Stitches" – Shawn Mendes Enzo Almario Sta. Maria, Bulacan Advanced Juancho Gabriel Olongapo City Eliminated Julian Lee Vasquez Davao City Eliminated Nic Galano Iligan City, Isabela Eliminated 9 3 And 1 "Dancing On My Own" – Calum Scott Ibrahim Onggo Digos Advanced Jeremiah Torayno Cagayan de Oro City Advanced Kier King Sultan Kudarat Advanced Ramil Permegones Lucena City Advanced
Do or Die round In the Do or Die round, the judges divided the remaining Idol hopefuls into six and selected a song for them to perform. At the end of the second round, twenty contestants remained. The male hopefuls performed pop hits from female artists, while the female hopefuls performed hits from OPM Rock bands.
Color key: Contestant was chosen by the judges to advance to the solo round Contestant was eliminated