Road To Fame Season 7 | Your Journey starts here at Festival Mall

Wow. It has been 7 years since I started to work on my blog. But did you know that what started me on my journey to writing and photography is something that is way off track...

I wanted to become a model and so I entered Festival Mall's Road To Fame Season 4. 

Road to Fame is this mall wide open casting that is held by Festival Mall and certain talent agencies so that aspiring new talents, be it in singing, acting or modeling can have a chance to try out for their dreams and become a star. Currently in its Seventh Season, Road to Fame has certain activities within the whole week-long festivities, like workshops of sorts and hair and makeup styling, along with there being a multitude of talent scouts that will see if you are the one that they might be looking for.

Road to Fame doesn't just serve as a stepping stone to stardom, as these castings also serve as a training ground for the younger ones to help develop their confidence, their modeling and acting chops. For the kids though, they can all just be another chance at child's play, while parents can see if their little ones have a certain calling or passion for acting or modeling.

This year marks their 7th season, and their 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. 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. 

 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. 

“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 event.”

...I found my true calling with the help of Road To Fame... 

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, me being a 19 year old who has very little idea on how to pose for the camera, but had big dreams of being a runway model or at least making something of myself even if I am a teenage mom. I guess I was trying to find myself at the time, and albeit I didn't get called by the talent agencies, I found my true calling with the help of Road To Fame.

Festival Mall is the heart of Filinvest City, a place where needs and passions find balance and the community’s dreams find expression.