MNL48 Weekly

Hallohallo Entertainment Inc launched the MNL48 audition on last December 3, which I remember not for this particular announcement, but of Team 8’s activities over the weekend. Quite honestly, MNL48 was the last thing on my mind as I was standing in-line for the Team 8 Fan Meeting. There was no public announcement, just a press release and an update from the group’s Facebook page.

Or maybe the fans did know, or had access to information I don’t. In any case, the audition has finally begun.

The first profiles were OK, but it didn’t take long for the trolls to come in. Inquirer even made a piece about it. I guess Filipinos have a unique sense of humor but I’d imagine it wasn’t funny for the people handling the audition. All it served was for HHEI to clamp down on dubious profiles and adopt a stricter policy on the applicants. While I still see a few girls breaking the rules every now and then (14 year olds or over-20 but still applying, girls in a relationship, those kinds of stuff), I now have a sense that HHEI will implement their rules strictly from here on.

HHEI also tried to implement a “like” mechanic to give fans some for of “control” over the process. Personally, I liked it, but the system also brought some problems, and not a few fans were up in arms regarding it. The mechanics were stealthily modified during the second week removing everything related to it (which includes presenting the top candidates in Showtime) and while it’s nice that they’re at least listening to the fans, I personally am quite concerned that mechanics can be changed in the middle of the contest.

And speaking of likes, the MNL48 Facebook page has reached 900,000 likes. Now, FB page likes don’t always directly translate to sales, but it’s still something to smile about.

Let’s have a run-down of the eligibility rules as they currently stand:

1. Female – Rule number one is also the most obvious rule. The applicant must be female. The 48 Group is a pop idol group made up of biologically female idols. Those “female at heart” need not apply.
2. Single – Japanese pop idol groups are notorious world-wide for having a “love ban”. To be clear, it’s not so much a ban than a professional requirement, but I do concede that its history is very complicated. Despite the Philippines being a literal stranger to the rule, as the official member of the 48 Group, MNL48 is expected to follow it.
3. Ages 15 to 20 Years Old – The Philippines has laws regarding working children below 15 years old, so HHEI’s hands are tied when it comes to that. Idols over 20 are usually considered old by industry standards with only a few exceptions within AKB itself, and while several members of AKB’s first generation were over 20 when the group was formed, the more recent generations generally chose younger applicants.
4. Philippine Resident – means you live in the country. Doesn’t say if you have to be a Philippine citizen so I’m assuming foreigners are welcome as long as they reside in the Philippines. This rule is also followed both in the Japan groups and in JKT48 as well. Rena Nozawa joined JKT because she was living in Jakarta that time even though she is a Japanese citizen.

In addition the these four criteria, there are also the following restrictions:

• The applicant must NOT have the following:
• Music recording contract.
• Acting Contract
• Merchandising Agreement
• Contract for talent representation (eg talent agent or manager)
• Any other contractual arrangement that would prohibit the contestant from entering into a management, recording, talent , acting and/or merchandising contract.

To put it simply, these restrictions are in place to ensure the applicant is not contractually obligated to another person/entity which will make whatever contract she signs with HHEI null and void.

The applicants will go through a screening process based on the photos and information they provided in the app. Those qualified will then be notified of the next stage in the audition process.

The ‘like’ mechanic that I mentioned before is now gone from the website/app which led people to think that the mechanic itself has been removed. But it is important to consider that the actual wording in the website is “Qualified applicants will be notified and will go through the next stage of the audition, selection and elimination process.” No one knows what that “next step” actually is and it might still consider the number of likes an applicant has though it might not be the only factor anymore.

Before I end my first MNL48 Weekly update, I’d like to highlight a few applicants that I personally favor to get in. A little disclaimer though, I have no idea if these candidates will make it, or if their profile is legit, but I like them based on the scant information and the pictures they posted.

Ashley Cloud

– I’m not sure if she was either in the MNL48 fan-meet, the Team 8 fan meet, or in the ’60 Years of Philippines-Japan Friendship’ event, but she looks familiar. Also, it seems fellow local AKB fans root for her. What more recommendation do you need?<

Aichang

– Currently sitting at the top of the rankings, Aichang claims to be Filipino-Japanese. I don’t know how true that is, but she looks like it.

Mikaela Louise

– I don’t know, but the glam-rock chick look appealed to me this time (and it doesn’t usually appeal to me). Probably not sold on the fashion choice, but I like how she composed her message.

Liia

– I’m not sold on her cosplay photos (cosplay pics in this audition usually get minus points from me), but the girl is cute. She also gave her full name in her message, and that means she has guts. Most of the girls never reveal their names. It might indicate that she wants it enough to risk getting her name out on the internet.

Danna Grace

– This girl has pictures that make me think she’s older than her declared age of 18. But whatever her age is, it seems she has stage experience. Could be useful.

Ressa

Girl likes Takamina. Plus, she knows Takamina’s been out of the group already. Legit follower or good researcher? Doesn’t matter, she gets my like. She’s pretty too.