After a six-year hiatus, the Nueva Vizcaya Got Talent competition was revived for the Grand Ammungan Festival 2026 and 187th Founding Anniversary of Nueva Vizcaya, through the efforts of Director-General Eunice Galima-Gambol and BM Emerlene Galanta-Martinez, designated Committee Chairperson.
The first phase of auditions for the NVGT 2026 took place on March 21, 2026 at the Bambang Auditorium, Bambang, and the second phase on May 2, 2026 at the NV People’s Stage, Capitol Compound, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The semi-finals on May 4, 2026, saw twenty-two performers reduced to ten finalists for the final stage on May 21, 2026, at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center.
The final performers consisted of five dance groups, namely Big 4, Mindscape, The Generals, Outraw, and Circles; as well as five musical performers, namely band 103AJ, duo Normalin, and individual vocalists Blessie Tiken, Rocelle Moya, and Michael Angelo Mendoza. The three-member panel of judges consisted of Mr. Norway T. Saludares, Vice Chairperson of Tourism Promotions and Marketing for the Region 2 Cagayan Valley Tourism Council; Mr. Francis Mar Gunayon, Municipal Tourism Officer for Quirino; and Mr. Dexter Rubio, Municipal Tourism Officer for Cordon, Isabela.
The performances were graded on the bases of talent/skill, artistic concept, and entertainment value. Among the dance groups, the overarching themes of each act varied from youth culture, to human experiences such as grief, coming of age, etc. The selections from the music performers ranged from popular music classics to reimagined traditional works.
Of the ten candidates, the final three winners were: vocalist Blessie Tiken, 2nd Runner-Up; vocalist Rocelle Moya, 1st Runner-Up; and dance troupe Circles, the champion of NVGT 2026.
Despite the austerity measures placed in April 2026, the Provincial Tourism and Culture Office with Director-General Galima-Gambol lobbied for the retainment of the competition, with the eventual 5-day schedule being reduced to a single day event. While similar competitions such as the Bailes y Canciones were cancelled, the NVGT was retained alongside the Saniata ti Nueva Vizcaya pageant. Other events in the GAF 2026 were the Gawang Vizcayano Trade Fair and Exhibit, new addition Tugtugan sa Lagoon, the Ecumenical Celebration and Opening Ceremony.
In celebration of the 187th Founding Anniversary of the province, the display of Novo Vizcayano talent and artistry showcase the cultural future of Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb
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