MANILA, Philippines — The country’s star-making talent mill continues to churn out new, as well as comebacking talents. Some choice cuts from this season’s bountiful musical harvest:

Zsa Zsa Padilla has just released “Unchanging Love,” her first album in seven years—and it’s well worth the wait. The Divine Diva’s emotionally effusive singing breathes sultry life to Chad Borja’s “Ikaw Lang,” Joanne Lorenzana’s “Kung Alam Mo Lang” and Eileen Espina’s dreamy Metropop ballad, “Memories.”

Fresh from her Diamond Record triumph, Nina delivers a more unplugged sound in the hefty “Renditions of the Soul.” Her fans will get their pop-song fix in tracks like Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and Air Supply’s “Here I Am,” but it’s the less familiar tunes—“Never Again,” “Lost Without You”—that get the classiest, most polished reinventions, along with Bread’s “Can’t Find The Words To Say Goodbye” and Rannie Raymundo’s “Why Can’t It Be?”

Vocal texture

Musical sparks fly in Charice’s duet with David Archuleta: In the evocative, R&B-flavored cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” culled from Archuleta’s “Christmas From The Heart” album, the Pinoy entertainer displays a more grown-up vocal texture that beautifully complements the “American Idol” alumnus’ bell-like pipes. They’re such a joy to listen to, especially when they trade one spotless set of vocal curlicues after another.

There’s a fair mix of local and foreign Yuletide tunes in “Your Christmas Girl,” Sarah Geronimo’s 15-song holiday set. But, it’s the OPM carols that truly bring out the sultry sheen of Sarah’s voice—particularly Jose Mari Chan’s “A Perfect Christmas,” Jimmy Borja’s “Sana Ngayong Pasko” and the title track, “Your Christmas Girl.”

Roselle Nava returns to what she does best—singing—in the album, “Forever Love Songs,” which includes inspired remakes of Janie Frickie’s “I Love You All The Way,” Lou Pardini’s “What Might Have Been” and Michael Martin Murphy’s “What’s Forever For?”

A notable track in Agot Isidro’s ballads-and-standards comeback album, “White Lace & Promises,” is the classy, jazzed-up remake of the Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere.”

Instant charmers

Reuben Laurente is also back in the recording scene via “Heart Blends,” in which the satin-voiced crooner interprets songs popularized by female singers (Cathy Dennis’ “Too Many Walls,” Irene Cara’s “Out Here On My Own,” etc.). His duets with Anna Fegi (“I Honestly Love You”), Sabrina (“Love Makes No Promises”) and Dianne Elise (“Miss You Like Crazy”) are instant charmers, and his dance/acid jazz remake of Gloria Estefan’s “Words Get In The Way” with Bituin Escalante—who sounds like Patti LaBelle in the track—is a must-hear.

Male perspective

Two songs benefit most from the spot-on R&B stylings of Myrus in the repackaged “Love Cycle” album—the jingly, finger-snapping “Kaya Mo” and the delectable revival of Claire dela Fuente’s ’80s jukebox anthem, “Sayang,” which gets a bluesy-pop makeover and a male perspective.

Kris Lawrence waxes smooth and masterful renditions of revivals in “Moments of Love.” Top tracks: His remakes of Billy Ocean’s “Suddenly” and the Air Supply/Mariah Carey tune, “Without You.” Plus, his sophisticated version of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” just might help you forget the notoriety the tune recently acquired.

There are also a good number of tuneful covers in Dianne Elise’s “Committed,” most notably Eric Carmen’s “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again,” Davis and Walker’s “Even Now” and Tina Turner’s “Let’s Stay Together.” Also worth a spin in your CD player is Chris Cayzer’s reggae-tinged pop-rock tune, “Loko,” which is the carrier single of the singer’s nine-song collection, “The Only Thing.”

In the R&B-heavy album, “Soul Sonatas,” Samantha Riviera’s teamup with Kaji Wara has

produced the catchy, guitar-driven ballad, “Pag-ibig Na Totoo,” while Martha Joy’s self-titled debut boasts of the playfully funky “I Love The Sunshine.”

Meanwhile, Gretchen Espina’s “Shining Through” includes the richly melodic “Suntok Sa Buwan” and two versions of her radio hit, “Kasalanan Nga Ba?,” while Angela’s “Alternative Acustico” features radio-friendly acoustic versions of Janet Jackson’s “Doesn’t Really Matter,” Shanice’s “I Love Your Smile” and The Nolans’ “I’m In The Mood for Dancing.”