MANILA, Philippines ? When Joel Cruz was hailed as the third winner of GMA-7?s ?Celebrity Duets? ?talent? tilt last Nov. 14, the announcement was decidedly anticlimactic.

We?ve got nothing personal against Mr. Cruz, but it was clear that his victory was based, not on singing ability, but on his vote-eliciting prowess. Kudos to him for managing at least that, but the ?excitement? generated by that achievement was definitely?underwhelming.

It was clear from the very start of the third edition of ?Celebrity Duets? that this year?s batch was the least gifted in the singing department, to date. One of the few exceptions was boxing champ Nonito Donaire Jr., but he got ?knocked out? due to insufficient votes before the tilt?s final three survivors were chosen.

Survivors

The other two survivors were Jomari Yllana and Akihiro Sato. Of the three finalists, Jomari was the least offputting bet, while Akihiro scored high in the hunky looks department.

Well, all that is now wishy-washy water under the bridge. It would be great, however, if the show bothered to learn its lessons, and strived to make ?Celebrity Duets 4? better than this year?s tilt. What to do?

First, do make sure that all of next year?s batch are genuine celebrities. Why call the tilt ?Celebrity Duets? and then foist some ?who?s that?? relative unknowns off on the befuddled viewing public? Some viewers can?t be blamed for thinking that the show holds them in low estimation by shortchanging them in this regard.

Second, please make sure that all of the new celebrity contenders can at least sing to save their lives. Look, we live in the Philippines, where every other person you meet in the streets can sing really well?so, it?s not too much to ask for at least passable singing from next year?s show. We?re supposed to be the best singers in the world, so have a heart.

Sense of fun

We know that the show, like ?American Idol,? derives some of its sneering sense of fun from featuring abysmally lousy non-singers, the better for viewers to jeer and feel superior to them? but, some of the non-singers the tilt has featured have been so bad that?enough?s enough.

Third, for once?just once?come up with a ?Celebrity Duets? edition that will make singing ability the key factor in deciding on its ultimate winner.

Let?s focus on really entertaining viewers and honoring Filipino musical talent, shall we?

It would also help if the show?s jurors would set higher musical standards, like the judges of GMA-7?s other musical talent tilt, ?The Next Big Star,? did so well earlier this year. Fun?s fun, but musical standards must be maintained.