MANILA, Philippines?Get to know the 12 finalists competing for the P1-million grand prize on TV5?s talent search program ?Star Factor?:

Ritz Alzul, 16, landed a job as commercial model for a fast-food chain through her father, a taxi driver. While on the road he had shown her photo to a passenger, a model-agent who arranged a VTR audition. Ritz, who hails from Pampanga, is currently a college freshman taking up accountancy.

Miguel Estenzo, a native of Cavite, is only a year away from finishing his civil engineering course. At 19, he?s the oldest among the finalists. ?To become an artista is my passion,? he said.

Bullied in school

Nikita McElroy, 17, was born to a Filipina mother and a father with African-American roots. At age 5 she moved from Honolulu to Davao, her mother?s hometown. In school she was called ?uling? or ?uwak? by bullies because of her dark skin. ?I struggled a lot while growing up. I always felt the need to belong, to be accepted,? Nikita said.

Morisette Amon, 14, comes from a family of musicians. She started joining singing contests in Cebu at age 5. She wowed the judges at the ?Star Factor? auditions in Cebu with her rendition of ?Defying Gravity? from the American hit TV series ?Glee.?

In a relationship

At the recent ?Star Factor? press launch at the Hard Rock Cafe Makati, Krissha Viaje, 17, admitted she?s in a relationship with another finalist, Christian Samson, who?s also her age. ?I like him because of his sense of humor,? Krissha confessed.

Christian was cast in his first TV commercial for a local soft-drink brand after being spotted by a talent scout.

Eula Caballero, 15, said she had imagined getting inside a TV set when she was 4. ?It took me several tries to realize that I?m just too big to fit into the TV,? she recalled. Her love for acting and performing eventually led her to join her school?s theater group.

The youngest finalist, Jazz Ocampo, 13, is likewise the most visible. She has been doing TV commercials since she was an infant. The lass from Las Piñas has also appeared on the ABS-CBN drama series ?Maria Flordeluna? in 2007. ?My detractors say I don?t have what it takes to win, wala raw kasi akong talent. [But] I don?t let them affect me. To be included in the finals means I have potential,? she pointed out.

For a time, Kevin Francisco?s parents had refused offers for him to appear on TV. They wanted their son to focus first on his studies. But with the death of Kevin?s father, the 17-year-old now considers joining show biz as a means to support his family. ?I had to grow up fast when my dad died. I?m now working hard so I can help provide for our needs,? he said.

Rico dela Paz, 14, said he idolizes comedian Vhong Navarro and drama actor Piolo Pascual. His dad supported his dream of entering show biz by enrolling him in an ABS-CBN acting workshop, aside from helping him audition for TV commercials. While waiting for the big break, Rico said he also intends to go to law school soon.

Acting as a gift

Christine Serrano, 15, is the reigning champ of South East Asian Teen Princess, an annual competition held recently in Singapore. Christine is interested in fashion design and hopes to create outfits for award-winning singer Mariah Carey someday.

John Uy, 17, recalled his first acting gig was to portray a turtle in a workshop recital when he was in 6th grade. ?Being an actor is a gift,? he said. ?You get to live as many lives as you can through the characters that you play.?

The winner will also get a 3-bedroom, 2-story house and a management contract worth P1 million from TV5. ?Star Factor? airs every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. after ?Aksyon Linggo? on TV5.

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph.