Fitzgerald kicked out of Pinoy Dream Academy

Gemma Fitzgerald of Australia became the first pop star aspirant to be kicked out of ABS-CBN’s reality show Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) on Saturday after getting the lowest number of votes from other star dreamers.

By a vote of 10-3, Fitzgerald was evicted from the academy, saving fellow nominee Honora "Oona" Barretto of Bukidnon.

The climax of PDA's first expulsion night unfolded after 18 star dreamers were asked to choose who between Fitzgerald and Barretto should remain inside the academy. Two other nominees, Kristoffer Abrenical of Canada and Rosita Barreng of Dubai, have been saved by viewers' text votes and the PDA faculty.

One by one the PDA scholars were called to reveal their choice while facing the two remaining candidates for eviction.
"I have to be strong for them and I have to be strong for myself. They all deserved to be there. I have no hard feelings against you all. I love you all. Keep trying your best and don’t ever give up," Fitzgerald said.

Abrenical was saved from expulsion after acquiring the highest number of text votes (53.15 percent) from the viewers. Barreng, on the other hand, won the approval of PDA headmaster Jim Paredes and teachers Maribeth Bichara, Moy Ortiz, Gretchen Malalad and Malu de Guzman.

The nominees were given a chance to perform for the last time before a packed PDA concert hall to convince the viewers, their trainers and fellow scholars to save them.

"Nalulungkot kaming lahat… minahal na namin sila (We are all sad. We love them all). We talked to the four nominees and I said, ‘Our relationship does not have to end tonight.’ I will be here. If they still want to learn I will be here for them," Paredes said.

Fitzgerald will leave the academy Sunday.

A three-member panel – songwriter Vehnee Saturno, Warner Music Philippines manager Neil Gregorio and singer Pops Fernandez - gave comments on the performances. It was also tasked to choose the new scholars to be nominated for expulsion next week.

PDA is the brainchild of the Netherlands-based production company Endemol, the creator of "Big Brother" and the "Deal or No Deal" shows.