SM Supermalls recently launched this year's "SM Little Star" pageant for cute, adorable, talented, and lovable kids. The ongoing pageant, which is open to kids aged 4 to 6 years old, recently drew 5,000 applicants at all SM Malls nationwide.

With the selection process ongoing, there's a lot of excitement about the grand finals on June 22. Great prizes are at stake for the two grand prize winners - a boy and a girl - who will each receive a P10,000 BDO Cash Card; P10,000 worth of gift certificates from the SM Department Store; P10,000 worth of gift certificates from Toy Kingdom; P10,000 worth of gift certificates from Storyland; and a training scholarship from the Center of Pop Music Philippines.

The first and second runners-up will each receive P5,000 and P3,000 respectively; BDO Cash Cards; and training scholarships from the Center of Pop Music Philippines, as well as gift certificates from SM Department Store, Toy Kingdom, and Storyland.

More than that, they will have the opportunity to meet friends, gain more confidence, develop their personalities and talents, and hopefully begin a modeling or showbiz career.

If last year's winners are any indication, they have a lot to look forward to. Last year's winners Knch Lynn Cabillo and Andres Roberto Tagle as well as runners-up Angel Norika Asakawa, Timonthy Lambert Chan, Cassandra Venuti, and Joachim Renato Gabayeron share with us what it means to be "SM Little Stars."

Last year's grand prize winner Knch from SM City Cebu said, "I gained a lot of confidence when I joined the contest. I also made many friends from all over the Philippines."

Like any little girl, Knch was thrilled about the prizes she received - the toys from Toy Kingdom, shopping money from BDO and training from the Center of Pop Music. She looks forward to becoming a chef someday with a big kitchen like her grandmother.

Knch's partner Andre also represented SM City Cagayan de Oro, and looks forward to coming back to Manila for the grand finals.

"I made many friends, and I want to meet them again," he said, adding that second runner-up Joachim of Cebu became his best buddy. Andre watched the screening of this year's "SM Little Star" at SM City Cagayan de Oro and was very happy when he was acknowledged the grand prize winner. "I watched everyday because SM is very near our place," he said.

First runner up Angel from SM City Clark was a hit when she sang "Isang Lahi" ala Regine Velasquez, impressing the audience with her wit and performance.

Apart from making a lot of friends, "I learned dance steps during our training, and enjoyed singing and dancing. I will always remember being an 'SM Little Star.'"

Timothy, Angel's co-first runner up, impressed the judges with his "Papaya Dance" during the grand finals, that he has had modeling and showbiz stints. He now plays Franco in the ABS-CBN soap opera "Palos," and was the son of Judy Ann Santos in the film "Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo." He has also modeled for Lucky Me and Promil.

Not bad, considering that prior to joining, he was rather shy. Now, singing, dancing, and acting are second nature to Timothy.

Second runner up Cassandra of SM City Davao impressed the crowd with her rendition of "Over the Rainbow" during the grand finals. Of Filipino-Swiss descent, Cassey, as she is called, also made a lot of friends during the pageant.

"I miss my friends, I miss the rehearsals," she says. "I am happy that for awhile I had so many friends from many different places."

Cassey's partner Joachim from SM City Cebu joined the contest because he wanted to spend more time at the mall and make more friends.

During the competition, he overcame his shyness and learned to perform before a lot of people. Since then, he has attended a workshop with Audie Gemora, which culminated in a recital. Not bad for a contest first timer.