SINGAPORE (The Adobo Chronicles) – A total of 14 countries were represented in the just-concluded first season of “Asia’s Got Talent,” now considered the largest such franchise of the reality talent competition which originated in Great Britain as a pilot broadcast.

Last night’s announcement of the grand winner — El Gamma Penumbra, a shadow performing group — made Filipinos extremely proud.  The winning act is from the Philippines, but so were three other acts that made it to  the grand finals.  The other Filipino grand finalists were classical singer Gerphil Flores, ten-year-old singer Gwyneth Dorodo, and hip-hop dance group Junior New System.

Completing the nine grand finalists were dancers Gao Lin and Liu Xin (China), musicians Khusugtun (Mongolia), dancers Triqstar (Japan), young rock stars The Talento (Thailand), and tap dancers Dance Thrilogy (Singapore).

But as Filipinos were celebrating the success of their contestants, the other 13 countries signed and sent a petition to Fremantle Media and Sony Pictures Television — the show’s producers — demanding that the next season of “Asia’s Got Talent” be made off limits to Filipino contestants.

The petitioners stated that their respective countries were put at a serious disadvantage in the competition because of the number of amazing acts that represented the Philippines in the first season.  “We just cannot compete with the Filipinos,” they added.

The petitioners concluded by threatening to pull out of the competition next year if the Philippines were not excluded.

In order to save the extremely popular show, the producers agreed to ban Filipino talents from competing, at least for the next season. The ban will be revisited in 2017.