Pilipinas Got Talent

Pre-auditions

This is the first stage of the competition. Major auditions were held in key cities in the Philippines. Since the second season, aside from the major auditions, there are mini-auditions where it can be held in several provinces and cities in the Philippines and judged by the staff of Pilipinas Got Talent. This round is held several months before the judges' audition. Contestants are also allowed to audition online by submitting their audition video through the Pilipinas Got Talent's official website. Acts that have made it through this stage then audition in front of the judges and a live audience.

Live auditions

Following the pre-auditions, acts audition in front of (as of 2016) four celebrity judges. The judges may end an act's performance early by pressing their red buzzer, which lights up their corresponding X above the stage. If an act receives X's from all judges, they must stop their performance. In addition, large audiences have also been a factor in the judging process, as their reaction to an act's performance may swing or influence a judge's vote. This makes the audience the so-called "fifth" ("fourth", from seasons 1-4) judge. From seasons 1 to 4, voting worked on a majority-of-two basis where two positive votes were required. Starting from season 5, voting works on a majority-of-three basis as there are four judges. The judging panel give an act a "Yes" if they like them and would like them to advance to the next stage of the competition, and a "No" if they dislike the act and do not wish to see them again. In season 5, the Golden Buzzer is introduced. Each judge can press the Golden Buzzer only once per season. Any act on whom the Golden Buzzer is used will automatically advance to the live semi-finals. Hosts Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford are also allowed to press the golden buzzer to any act they like regardless to the numbers of X's of an act received from the judges.

Judges' Cull

At the end of the live auditions round, the acts that have passed will move on to this round. In this round, the judges will deliberate all the acts who passed the auditions. In the end, only thirty-six acts will be selected to enter the live quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals

The thirty-six acts that won their way to the third round will be separated into groups of six that will perform live in front of a studio audience. Six acts will compete each week and only two will manage to pass. Top three finalists will be chosen from the public's highest three choices, first from the most public votes and second from the judge's choice between the second and third highest votes will manage to get through. In second season, there is a wildcard round for those semi-finalists who lose the judges votes and they will compete in order to make it to the grand finals.

Initially known as the 'Semifinals' on its first three seasons, in season four the twelve remaining acts will go into another round of competition prior to the finals, wherein they will be reduced by half. Unlike the first three seasons, only six acts will only make it to the grand finals.

Semifinals

After placing for the twelve spots in the quarterfinals, each act will then go to a battle of talents, wherein six acts only will qualify for the grand finals.

Grand Final

The acts that managed to pass through the first four eliminations (three in the first three seasons) will compete on a live grand finale event for a final performance in the show. This time, the winner will be up to the hands of the public as the grand champion will be announced as the act with the most number of public votes. The grand champion will receive a total amount of ₱2,000,000 (approximately $44,500) while the second and third placers will receive ₱100,000 each. Nevertheless, those who were not able to reach the top 3, will receive a cash prize of ₱50,000 each.

Season 1

The first season began on February 20, 2010. It was held in some major cities in the Philippines like Baguio, Batangas, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Metro Manila where the hopefuls are judged by judges Kris Aquino, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Freddie "FMG" Garcia. From thousands who auditioned, 220 acts made it to the Judges' Cull where the top 36 semi-finalists were selected.

The semi-finals were held on AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo from the first to fourth performance night and in Tanghalang Pasigueño from fifth to sixth performance night. On the other hand, the results show always held in Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN. On June 12 and 13, 2010 the season ended in Araneta Coliseum of Quezon City, Metro Manila where the twelve acts competed. Finalist Jovit Baldivino from Batangas, sang his way to victory and won the prize of ₱2,000,000.

Season 2

The second season premiered on February 26, 2011 replacing Star Circle Quest and Star Power respectively. Ai-Ai delas Alas, Kris Aquino, and Freddie Garcia reprised their judging duties from first season. Same with the hosts, Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano who was joined by Nikki Gil. The major auditions for the second season were held in Dagupan, Batangas, Naga, Cebu, Davao and Metro Manila. It is also the season where they held micro-auditions in other cities and provinces in the Philippines where hopefuls are judged by the Pilipinas Got Talent staff.

There are 174 acts who passed the auditions and made it to the Judges' Cut. The Luzon and Visayas auditionees where selected in Dolphy Theater in Quezon City where 26 acts made it to the semi-finals. On the other hand, the remaining 10 acts from Mindanao were visited by the judges in their respective hometown. The semi-finals were held in PAGCOR Theater in Parañaque City. In addition, there is a wildcard round for those semi-finalists who made it to the top three highest audience votes but lost the judges' votes are given a chance to compete again in order to make it to the grand finals. Only two will be chosen for this round.

On June 25 and 26, 2011, the season ended in Araneta Coliseum of Quezon City, Metro Manila where the fourteen acts competed. Falsetto singer Marcelito Pomoy from Cavite was crowned as the winner of the second season.

Season 3

The hosts announced in the grand finals of Season 2 that the show will return again within two weeks. The third season premiered last July 9, 2011 on ABS-CBN. Major auditions are held in Baguio, Manila, Batangas, Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos City. There are also mini-auditions held in almost 70 municipalities and cities in the country. In addition, there are online auditions where participants are asked to upload their videos in Pilipinas Got Talent website. In this season, Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford became a judge substitute for a while of Aiai Delas Alas and Kris Aquino, respectively.

After the nationwide auditions (including online auditions), 187 acts made it to the next round called "The Judges Cull" where the judges were able to make a review of the contenders who passed the auditions which they are going to choose the top 36 semi-finalists. The Judges' Cull was held in ABS-CBN Studios in Quezon City where 24 acts from Luzon and Mindanao made it to the semi-finals. In addition, the 12 acts from Visayas were visited by the judges as well as Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano in their respective hometowns.

On October 23 and 24, 2011, the season ended in the Ynares Sports Complex in Antipolo City, Rizal where the twelve acts competed. Maasinhon Trio, a singing trio from Southern Leyte, was announced as the winner of the third season.

Season 4

A teaser for the fourth season were aired after results night of The X Factor Philippines in July 29, 2012. Major auditions were held in key cities like Quezon City, Bacolod, General Santos, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao City. In addition, winners of TFCkat, an international competition made by The Filipino Channel which is held in Filipino key areas all over the world, were also given slots for auditions in the Philippines. The show premiered on February 16, 2013.

After the nationwide auditions, 104 acts made it to the Judges Cull where the three judges made a review of their auditions in order to determine the top 36 quarterfinalists. This is the season which marks the introduction of semifinal round where the top 12 acts who won the quarterfinals will compete for the six slots in the grand finals.

On June 1 and 2, 2013, the season ended in PAGCOR Grand Theater in Parañaque, Metro Manila where six acts vied for the grand prized of 2 million pesos. Roel Manlangit, a 13-year-old singer from Valencia, Bukidnon, was hailed as the winner of the fourth season.

Season 5

On May 17, 2015 in ASAP 20, Luis Manzano confirmed that the show will return for its fifth season and particularly be returning as host as well, following the success of the four Filipino acts who competed in the grand finals of Asia's Got Talent. Two of those acts were formerly part of this show and these are: singer Gerphil Geraldine "Fame" Flores, who competed in Season 1 but lost the judges' vote in the 4th semifinal week, and shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra, who competed in Season 3 but placed 4th in the finals. Flores placed third while El Gamma was declared the winner of the first season of the said regional franchise of Got Talent. On January 8, 2016, ABS-CBN announced that Garcia would return as judge for the fifth consecutive season, Ai-Ai de las Alas will not return due to her transfer to GMA Network after her contract expired and 16 years of association, while Kris Aquino cited her health problems. Therefore, numerous teasers are being released prior to the change of the lineup and two weeks leading to the premiere, actress Angel Locsin, actor Robin Padilla and comedian Vice Ganda will be joining the judging panel. The season will premiere on January 23, 2016, replacing the weeknight slots of second season of Your Face Sounds Familiar. The grand finale was held on May 21 and 22, 2016 at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena, Pasay City, where dancesport duo Power Duo became the first non-singing act to win the show.

Season 6

The sixth season of Pilipinas Got Talent is yet to be announced by ABS-CBN and is scheduled to premiere sometime in 2017.

Hosts

Pilipinas Got Talent is hosted by Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano for five consecutive years, while Marc Abaya hosts the daily spin-off, Pilipinas Got More Talent only in the first season. Actresses Iya Villania and Nikki Gil have served as guest hosts.

Judges

Since season 1 until season 4, the judges of the show consists of Kris Aquino, who was earlier tapped for the hosting gig, backed out from judging at first. However, she announced at an episode on Showbiz News Ngayon that she has resumed her judging duties. She joins former ABS-CBN President and COO Freddie M. Garcia, and Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas. Comedian Vice Ganda served as a guest judge in season 4.

In season 5, the judging panel has been changed. Ai-Ai delas Alas and Kris Aquino will not return to the judging panel. Delas Alas will not return due to that she returned to GMA Network, while Aquino cited her health problems. ABS-CBN board member Freddie M. Garcia confirmed his return as judge. On January 8, 2016, a teaser during FPJ's Ang Probinsyano revealed that actress Angel Locsin will be one of the judges. On January 9, 2016, a teaser during It's Showtime revealed that actor Robin Padilla will join Garcia and Locsin in the judging panel and on January 10, 2016, Vice Ganda was revealed to be the last judge that will join the other three during ASAP.

In Grand Finals of Season 5, Host Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford announced that the show will have its sixth season however there's no confirmation on its date of airing, nor the judges from season 5 will still be the judges in the next season.

Golden Buzzer

In season 5, the golden buzzer was introduced, it was placed at the center of judges' table, all of the judges has a chance to press it when they fall in love with the act, Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford has also the opportunity to press the golden buzzer as well, but it can be only press once per season, when it was pressed by a judge, the background goes gold together with the corresponding X of the judge who pressed the golden buzzer, any act who received the golden buzzer from a judge or host will automatically advance to the live semi-finals.

'Susan Boyle'-like issue

Antonio J. Montalvan II of Philippine Daily Inquirer lamented about how auditions, particularly during the ones held in the southern island of Mindanao, reflect the Philippine showbiz culture of denigrating people from outside Metro Manila, who are often referred as "promdi." The writer narrated about one male contestant from Davao City who he wrote as "a Susan Boyle in the making," but the audience applause was cut short after judge Kris Aquino "wryly commented that to appreciate the contestant’s voice, one should not look at his face but only listen to his voice."

Preference for singers

After Manlangit was declared the winner of the fourth season, many Filipino netizens were disappointed with the show for its preference with singers. The show had produced four singers for four straight seasons, all of whom were males. Many had vented their disappointments on Twitter. One shared that in order to win the show, one must be a male singer with a very sad and tragic background story. Some netizens also recommended to change the title of the show to "Pilipinas Got Singers" and "Pilipinas Got Awa" (Philippines Got Mercy) pertaining much to the winning streak of singers in the show.