Pilipinas Got Talent (season 5)

Development

During the May 17, 2015 episode of ASAP, host Luis Manzano announced that the show will return for its fifth season, 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 the show: singer Gerphil "Fame" Flores, who competed in the first season but lost the judges' vote in the fourth semifinal week, and shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra, who competed in the third season but placed fourth in the finals. Flores placed third while El Gamma won the inaugural season of the said regional franchise of Got Talent.

Host and judges

Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano are set to reprise their hosting duties although the judging panel will have significant changes. Ai-Ai delas Alas and Kris Aquino will not return to the judging panel; the former due to her return to GMA Network, while the latter cited health problems and give time to her sons. ABS-CBN board member Freddie M. Garcia confirmed his return as judge for the fifth consecutive season. 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. The next day, January 10, a teaser during ASAP revealed that comedian Vice Ganda, who filled on delas Alas' slot last season as a guest judge, will be the fourth judge for this season.

Voting mechanics

Aside from the usual SMS voting, new to this season is the addition of an online voting method done via Google Philippines. By typing the keyword PGT5 in the search box, clickable photos of the contestants that had performed for that week will show up in the search results page; one Google account is entitled to one vote only.

Pre-auditions

The pre-auditions for the fifth season took place in key cities in the Philippines. Pre-auditions were held in Manila, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao. But this season, the pre-auditions are judged by Pilipinas Got Talent staff and those who passed will make it to the live audition.

There were also mini-auditions in several cities and provinces in the Philippines including Antique, Aurora, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Catarman, Catbalogan, Guimaras, Imus, Kalibo, Legazpi, Roxas, Tacloban, and Tarlac City. These mini-auditions are judged by Pilipinas Got Talent staff and those who passed will make it to the live auditions.

In addition, online auditions was put up where contestants can upload their own audition video and send it to the website of Pilipinas Got Talent.

Live auditions

The live auditions in front of the judges were held on January 12–14, 2016 at the Kia Theater in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City (for the Manila auditions) and on January 21–23, 2016 at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City, Davao del Sur (for the Visayas and Mindanao auditions). This fifth season, voting works on a majority-of-three basis (as there are now four judges). If an act receives three or more "yes" votes from the judges, they advance to the next round of the competition which is the judges cull.

Below are the acts that had received at least three Yes votes from the judges, and as well as those Golden acts:

Golden buzzer

Another new addition to this season is the golden buzzer. During the live auditions, there is a golden buzzer placed in the center of the judges' table. The buzzer is pressed by a judge on an act to send directly to the live semi-finals. Each judge is allowed to press the buzzer only once during the whole duration of the auditions.

Padilla was the first judge to use the golden buzzer, pressing it for acrobatic duo, Power Duo. Locsin was the next to press for flair bartending couple Liquid Concepts. Then Vice Ganda was the third judge to press for collegiate Hip-Hop dance troupe, Power Impact Dancers, with Garcia coming in last, doing so for hat tricker/contortionist Mark Dune Basmayor. All four were found during the Manila auditions, hence the lack of calls for the use of the Golden Buzzer during the Davao auditions.

Judges Cull

There are 132 acts who made it to the Judges Cull. Out of 132 acts, only 36 will move forward to the Live Semi-Finals. There are four golden buzzer acts who instantly made it to the Semi-Finals and 27 acts were made it through the unanimous decisions of the judges. However, there are 16 acts in the waiting list who performed for the remaining five slots in the semi-finals and complete the Top 36.

Unanimous decision

These acts were chosen based on unanimous decisions by the judges to move forward to the Live Semi-Finals. Twenty-seven of these acts advanced to the live shows.

Standby Acts

The following acts who performed again for the remaining five slots.

Unknown decision

Several acts were unable to compete in the Judges Cull for personal reasons, or were not seen during the airing of the episodes. These acts were therefore automatically assumed as eliminated from the competition.

Top 36 results summary

Semifinals

The Semifinals began on April 9, 2016 in Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, Metro Manila, where five of the six semi-final rounds would be taking place. Each week, performances from four out of six acts took place on Saturday nights, while during Sunday nights, the two remaining acts performed and the results are announced on the same night.

Color key

Week 1 (April 9 & 10)

Week 2 (April 16 & 17)

Week 3 (April 23 & 24)

This particular semi-finals week was held outdoors at the MX Messiah Fairgrounds in Taytay, Rizal due to the size of stage required for UA Mindanao's performance and the dangerous nature of the fire acts. Also, the show temporarily vacated the Newport Performing Arts Theater to accommodate the finals nights of another competition program I Love OPM. Additionally, the Sunday telecast was moved from the usual early evening slot to past 9:45 pm due to the airing of the Luzon leg of the 2016 PiliPinas Debates.

Week 4 (April 30 & May 1)

Guest performers: Jed Madela with PGT Season 1 semi-finalist and Asia's Got Talent season 1 finalist Gerphil Flores

The live shows returned indoors to the Newport Performing Arts Theater for this round. This round saw the first judges' vote impasse, forcing a return to the public's vote results for the second grand finalist from this round.

Week 5 (May 7 & 8)

Guest performers: Erik Santos, KZ Tandingan, and Yeng Constantino (promotion of We Love OPM) with Season 4's Frankendal Fabroa

Robin chose not to reveal his vote when the Dino Splendid Acrobats already accumulated three votes.

Week 6 (May 14 & 15)

Guests: #Hashtags (from It's Showtime)

Grand Finals

The live shows of the grand finale will premiere at the Mall of Asia Arena over a span of two nights, the performance night (May 21) and the results night (May 22). For the first time in Pilipinas Got Talent, the winner will be based from the public votes (50%) and the scores of the judges (50%).

UA Mindanao and the Amazing Pyra each held the outdoor parts of their performances a few days in advance at the MX Messiah Fairgrounds in Taytay, Rizal. Robin and Vice Ganda were personally present during those performances.