Kris Lawrence girlfriend Cristina Aldecoa is a Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 finalist. Will she make the cut? Find out when Pinoy Dream Academy season 2 premieres the week after Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus ends.

Cristina “Meye” Aldecoa in Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 audition was shown tonight. Cristina was branded as the Filipino Dreamer from New York. The Endemol representative said, Cristina looked sad because of her background which is from a struggling family in the US. Direk Joey Reyes and Ryan Cayabyab said she looked sad and compared to another contestant who was also from a poor/complicated family life, was bubbly. Cristina Aldecoa was able to get through tonight and into another round of the Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 auditions.

The host of Deal or No Deal United States, Howie Mandel, is currently in the country to do a special 2-hour episode for Deal Or No Deal ’s Around-the-World Tour. Howie Mandel and Kris Aquino will both host this special episode featuring American contestants as they play the Deal Or No Deal Filipino version, it will be directed by Bobet Vidanes and Winnie Cueva and will also feature the Filipina 26K Girls with their briefcases containing U.S. dollars and the local Banker as well. This will be shown in the U.S. on May 7 in NBC ( sosyal! ). Unfortunately, it will not be shown on local TV as of this time…but fortunately again, there is youTube for that..

Howie Mandel is an Emmy Award-winning actor for “St. Elsewhere” and “Bobby’s World”. He wants to show to American audiences how we Filipinos play the game show which is being aired in 50 other countries. Aside from the U.S. edition, Howie also hosts the Canadian edition called Deal or No Deal Canada.

How does Howie Mandel find Kris Aquino as the local host of Deal Or No Deal?

“I really like her,” he says. “I saw three of her past episodes and she’s so adorable, funny, very charming. I like even her gestures and all that. You have a different style of doing it here and we’re impressed. No wonder the Philippine version was chosen by Endemol to be one of the shows included in our tour.”

The Philippine episode will show Howie Mandel while visiting some of our tourists spots and shopping for souvenirs. “You’re a most gracious and warm people,” he says. “Every moment I spend here is great.”

According to Endemol executive Shannon Herlihy, the Philippines was chosen as part of the world tour because they find the local version of Deal Or No Deal “awesome and fun”. “The U.S. version is similar, but neither our models nor our audience dance and sing,” she adds.

ABS-CBN Business unit head Alou Almaden says they’re delighted to be part of the world tour. “It’s an honor and a testament to our creativity and talent in localizing a game show that has an international following.”