I really am wondering why Philippine Idol didn’t have a second season this year. After that sort-of successful Season 1 where Mau Marcelo became the first Philippine Idol winner, I never heard anything about the show again. No auditions, whatsoever.

And then I found out that FremantleMedia has been thinking about shifting networks. And it looks like GMA 7 won the bidding. Philippine Idol Season 2 is going to be on GMA 7.

Here’s what the news tells us:

“Philippine Idol’s” season 2 will be aired on GMA 7, according to Geraldine Bravo, director of Marketing and Sales for FremantleMedia, “Idol” franchise holder.“We are very fortunate to find a new partner to produce ‘Philippine Idol,’” said Bravo in an official statement sent to Inquirer Entertainment on Friday.

The first season of the reality singing contest was aired by ABC 5 last year.

ABC 5 earlier insisted that it was still “deep in discussions with Fremantle and … barring any major glitch … [we will] still mount the second season.”

Sought to comment on the new development, ABC 5, through senior vice president for Corporate Affairs Terra Daffon, said, “ABC 5 is still waiting for official word from Fremantle.”

Bravo’s formal announcement, however, sealed the deal with GMA 7. “It is our intention to make [RP ‘Idol’] the biggest show the Philippines has ever seen,” Bravo said.

According to various sources, the show’s target launch is February 2008.

An insider told the Inquirer on Wednesday that GMA 7 had bagged the show as of Tuesday night.

I am glad to have Philippine Idol again sometime next year and I am sure Pinoy bloggers are happy with the news. IMHO, GMA can handle it better than ABC 5.