It isn't easy for judges to send their own mentees home. But in a reality-talent show that demands nothing but the best from the contestants, the judge-mentors will have to set aside their affinity with their mentees in searching for the contestant with the x-factor.

That’s what Pilita Corrales did when she had to send home her own mentee, Modesto Taran, last Sunday (Aug 26) in another emotional elimination night. Modesto and group Takeoff were placed by the public at the bottom two this week. After judges Gary Valenciano and Charice voted in favor of Takeoff, Pilita surprised everyone when she voted to send home the 55-year old security guard whom she has been mentoring.

This week, only eight finalists will battle it out on stage as they pay tribute to original Pinoy music. Be sure to save your favorites from being in the bottom two and vote for them after they all perform on Saturday (Sept 1) night. To vote, text XFJERIC/GAB/KED/ALLEN/KZ/TAKE/DAD/JOAN and send to 2331 for Globe and Sun subscribers and 231 for Smart and Talk ‘n Text subscribers. Who among them will be sent home next? Don’t miss as the competition heats up in the country’s biggest and grandest musical event of the year, “The X Factor Philippines,” with KC Concepcion as host, every Saturday, after “MMK,” and every Sunday, after “Sarah G Live” on ABS-CBN. Follow the show’s official Twitter account at @thexfactorphil and tweet your thoughts and reactions using the hashtag #XFactorPHLiveOPM. You can also like its official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/XFactorPhOfficial.