ANGELES, PAMPANGA- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) picked the first two finalists for the “OPM@PAGCOR, A Nationwide Search for the Total OPM Performer” from the first semi-final competition held in Casino Filipino Angeles last March 24.
Marie Joyce Tañaña, 23, from Angeles City, Pampanga and Renz Ruther Robosa, 19 from San Carlos City, Pangasinan, won the votes of the Board of Judges after they sang powerful renditions of their chosen OPM piece. They beat other 10 contenders.
Tañaña, who sang Lani Misalucha’s “Tila,” said it was her lucky song. “In every singing contest I join, ito talaga yung kinakanta ko dahil feeling ko ito yung maswerteng kanta sa ‘kin,” she said.
She dedicates the song to her aunt, Nida Sunga, whom she fondly calls her mama. “Para sa kanya talaga ito kasi sya yung nag-alaga at nag-paaral sa akin. Sya yung gumawa ng paraan para makapag-aral ako, hanggang sa makapagtapos ako. She encouraged me to join this singing contest. Siguro kung hindi nya sinabi na may ganito, wala naman ako dito ngayon,” Tañaña said.
Tañaña added her decision to join the OPM@PAGCOR search was a comeback of sorts for her since she already stopped joining singing contest four years ago. “Syempre hindi mo maiiwasan yung matalo. And when you lose, you feel bad. That’s the reason why I stopped joining. Dadating ka talaga sa point na susuko ka na. Honestly ako, pasuko na. Naisip ko, hindi na ako kakanta,” she said.
“Masayang-masaya ako kase over 200 kaming nag-audition, napasama ako sa top 12 at napili pa ako ngayon sa top 2. Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa chance na ito kasi nagkaroon ulit ako ng confidence,” Tañaña said.
Co-winner Robosa, who sang Martin Nievera’s Ikaw ang Pangarap, also felt elated about his triumph. “Sobrang Masaya ako. Feeling ko, ako na ang pinaka-masayang singer. Ito na yung pinakahihintay kong tagumpay. Yung mabigyan ako ng break at magkaroon ng formal training,” he enthused.
Robosa began singing when he was only 3 years old. He did not have any professional training. It was his father, Rene Robosa, who served as his mentor. “Kaya yung bawat pagkanta ko, sa parents ko talaga dine-dedicate yun. Sila ang inspiration ko sa bawat performance. Sila ang nagbigay-buhay sa akin, gumabay, at nagpalaki sa akin na may takot sa Diyos. Higit sa lahat, sila ang nag-develop ng skills ko sa pagkanta,” he added.
Meanwhile, OPM President Ogie Alcasid expressed his admiration for the singing talents of the 12 semi-finalists from the CF Angeles competition round. “They are all good singers and they did very impressive performances,” he said.
Alcasid shared the OPM@PAGCOR singing search would give a big boost to the local music industry. “Unlike other contests na pwede kang kumanta ng foreign songs, dito, strictly OPM lang. Ito lang yata ang contest na ganun ang konsepto. And we should be very proud na may ganito tayo,” he added.
According to Alcasid, the OPM@PAGCOR is not just a singing search. “Winners will undergo formal training from the country’s renowned music icons. So when they pursue a professional singing career, they already have the proper training. Most importantly, this contest will help give them jobs,” he said.
The singer-composer also thanked PAGCOR for its support to OPM. “Nagpapasalamat kami sa PAGCOR. It’s really our dream to bring back the glory of OPM. Without PAGCOR, walang ganitong contest,” he noted.
Singer Jed Madela also expressed his gratitude to PAGCOR and OPM for paving the way for the discovery of new Filipino talents. “I am very ahppy na nagiging widespread na ngayon ang paghahanap natin ng mga bagong Filipino talents. When I found out about this OPM@PAGCOR talent search, na-excite ako kasi parang yung mga competitions, nali-limit lang sa TV and sometimes it’s difficult sa ibang tao to join. But now, there’s a lot of avenue for them to audition,” Madela said.
Tañaña and Robosa received P25,000 plus plaque from OPM and PAGCOR. They will be joined by other winners from the semi-final rounds in Casino Filipino Tagaytay, Parañaque, Bacolod, Cebu and Davao who will undergo performance workshop from May 28 to June 4, 2011. The OPM@PAGCOR Grand Finals is set on June 10, 2011 at the PAGCOR Grand Theatre in Airport Casino Filipino, Parañaque City.
12 SEMI FINALISTS - CASINO FILIPINO ANGELES & MIMOSA AUDITIONS
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