My Protégé: The Battle of the Big Break Experience

      In response to GMA Network, Inc.’s call for the nationwide auditions for their new singing contest to be launched, I, last Aug 10, 2011, went to SM Cagayan de Oro to try my luck. I have always been in love with singing; as a matter of fact, I’ve tried to join different singing-related groups and organizations and singing contests as well.

       I went to Cagayan de Oro with slight confidence and high hopes that I’ll make it to Manila. Funny as it may seem, but I have also thought of how to react when the juror would say: “You’re flying to Manila!” I was never startled seeing other hopefuls falling in line, waiting for their names to be called for the reason that I also have talent and in a way, I am musically gifted.

     Upon reaching the foot of the mall, I’ve met many kinds of people –humble and proud. I happen to be one of those who are proud, but I always see to it that I won't be airy as much as possible. Since I went there on my own, I decided to make friends with some participants for me to have some people around me. I stayed with them because it left me with no choice, really. I was in a way annoyed with a guy who actually believes that we're already that close. Great thing that Nick Kho, Karl, Louraine, and Bobert came! I finally got out from them, you won't really believe me if I’ll tell you how dumb they were.

This is the logo of the Talent Search

      We were to fill up a form which happens to consist of 4 pages before we could get a “priority number” –that’s how I call it. The form had 14 questions, and it really took me some time to answer all of them since they were really very hard, and since I really wanted to impress those who will get to read mine. Some of the questions were really hard, and some required practicalities. I arrived at the event center at 10am, yet the audition proper started at 1pm.

Because I wanted to impress the judges with my singing abilities, I thought of singing Tattooed on my Mind, but I ended up realizing that it is not practical to sing a song as safe as that since there are those who really had their vocal range shown. That’s why I decided to sing Rolling in the Deep. When it was already nearing 1881, I became soooooooooooo nervous! It really is not easy to sing in front of the mall-goers and all the participants as well. When it was my turn to sing on stage, the juror –who happens to be Boy Abunda’s friend–, asked me where Bobby is. He might have thought that I’m singing with Bobby.

I opened the song with:

“There’s a fire, starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch but it’s leaving me

out the dark

Finally I can see you crystal clear, go ahead and sell me out while I lay on ship bed

See how I live with every piece of you

Don’t under estimate the things that I would do …”

     When I was about to end the first stanza, the juror raised his left hand and grabbed the microphone and said: “KUYA, SORRY PO.” It really broke my heart. I wore a fierce look when I was singing. I tried to project like Rachelle Ann Go. I was different; I mean I was one of those who felt comfortable singing on stage.

     I went back to Iligan after having dinner with Nick Kho and Karl at the stalls found in Divisoria. All of us left SM after Louraine got rejected as well. Well, it’s okay! I know that one day, my star will shine!      

    Although I did not pass the auditions, I believe that there are still a lot of chances where I will get to show my talent and all that. I know that at time’s eventuality, I’ll be a star; a star that everyone knows and recognizes. The juror really broke my heart, BUT NOT MY HOPES! I know that someday, I will be better; so much better from what I am today. I will not lose hope and I will not stop singing.