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Date Posted: 12/11/06 22:25:26
By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ
Like how all great stories meet cinematic endings, "Philippine Idol" climaxed with an underdog triumphing in the name of talent. Mau Marcelo emerged as the first ever Philippine Idol.
Likened to a light at the end of long dark tunnel, Mau's victory late Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum, thousands of supporters witnessed history unfold at the finals night of the first "Philippine Idol" produced by Fremantle Media and ABC-5.
"This was not just a triumph of an underdog performer, it’s a triumph of my life, a life I lived as an underdog all these years," the 26–year old Mau Marcelo told the Manila Bulletin in an emotional interview after she was pronounced winner.
The first local "Idol," who will claim P1million cash, P1million contract with ABC 5 and a record deal with Sony-BMG Music Entertainment, Mau has had more than 200 trophies and medals earned in 18 years of amateur contest experience. She believes this is her time, her conquest after years of winning and losing since she was eight years old.
"Philippine Idol" judge Ryan Cayabyab affirmed the Idol's newly-bestowed position saying, "at the end of the day, Mau's talent prevailed against the odds. The public recognized this is still a singing competition and not about packaging. I'm truly happy for her."
Mau bowed to Sarah Geronimo in a previous reality TV singing championship search. The ‘Soul Idol’ tells the media that when she lost to Sarah, "it was not just my time back then. Now I know that this time is mine."
The victory of an underdog, who confesses to feelings of inferiority all her life because of her physical looks, emerged after six gruelling months besting the best of them all when she rendered the show-stopping Whitney Houston original "On My Own."
Mau, the ‘Diamond Diva (as one of her best performance was Shirley Bassey’s "Diamonds Are Forever" in the movie themes night) collared the Araneta crowd of thousands with her flawless performance of "On My Own" in the third and final round of the contest finale last Saturday night.
Mau, who was named by Lea Salonga no less as the best singer in the contest, went away to win the prestigious title despite being named the least favorite among more packaged ‘La Sallian’ Gian Magdangal and Atenean Jan Nieto.
"Quezon High School lang po ako eh. Pero sana mapasaya ko ang mga tao na sumuporta sa’kin sa panalo kong ito," Mau stated.
Judges Pilita Corrales and Francis Magalona both declared and maintained on Saturday, during the final minutes of the contest proper - that the winner, they felt would be either Gian or Jan. "I feel that the winner will be a male contestant," both judges agreed. But Mau, who admitted she had been financially outsourced since she miraculously made it through the wild card of "Philippine Idol’s" top 12 in September, said she never thought this was a possible dream to attain. "I never expected this. Gusto ko talagang manalo pero hindi ko alam na talagang puwede palang ako yung manalo. Hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang gagawin ko ngayon. Ang alam ko lang, kung makuha ko yung prize money ko, bibili akong second hand na kotse," she said after she recalled moving about her Idol schedules in jeep and tricycle rides. "Pasensiya na po kayo kung wala akong mas malalim na sagot pero yun lang po muna ang naiisip ko ngayon. Siguro po bibili muna ako ng mumurahing kotse."
ABC-5’s Perci Intalan disclosed to the Bulletin that the magnitude of Mau’s victory has yet to dawn on her. "Mau has yet to fully grasp what has happened. After that emotional announcement and press interviews, I can tell she didn’t know where to go next or what to do next that she asked me, ‘Nasaan ang pamilya ko? Saan ako pupunta? May taping ba ko ng ‘I Love Philippine Idol’ bukas?’ I told her, Mau, tapos na, then I led her to where her family was and up to this moment, I don’t think she has fully realized what just went on," Intalan shared.
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