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Star-searching on a Saturday night! I have a crush...a really BIIIG crush ÜÜÜ I made sure the TV would be mine tonight, as in I wouldn't have to argue with my mother as to where to tune in by 8pm. Because I wanted to see him again. I wanted to hear him again. I wanted him to sing for me again. Uh-oh...I'm dreaming now. What I mean is I wanted to watch him again as he sings in 'Star for a Night' - a singing competition hosted by no less than the Asia's songbird, Regine Velasquez, in IBC 13 every Saturday. It's the semi-finals tonight, and the winner will bring home P100,000. But the best part is the winner will join the Grand Finals (where P1-Million awaits the Champion) after 5 more semi-final rounds (within about five or six months). I wanted to see him in the Grand Finals. I wanted to see him again. What did he do to me???!!! (Heart beats as if in laughter!) Two weeks ago, he sang 'Love always finds a Way.' It happens to be one of my favorite songs. The title itself sums up all of what I believe in about love. He didn't register with an instantly captivating vibes on TV the last time, but I liked him nonetheless because I felt he was singing for me. Don't laugh now. He is sooo engaging when he sings. He smiles on camera like a real star, his gestures are just enough and are not distracting; he smoothly carries the tune with a style of his own and he sings with noticeable feelings, which is a big plus because some contestants, even professional singers, just sing as if they're just going through each line without even knowing what it means. He is also very charming. The judges probably noticed the same things in him, too, so he emerged as the 'Star' for that night. He was the only male among four contestants and I guess it tells a lot about him as a contestant performer, as a singer and as a potential big star. And mind you, during a group performance with Regine Velasquez (as a treat for the contestants, they will have a speacial number with Regine), his voice blended so well with the others' and if you don't watch TV often, you wouldn't know he's a contestant and not a pro. He cried -- like an adorable little boy -- when his name was announced as the week's winner. (That's another plus factor for him: he smiles and cries just as sheepishly.) His brother, who was among the audience, also cried with him. As a rule for winners, he had to sing again to close the program, and so he was crying when he sang 'Love always finds a way' the second time. And since I'm a weepy sentimental drama queen, my heart melted for him. And he had me there! Still, I wondered whether he was crying because he was just too happy, or was the monetary value (P50,000 for weekly winners) the root of his tears (It could probably mean a sort of "resouce fund.")? Tonight, he told the story: He lives in Cagayan de Oro City, within Misamis Oriental province, in the region of Northern Mindanao. He learned (this part is kinda vague to me, basta he found out) that there would be an audition in Cebu City (Central Visayas) for the TV contest. Mind you, hundreds line up to audition for 'Star' when it reaches out to the provinces like Cebu. And they are good singers, too. And again, I would bet that there were more women than men, too. Anyhow, he openly told Regine (she briefly interviewed him after he sang tonight) that his problem then was transportation money. Apparently, he doesn't belong to a well-off family. Fortunately, her mother was supportive enough to shell out a few hundreds so he could cross the sea and audition for the contest. Coincidentally, it was his birthday then! (God probably loves this guy so much!) So his mother considered his transportation allowance as her gift for him. After he auditioned, he didn't immediately know the results. He got back to Cagayan de Oro, and soon enough, he received a phone call, telling him he passed the initial audition and he should come for another audition, this time in Manila, before he could officially be counted in as contestant. That's another dilemma because the caller said he had to be in Manila in three days' time. Again, he sought his mother's help. This time, her mother's resourcefulness surfaced to rescue him. She wasn't just supportive. She would back him up all the way to help him reach his dreams. Even if it means she had to ask her friend from a cargo ship to allow him to board the cargo for free. His mother probably never gave her friend a chance to say 'no' that he was allowed to board the cargo just right in time. And so all his mother had to give was P250 for his food. Now I understand where those tears swelled from. Indeed, victories are sweeter when the difficulties to reach it were greater. Incidentally, his father (who was interviewed by a TV staff after he sang) said, "Like his grandfather, I told him not to settle for the security of defeat. He should work hard to reach his dreams...He made me very proud tonight." And there I was on my seat, nodding in complete agreement. He was more charming and attractive tonight. Even sexier than the last time; plus his voice got a lot better, perhaps because he was less nervous this time. The resident judge even told him, in jest, "Ano'ng nangyari sa 'yo? Mukha ka nang Star?" (What happened to you? You suddenly looked like a pro?) And they all laughed. That same judge saw his potential during the weekly round, where he was also one of the judges. (I like this contest because after each contestant sings, Regine joins him/her on stage to have a brief chat and then they'll proceed to the judges' table to ask for their opinion regarding the performance given. Contestants and singer wannabees learn a lot from this portion.) And the judge was even more amazed now, because he was truly a far better performer tonight. And it didn't hurt that he was more captivating on TV when he sang 'One in a million.' Apparently, he was able to use some of his winnings to buy stlish clothes and fix himself (actually, just his hair) to further enhance his appearance on TV. And it worked. Oh, boy, did it work! With 'One in a million,' he swept the judges off their feet. And young actress Tanya Garcia, who was one of the judges (she doesn't sing but she can figure whether a contestant has 'star potential'), openly told Regine "Nakaka-in -love siya!" to which Regine agreed wholly. Later, Tanya would quip, "May pang- date na siya." (Now, he can afford to bring someone on a date) since he won 50 grand the last time. Ryan Cayabyab-trained Jeffrey Hidalgo was also among the judges, and he couldn't find a flaw in his performance. "Magaling siya," he said, noting that he was able to watch him perform during the weekly round. If there was any criticism for him, it was he distorts his handsome face too much when he sings. He was advised to look in the mirror as he reaches the notes in a song, so he could find out how he could attack or reach a note without having to seem to be giving out a scowl. And gee, that was the "best" among the negative criticisms for that night. I knew he'd win. He was contestant number 4 -- the last -- but definitely not the least -- contestant for the night. Sometimes, the best is saved for last and apparently this contest is one of those times. Because contestant number 4, the man who travelled Mindanao to Manila in a free cargo ship was announced as the winner and became P100,000-richer. Congratulations, Mark Bautista! I'll be waiting your 'Star' to shine even more. Incidentally, it was a tie between Mark and another contestant (no. 3), whose name I couldn't remember but whose performance, was nothing short of excellent for me. She's from Cebu City and she sang 'I don't wanna cry.' I couldn't agree more with Regine when she said, it seems she was even better than Mariah Carey (who recorded the song). I'm glad she won because she needed the money for her sister's heart operation. (It was not mentioned if they would share the P100-thousand or each would receive his own prize.) So there--I'll continue watching 'Star for a Night' to challenge my "star-finding skills" and perhaps, cheer for my bets and join them in praying that they'd win and reach the Grand Finals--and yes, win as the 'Big Champion' and earn a recording contract with Viva Records. I wrote this in November, 2002. Not long after that, Mark went on to sign a recording contract, entertain more people and charm more women. ü |