Cebuana ‘Clashers’ are in it to win it
When GMA-7's reality singing competition “The Clash” began in July, there had been 62 “Clashers."
As the competition gets stiffer, only 16 hopefuls remain, three of them powerhouse Cebuanas belters.
Golden Cañedo, Danielle Ozaraga and Esterlina Olmedo have made it to the Top 16 of the competition.
With their impressive voice range, the trio continues to give judges Lani Misalucha, Christian Bautista and Ai-Ai delas Alas reasons to allow them to progress as they dominate the singing battles with their electrifying performances.
Young Clasher
Among the youngest is Golden, 16. The teener, who hails from Minglanilla, Cebu began singing in kindergarten but only started competing four years ago at 12 years old.
“Gusto nako ipakita akong talent dili ra diri sa Cebu pero sa tibuok Pilipinas ug sa uban countries,” Golden says in a backstage interview before a Kapuso Mall Show at the Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu last Aug. 19.
“Hala patay kadaghan nila. Unya makuha kaha ko?” was Golden’s thoughts when she auditioned for “The Clash," which airs Saturday and Sunday.
“Mura kog napanghinaan ng loob. Pero daghan ko og friends nga niingon nga push lang. Ako daw ang kinabataan, siyaro sa 62 naapil jud ko. Laban lang jud.”
The Grade 10 student has been in Manila for a few months now since workshops began. Moving with her to the capital are her mom and younger sibling. She’s also decided to continue her studies there while competing in “The Clash."
“Lisod jud,” Golden says of juggling school work and singing commitments. “Pray lang gyud ko ni God. And confident ko sa akong kaugalingon bisag 16 ko, naa koy ikabuga.”
Nicknamed “Lagari Queen” here in Cebu, Danielle wouldn’t decline any invitation to perform, often doing three events in a day. She was able to maintain a scholarship through her singing from high school throughout college. Although that had been challenging, Danielle still managed to pull through with the help of her mom.
“Sauna pirmi ko magsalig sa akong parents,” Danielle says of how much she’s changed since moving on her own in Manila for “The Clash."
“Lahi ra jud. Ako ra isa sa Manila, sugod pa ato sa workshops. Nag-adjust jud ko pero in fairness, nakaya ra pud. Na-independent ko. Mas gi-value nako ang time. Never jud ko na-late sa rehearsal or workshop. Sauna pukawunon ko. Kahibaw na ko mudiscipline sa ako self,” Danielle shares.
Among her idols are “The Clash” host Regine Velasquez and Cebuana singer Morissette Amon. Danielle shares how the Asia’s Songbird
Golden hopes to finish a degree in tourism to become a flight attendant or maybe work and sing in a cruise ship.
Because of “The Clash,” the Sarah Geronimo fan gained more confidence. Golden was able to point out her weaknesses and work on them to keep up with her far more experienced competitors.
“Siyempre nahadlok ko. Unsa ra gud akong ikabuga nga wala pa kaayo koy experience, bag-o rako nagkanta. Akong gibuhat nag-practice ko og maayo,” Golden admits.
While she struggles with expressing emotions in her performances the way a 16-yearold can’t very well relate to certain types of music just yet, Golden is thankful for the guidance they get through workshops.
Lagari Queen
Danielle, on the other hand, is at the top of her game.
The 21-year-old finished a degree in tourism at the University of Cebu just this March. She is a Sinulog Idol 2012 finalist, and has three silver medals from the 2015 World Championship of Performing Arts.
“Dili na unta ko mu-join," she says of "The Clash."
"Sauna magsige ko og audition for TV, dili man jud ko madala. Pero gipush jud ko para mu-join. Unexpected jud kaayo nga nadala ko,” Danielle says.
Despite her experience, Danielle still geta jittery.
“Dapat perfect tanan imong performance. Ako lang huna-hunaon na i-enjoy ang performance. Gusto jud ni nako ako ginabuhat ron. Mao jud ni akong gipangandoy ever since,” says Danielle, who began competing at nine for "Little Big Star." constantly gives tips to contestants: among the most important ones for Danielle is to practice, since muscle memory plays a huge part in singing perfectly.
The Danao City native is thankful that she used to be a member of her school’s dance company which taught her to perform. Because of that, she didn’t have much trouble with dancing workshops for “The Clash."
Danielle is also trying to improve her communication skills and constantly tries to speak in Tagalog. She also wants to discover different singing styles to be as versatile instead of resting on her laurels and depend on birit songs.
Danielle shares that she, Golden, and Esterlina have been emotional when they found out they were part of the Top 16.
But should it happen that these Cebuanas compete against each other, they’ve made up their minds to
just do their best.
Age is just a number
Out of the three, Esterlina has the most experience. At 49, the mother of three from Talisay City made performing her bread and butter.
Sometimes, she would sell rice-based snacks or do the laundry. But her husband would tell her not to keep taking other people’s laundry because “he had married a singer." Esterlina began singing at six years old, and was part of a band when she was a teen.
“Pag-audition, nagsuway-suway lang gyud ko,” Esterlina shares. “Basta naay audition, muapil jud ko ana. Mao na nagpasalamat jud ko nga nauyunan ko nila ug naa ko diri hangtod karon."
Esterlina would sing in fiestas, had interpreted for the Cebu Pop songwriting competition and had joined It's Showtime's “Stars on 45."
She was thrilled to get in "The Clash," because apart from getting the chance of a lifetime, she would also get to show her talent to idols Regine and Lani.
“Dugay kaayo ko nakasulti ni Miss Regine nga idol jud nako siya since elementary,” Esterlina says, narrating to Regine how she used to watch her through the neighbor’s television, even having had the windows slammed on her fingers.
Regine bonded with her over that anecdote, saying that she too once watched TV through their neighbor’s window.
“Bisag sa akong edad makabirit gihapon ko,” Esterlina says.
“Mao jud na siya ang ingon sa akong papa sa una, buhi pa to. Ayaw lang jud ug undang. Kanta lang gyud. Audition, try lang, bahalag dako na kag edad,” Esterlina says.
When she did get into “The Clash,” she decided to up her game, singing newer hits like “Chandelier” and “Stone Cold."
As the competition gets tougher by the week, the Top 16 will be trimmed down to 12. With a one versus all format, the last singer standing will receive an exclusive management contract from GMA Network, a brand new car, one million pesos and a house and lot from Bria Homes.