2016: Phl artists shine on int’l stage
Aside from actors, directors and writers who made the Philippines proud in international film festivals, Filipino artists also shone on the international stage. Here’s a misty-eyed look at those achievers in 2016 (compiled by Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas):
The Philippine Madrigal Singers a.k.a. The Madz — Gran Premio Città di Arezzo (Grand Prix), 64th International Choral Competition Polifonico Guido d’ Arrezo in Arrezo, Tuscany, Italy. The Grand Prix Award was attributed to the choral group’s impressive performances in seven categories: Compulsory Program, first prize; Sacred Music, first prize; Secular Music, second prize; Monographic Program, first prize; International Festival of Choral Music, Listening Committee’s Choice; Arrezo Colour’s Prize, Listening Committee’s Choice and Public’s Choice; and Micrologus Prize Gregorian Chant: Monodic Medieval Liturgic, Best Performance. The world-acclaimed choral group received the Guido d’Arezzo Trophy (by Alessandro Marrone), cash prize of Euro 2,000 (approximately $2,400) and the right to compete in the 2017 European Grand Prix for Choral Music in Tolosa, Spain.
Sarah Geronimo — Best Asian Performer at the 12th Classic Rock Awards, Tokyo, Japan.
Pinopela — Overall champion at the 2016 A Cappella Championships, Singapore with Adele’s Skyfall and All I Ask, Bruno Mars’ Treasure and Jessie J’s Bang
Bang as its repertoire. The group earned the highest score in the competition’s history. It also won the following: Gold,
Looping Category (for Zsaris Mendioro); Gold, International Category; Judges’ Choice and Most Impressive Vocalist (for Anthony Castillo, tenor). The group wore creations of Francis Libiran during the competition. The nine-member group from Baguio City started as members of St. Louis University Glee Club was also Akapela Open’s second placer in 2013 and champion in 2014. Aside from Mendioro and Castillo, the members are Ingrid Payaket, Rox Omilda, Sheevani Sibayan, Charmaine Suyo, JJ Pimpinio, Deo Ramirez and Timmy Go. University of Mindanao Chorale
— Grand Prix winner at the ninth Oriental Concentus held in Singapore, with SGD $10,000 cash prize and three golds, defeating 28 chorale groups in Church, Chamber and Folklore categories. Conductor was Peter Buwaya. Miriam College High School
Glee Club — Winner of the Diploma d’Oro Level III in the G2-Youth Choirs of Equal Voices category and the Diploma d’Oro Level II in the S3-Sacred Music Female Choir category at the seventh International Choir Festival & Competition held in Rome. Conductor was Nancy Roman. Balon Dagupan Children’s Choir
— Grand winner at the 2016 Malaysia International Children’s Choral Festival, Malaysia. The choir also bagged the Most Promising Overseas Choir and Shah Alam Mayor awards. The choir is composed of public elementary students of Dagupan City, trained by Virginia Llamas-Mendoza, wife of Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza.
Lukas Oscar Janisch — Winner of The Voice Kids Germany. A 13-year-old Fil-Austrian, Lukas rendered Adele’s
When We Were Young while playing the piano during the finals. His mother hails from Leyte. Janice Buco (a.k.a. Janice Phuong) — Champion at the seventh season of
Vietnam Idol for accumulating 54.25 percent of the audience votes. Janice’s audition piece was a Vietnamese song, Cam
On Tinh Yeu (Thank You, My Love), and sang one of the country’s popular songs,
Hello Vietnam. Janice, who is from Bohol, is married to a Vietnamese musician and bandmate, a flamenco guitarist. She has been living in Vietnam for seven years and works as a professional bar singer. Janice is the first Filipino and foreigner to ever win the contest, pocketing 600 million Vietnamese dong (approximately US$26,730). Her first single, Love You in Silence, was released in October. Katchry Jewel Golbin a.k.a
Alienette Coldfire — Third place out of 12 finalists at the 11th season of La France a un Incroyable Talent (France Got Talent). Her finale song, Jacques Brel’s Quand on n’a que l’amour (When Love Is
All You Have), merited a standing ovation from the judges. Twenty-six-yearold Golbin, an English graduate from the Central Philippine University, Iloilo City, was blind since birth. Her family is from Tapaz Town, Capiz. Jo Navarroza, Diploma Award, finalist (18-24 age category); Jovelyn Torres, third Place (18-24 age category); and Janine Fiona Kent, fifth place (14-17 age category) at the 14th Euro Pop Contest Gran Prix (Berliner Perle), Berlin, Germany. Ballet Manila — Comeros Shaira May, Most Promising Female Dancer; Melencio Rosanne Paz, Canada’s National Ballet School Summer School Scholarsphip; Nicole Klaudine Barroso and John Edmar Sumera, Elmhurst School of Dance Summer School Scholarship; Barroso, Shanghai Dance School Full Year Scholarship; Raymond Salcedo and Benedict Sabularse, Fonteyn Prize; Barroso, Silver, Junior A; Sumera, Silver, Junior B; Alvin Dictado, 6th Place, Junior B; Ana Andes, fifth Place, Senior A; Raymond Salcedo, fourth Place, Senior B; Rodney Catubay, fifth Place, Senior B; Loraine Gaile Jarlega, fifth Place, Pre-Competitive 2; Danielle De Guzman and Joshua Enciso, finalists, Junior B; andAshley Salonga and Lyssa Apilado, finalists, Junior A; at the sixth Asian Grand Prix (International Ballet Competition).
UPeepz — Champion (Gold), MegaCrew Division at the 15th World Hip Hop Dance Championship, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The Alliance won bronze in the Varsity Division. Fortyfour countries participated. FMD Xtreme (from Marikina
City) — World Champion, International Open Division at the 12th World Supremacy Battlegrounds, Sydney, Australia on Sept. 11, with AUD $3,000 cash prize. The group was also the champion in 2013 and 2014. Other Philippine winning entries: Streetbuck (Laguna), second and Power Impact Dancers (PUP), third, Monster Crew division; Ignite (Cebu City), silver, Young Guns division; and Nocturnal Dance Company (Bulacan), bronze, Open division. Finalists: Lil Peepz (fourth, Junior Division); Legit Status Varsity (fourth, Varsity Division); 4DK Varsity (sixth, Varsity Division); Recab (fourth, Monster Crew); Recab (fourth, Monster Crew); Autonomicass Crew (fifth, Monster Crew); Synergy (seventh, Monster Crew); The Undrgrnd (eighth, Monster Crew); Le’Go Fam (fourth, Open); Asian Pride (fifth, Open); Autonomicass Crew (eighth, Open); Realbrox (10th, Open). WSB Supreme Battle winners: Lucksley Maravilla (Locking category) and Cage (KRUMP category). ( E- mail reactions at entphilstar@ yahoo. com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@ gmail. com.)