Some months ago, little Lyca Gairanod was hailed as the grand champion of “The Voice Kids.” Since then, however, we’ve noticed that the tilt’s top four finalists are being built up as a group, and not enough singular focus and fanfare is being devoted exclusively to Lyca herself.
We think this is unfair to her, because only one talent can become a champion, so Lyca should be given a bigger and more sustained solo showcase and stellar build-up campaign from here on in.
GAIRANOD. Not enough singular focus and fanfare is being devoted to her.
Yes, the other top finalists, especially Darren Espanto, are potentially stellar talents in their own right, but only Lyca possesses the “magic” combination of strong voice, “poor” family background, Pinay looks, masa appeal and idiosyncratic feistiness that, following the iconic Nora Aunor’s template, makes for truly “democratizing” stardom on the local performing scene.
We want Lyca to succeed in a truly stellar or even “superstellar” way because, like Nora, she could again help usher in a less “colonial” chapter in our “pop history,” in which nontisoy talents will once again become prodigiously popular—and thus remind everyone that we’re uniquely Filipino, Malay and Asian, not unreasonable facsimiles of western beauty and talent paradigms!
It’s a fact that, when Nora unexpectedly reigned supreme, Filipinos were more nationalistic, prouder of themselves and their capabilities, and less subservient to colonial standards of “superiority” and “excellence.”
Colonial mode
Now that we’ve generally reverted to colonial mode and attitude, a “new Nora in Lyca” could help bridge the gap and fill in the blanks once more for a new generation of once-clueless Filipinos—and that’s a good thing to help make happen!
However, it can only transpire if Lyca becomes a really big and influential star, so her “shared” stardom with her fellow “The Voice Kids” finalists shouldn’t be tolerated, because it’s counterproductive. Darren, JK and Darlene can have their time to shine soon enough—for now, however, let’s focus on only Lyca.
Having said which, we would like to advice Lyca’s handlers that she’s unique because she’s simple, real and Pinay, so they should refrain from gussifying her with makeup, lipstick and stuff, so she ends up looking as fake as everybody else!
That happened recently on one of her TV guestings, and the results were sad to see. In addition, Lyca sported new jewelry, which made her look even more “TH.”
Lyca won many people’s hearts by being her simple, straightforward, undecorated and unenhanced self, so stop trying to “improve” on her uniquely natural and original template.
So, off with the makeup, lipstick, jewelry and other borloloys, Lyca “unimproved” is how we “Lyca like” her!