“PILIPINAS Got Talent 2” grand winner Marcelito Pomoy with judges Ai Ai de las Alas, Kris Aquino and Freddie Garcia. Photo by Arnold Almacen
Until recently, to make ends meet, Marcelito Pomoy spent his mornings selling ice cream, and his nights peddling balut in Imus, Cavite, his hometown. That’s about to change. The 25-year-old singer won ABS-CBN’s reality talent search, “Pilipinas Got Talent 2,” at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
Besting 13 other contenders, a tearful Marcelito raised his fist in triumph upon being declared grand champion by “PGT2” judges Kris Aquino, Ai Ai de las Alas and Freddie Garcia. Voice trembling, he thanked all his supporters.
In contrast to Season 1 winner Jovit Baldivino’s (a former siomai peddler) landslide victory, this year’s title was fiercely contested. Marcelito barely edged out the tap-dancing brothers Happy Feet, with 19.56 and 18.32 percent, respectively, of the total nationwide votes. Third placer was the high-flying dance crew Freestylers, from Calamba, Laguna, with 9.46 percent.
Dubbed “Male Diva” by fans for his ability to sing à la Regine Velasquez, Marcelito has been a favorite since the auditions phase for his impressive renditions of “Narito Ako,” “Sana Maulit Muli,” and “Hanggang Ngayon.”
At the show’s end, Marcelito gave an encore of his winning piece from the night prior, “The Prayer,” originally recorded by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Stage fireworks cascading behind him, Marcelito was feted with a standing ovation and rousing cheers as he tackled the inspirational duet by seamlessly switching from a high female voice to a suave baritone and back.
MARCELITO sings his winning piece. Photo by Arnold Almacen
Marcelito was handed a check worth P2 million. The second and third placers received P100,000 each, and the 11 others, P50,000 apiece.
The finalists also got to perform onstage with Gary Valenciano, Zsazsa Padilla, 6cyclemind, Aiza Seguerra, John Prats, Rayver Cruz, Gab Valenciano and Jhong Hilario.
Success made sweeter
More than the money and the prospect of fame, Marcelito’s win was made memorable by a recent reunion with his estranged family.
Marcelito was just six months old when his mother, Anicita, left him and his three siblings with their father, Mario, who was in jail. For two years, the children lived in prison. Then their father decided to put them up for adoption.
Last year, Marcelito found his father in his native Surigao del Sur and, more recently, his mother and siblings in Manila.
Asked what it felt like to perform for his family, Marcelito said, speaking in straight Filipino, “I just prayed that they’d be proud of me. I had long dreamt of coming to Manila to find all of them. I’m very, very happy that I finally did. I hope we can forgive one another and get along well together, after all these years.”
Worthy opponents
TAP-DANCING brothers Happy Feet. Photo by Arnold Almacen
The other finalists proved to be worthy competitors with world-class talents.
The Freestylers opened grand finals performance night on Saturday with an exciting blend of acrobatics and breakdancing. Members of the audience held their breath as the dance troupe pulled off a series of death-defying stunts, highlighted by tucked double somersault dismounts.
Happy Feet, from Libona, Bukidnon, was a sentimental favorite. Brothers Ramonito and Lourdito brought judge De las Alas to tears with their finale competition number, Whigfield’s “Close To You.”
Dancing magician Rico Sanorjo, 60, gave the audience quite a scare when he impaled his wife with a spear. To resounding cheers, Rico also produced two geese from thin air, put them in a steel cage, then turned them into a 70-kilogram python. Fellow magician and last year’s finalist, Alakim, was spotted in the crowd, nodding in approval.
Angel Calalas, 22, dubbed “Queen of Hula Hoops,” twirled flaming rings around her arms and waist and drew gasps when she was hoisted up for an airborne exhibition.