Pinay teen ‘AI’ finalist
LOS ANGELES—“Filipino pride!” This was what newly declared “American Idol” finalist Thia Megia excitedly announced when she saw us on the red carpet on Friday’s finalists party at The Grove.
“It feels amazing!” she exclaimed when asked about being included in the top 13 of television’s most popular talent show. The 15-year-old, the youngest finalist ever in the history of “American Idol,” is as Filipino as can be.
She likes sinigang, adobo and pancit. This daughter of two immigrants from Pampanga idolizes Charice and Regine Velasquez. She has performed in a concert featuring the latter.
Thia thanked Filipinos for supporting and voting for her. The petite singer with the huge talent also expressed gratitude to her followers within the United States and around the world.
‘Tone perfect’
Born in Redwood City, California, Thia said that she could understand a bit of Tagalog and Kapampangan. She is the youngest offspring of Loreto and Cynthia Megia, both from Pampanga.
She may be the “baby” in the group of newly minted AI finalists, but she was poised, and fielded journalists’ questions with ease and confidence. Wearing a colorful sweater, cut-off denim shorts and boots, Thia cut a lovely, charming figure on the red carpet.
She also wowed the audience and viewers worldwide with her version of “Out Here On My Own” on Wednesday’s show, prompting judge Randy Jackson to rave that her tone was perfect throughout the song.
Thia said she also admires Jasmine Trias, the Filipino-American who also reached the AI finalists’ circle a few years ago.
Of Charice, Thia said she likes her because she is “humble and has a great voice.” Another favorite of hers is Adele, the Grammy-winning British soul singer.
Thia’s face lit up when asked about the Philippines. She said she has been to the country twice, on vacation.
Dad trembling
Loreto, Thia’s dad, smiled as he watched her daughter do the media line. “Nanginginig ako (I was trembling),” he revealed when we asked how he was during the announcement earlier of the finalists by host Ryan Seacrest.
“I’m proud of her,” Loreto said of her daughter, whom he recalled to have been singing with gusto as early as age 4.
California to Milwaukee
Loreto, who immigrated to the United States in 1968, believes that Thia got her singing talent from her uncles from both sides of the family.
He disclosed that Thia couldn’t wait for the AI tryouts in California so she auditioned in Milwaukee. He added that Thia has been home-schooled for the past three years.
Thia herself chooses the songs that she performs each week on the popular TV show, said Loreto. Since Thia is a minor, her parents take turns staying with her in the house where the contestants live while the show is running.
As Thia did the red carpet media line, so did AI judges J Lo and Steven Tyler. J Lo’s husband, singer Marc Anthony, stayed on the sidelines, chatting with fellow guests at the tented party held on the rooftop parking structure of The Grove, a popular LA shopping destination near the studio where AI is taped.
Many guests followed J Lo when she joined Marc after her interviews. At least eight burly bodyguards stood around the popular couple, who obliged requests by guests for photos.
As the party winded down, and as Thia fielded her last media question for the night, she asked us to relay this message to her supporters: “Salamat!” Blowing a kiss, she exclaimed, “Mahal ko kayo!”
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