Standout discoveries on TV singing tilt

GOMEZ. Winning combination of stellar plus points.

Last Saturday and Sunday were particularly fruitful “discovery” nights on “The Voice Philippines,” with some outstanding singers coming through in the blind auditions—and bidding fair to possibly romping off with the top crown and prize at the end of the singing tilt’s latest edition.

First to impress us was Ferns Tosco, a singer from Boracay who came through as a unique exponent of popular music. She wasn’t a great looker, and her voice wasn’t all that exceptional, either.

But, what she had going for her—in spades—was a genuine folk mentality and vibe that made her a natural for “Pinoy folk” renditions of a uniquely captivating “kayumanggi” coloration. The fact that she came from Boracay made the “sunkissed, sun-blessed” warmth of her musical persona all the more beguiling.

Best of all, she composed her own songs—as wonderfully proven the night she auditioned, when she accepted apl.de.ap’s offer of mentorship with an ad-lib musical response—!

Usual suspects

Let’s hope that the usual suspects in the music and TV industries will leave this unique talent alone, and not give her a fake makeover to enhance her “commercial” viability and appeal. She’s already enormously appealing in her own original way—so, leave her be!

The second exceptional discovery last Saturday was a Fil-Colombian singer who not only sang wonderfully well, but turned out to be a beauty!

She was Patricia Gomez, and she came across like a young Zsa Zsa Padilla—and had a sexy mole over her upper lip, to boot! We should all be so lucky to be blessed with such a winning combination of stellar plus points.

BERNALES. Four-seater feat.

Patricia also reminds us of the young Pilar Pilapil, so she could come into her own not just as a singer, but as an actress and all-around performer, as well.

Again, we “warn” itchy-fingered stylists and make-over artists to leave her alone, because she’s no raw, gauche hopeful just begging to be “helped,” but already comes across as a complete package, despite her youth.

Finally, last Sunday, musical-theater talent and Ryan Cayabyab Singers member, Poppert Bernales, had such a good audition that he made all four mentors’ armchairs turn!

The “four-seater” feat was unusual, but it didn’t surprise us, because we’ve worked with Poppert in “Katy!,” and know what he’s capable of. In fact, of all of the gifted newcomers in our musical’s cast, the ones we gave additional mentoring at home to were Poppert and Aicelle Santos. So, we know that Poppert, like Ferns and Patricia, can also go “all the way” in “The Voice Philippines.”

We just wish that he learns how to “package” himself better. Kiddo, please get rid of the scraggly beard, it makes you look like the unkempt nobody you’re not.

Also, please continue with the “eyebrow enhancement” regimen we introduced you to—so that, when you use your eyes in performance, they aren’t just there, they can “speak”—and zing!