PPS Champ Jonalyn Viray at WCOPA 2006

Jonalyn Viray is one of best young singers in the Philippines. May not be popular but definitely a vocal powerhouse. But has she made a mark, well vocally, at the talent olympics? This time, she's going global. How far she went through? Hmm.

By the way, what are the major titles at stake in the competition. World Championships of the Performing Arts, or WCOPA, is a talent competition comprising of 8 categories, that are:
Vocal (individual)
Vocal Group
Dance
Dance Group
Female Model
Male Model
Instrumental
Acting

A "Grand Champion" title (i.e. Grand Champion Vocalist, etc.) is awarded to the winner of each category. Like other talent competitions, each category has junior and senior divisions. Grand Champions are crowned during the last day of the competition. On this day, each category showcases a set of selected finalists, each finalist gives his "last performance" for at most 60 seconds. After crowning the Grand Champions, among them are declared Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World and Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World. The big two, champion of champions, are the ultimate winners across categories.

In 2005, Jed Madela was the Grand Champion Vocalist and at the same time, the Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World. On the other hand, Rizza Navales, along with Jed, made it far as one of the finalists in the Vocal Group category. It was in this year that we first joined the contest with only the two of them as our representatives.

Now, back to Jonalyn Viray.

WCOPA 2006 Finals was filled with all-female singers in the Vocal category. 3 Black, 1 Caucasian & 1 Asian. Unfortunately, Jonalyn Viray failed to be noticed. She did not make it through the finals. She, along with PPS runner-up Brenan Espartinez, was beaten by fellow Filipino singer Jeremie Antiporda to land a spot in the Top 5. Jeremie Antiporda, however, lost to Pam Ward, a soulful contestant from the USA who also bagged the title Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World. Pam Ward swiped the floor with Jonalyn, Brenan & Jeremie via the diva song And I Am Telling You.

Nevertheless, Jonalyn Viray and Brenan Espartinez made the final cut (Top 3) in the Vocal Group category. Yet only to be lost to a group of four Motown-sounded like black male singers from the Trinidad & Tobago

Other finalist is Kim Flores who was in the Top 3 in Vocal (junior) category.

Surprisingly, lacking press releases as they were actually the big winners, Fam Jam 2005 2nd runner-up Cercado Sisters were the Grand Champion Vocal Group (junior). Thanks to them. We went home unempty-handed.

Veteran Amateurs in the Philippine Idol

Here are some of the gold passers in the Philippine Idol you must keep your eye on:

Reema Lucida, aka Flora Mae Lucindo

• Finalist, Star for a Night
• 5th Place, Born Diva
• Already covered the song Hiram, originally recorded by Zsa Zsa Padilla, in one special album released by Viva Records.
• She's notable for her take on Whitney Houston's Run To You that paved her way to the finals of Born Diva.

Musica Cristobal

• Finalist, Star for a Night
• Already released a single via the song Everyday, popularized by Agot Isidro, which she collaborated with 17:28. (Not actually sure with the song and the boy band)
• Remarkable for the song Emotion by Destiny's Child, though a bit copycat but good imitation.

Maureen Marcelo

• Finalist, Star for a Night
• Referred by Sarah Geronimo, when asked in a special feature in a cable channel, as the one who could have beaten her.

Marinel Santos

• 3rd Place, Star in a Million
• Co-singer of Sheryn Regis in the theme song of former TV show Star Circle Quest.
• Singer of one of the theme songs of former primetime TV hit Krystala.
• Fairs well in R&B songs.

OJ Mariano

• 3rd Place, Star in a Million 2
• Recently launched an album One Dream Come True, which did not sell.
• Can give justice to Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano songs with his wide vocal range.
• Dubbed as Versatile Crooner.

Emman Omaga

• Finalist, Star in a Million 2
• Can pull-off songs in the likes of Southborder's Kahit Kailan.

Janice Uy

• January Finalist, Star in a Million 2

Ardie Valerio

• Finalist, Search for the Star in a Million

Cjarah Perpetua, aka Cjarah Jumawan

• Champion, TFC Popstar (Dubai, UAE)

Divo Bayer, aka Ronald Diana

• Finalist, Star Quest (singing contest in MTB)
• Best Male Performer, 6th Shanghai Music Festival (Shanghai, China)
• Singer behind the hit single Ngayong Nandito Ka, theme to the Jericho-Kristine movie of the same title.
• Made 2 albums, one with Josh Santana & King entitled Solo and the other, a solo album entitled A Better Me.
• Can sing in whistle registers and adept in hitting difficult notes.
• Blends well in Michael Bolton songs.
• Dubbed as Emperor of Soul.
  
  

Philippine Idol and other Pinoy Idols

Sarah Geronimo (Star for a Night)
Erik Santos (Star in a Million)
Rachelle Ann Go (Search for a Star)
Frenchie Dy (Star in a Million 2)
Raki Vega (Born Diva)
Jerome Sala (Search for the Star in a Million)
Jonalyn Viray (Pinoy Pop Superstar)
Kris Lawrence (Search for the Star in a Million 2)
Gerald Santos (Pinoy Pop Superstar 2)

Who among them currently is a superstar? a successful recording artist? or the best singer?

Vote for the right Philippine Idol!