Cagayan de Oro’s pride

“YOU can't go through life quitting everything. If you're going to achieve anything, you've got to stick with something."

This is how Kagay-anon David John Llanas views his life after he was among the participants who bid goodbye during the third elimination night of GMA Network’s “Protégé: The battle for the big artista break” last August.

The 19-year-old Llanas, a natural-born talented lad who was mentored by film legend Phillip Salvador in the reality show, says he is proud of his roots, of being a Kagay-anon.

But before getting to where he is now, Llanas says he considered himself as just an ordinary boy who has an ambition in life.

He is a senior BS Psychology student of Xavier University. He is a good drummer, a dance enthusiasts and a superb singer.

Llanas already won several local singing contests while his band has done gigs in prestigious bars in Cagayan de Oro as mainstay.

A pastor’ son, he also considers himself a survivor for having gone through all the trials he encountered in life.

Llanas says one of the major trials he faced was when he failed to pass the Season One audition of “Protégé.” But he never lost hope. He tried to woo the judges in the Second Season and eventually got in.

But his most unforgettable trial was “Sendong.” Their house along Acacia St. in Barangay Carmen, which stood just 200 meters away from the Cagayan River, was swept by the raging waters. Their house was totally damaged. But he is still thankful they are all alive.

Llanas says he wanted to earn money to buy a new house for his family. Taking note of this plan, he was encouraged by his friends and family members to join the “Protégé” audition.

And the rest is history. He landed in the Top 20. With his talents, he could have been the second Kagay-anon to win the “Protégé title after Krizza Neri, who was voted as the champion in last year’s search under the mentorship of Aiza Seguerra.

But Llanas says he’s being in the Top 20 is already a good opportunity, and he did not take his short exposure negatively.

“Maybe, the title is not for me. God has other bigger plans in store for me,” he shares in an interview.

And his instincts proved true when he was given a break by GMA Network right after he was eliminated.

He is now part of GMA’s Sunday show “Party Pilipinas” and will be doing more shows in the future.

With all these blessings, Llanas never forgets to thank those who voted for him while he was still competing for “Protégé.”

And despite this, he vows to always keep his feet on the ground and will always be a Kagay-anon by heart, even if he will not be staying often in Cagayan de Oro.

He assures to make his hometown proud through his talents and he will show to the world that Cagayan de Oro has a lot of it.