Lagunzad is McDonald’s Tacloban Singing Star 2012

MARIAH Roshiela Lagunzad won the coveted title as the First McDonald’ Tacloban Singing Star. She was adjudged best among eight grand finalists during the grand finals night held on April 28, 2012, inside the party area of McDonald’s Tacloban here.

The competition was launched last March 10, with 16 contestants from various schools, colleges and universities. From a field of 20 contestants, the singing competition was staged every Saturday evening, with one contestant evicted every Saturday during the first three weeks of competition, two contestants evicted on the fourth week and three contestants on the fifth week.

Only eight contestants survived for the penultimate show on April 21, 2012 and all eight proceeded to become the grand finalists.

Contestants were adjudged based on customer’s vote which comprised 50 percent, performance 30 percent and Star quality 20 percent. Votes were cast by customers by writing the contestant of their choice on single receipt purchase worth at least P 120.00. The customer votes were accumulated from the start of the competition until 7 p.m. on April 28, 2012, the grand finals night.

During the grand finals night hosted by Jose Cabatana, McDonalds local store marketing staff, the eight grand finalists were presented to the jam-packed audience inside McDonald’s Tacloban, namely: Kimberly Adrales of Datamex, Mark Anthony Palencia of STI College, Twinkle Kay Ramirez of Holy Infant College, Joren Paul Aga-in of Leyte Normal University, Mary Joyce Basa of ABE International Business School, Yvonne Mary Rose Enfermo of Saint Paul’s School of Business and Law, Joseph de Sagun of Eastern Visayas University and Mariah Roshiela Lagunzad of Cirilo Roy Montejo National High School.

Judges during the finals tilt were Penilee Catalan Grefiel; Margarette Roselle Lee Andrade, McDonald’s manager; Mavette Manicani; Noel Acompanado (OIC-store manager, McDonald’s Tacloban; Claudine Matias; and Ace Richard Jaca, McDonald’s marketing manager.

The eight grand finalists rendered their pieces for the selection of the top three contestants who will vie for the championship plum and the prizes in cash and gift certificates.

After the tabulation of the results based on the performances as well as the customers’ votes, the results had Joren Paul Aga-in, Joseph de Sagun and Mariah Roshiela Lagunzad getting the top three spots.

But the judges decided to increase the number to the final five, giving a break to Yvonne Mary Rose Enfermo and Mary Joyce Basa a chance for the title considering their good performance during the final round.

The special recognition for the People’s Choice Award was given to Joren Paul Aga-in for garnering the highest number of likes on Facebook.

Adjudged winners after the round of the top five contestants were Yvonne Mary Rose Enfermo, 4th runner-up; Joseph de Sagun, 3rd runner-up; Mary Joyce Basa, 2nd runner-up; Joren Paul Aga-in, 1st runner-up and Mariah Roshiela Lagunzad with her winning piece of Charice Pempenco’s version of the song and her second piece, Michael Jackson’s I’ll Be There which she rendered with her own accompaniment on keyboard.

It was learned by Leyte Samar Daily Express that the singing competition was an exclusive event of McDonald’s Tacloban in connection with its 10th year anniversary celebration. The event was the brainchild and was organized by Ace Richard Jaca with the full support of Caroline Lee Andrade of McCarol Ventures, proprietress of McDonald’s Tacloban.

In his closing message, Ace Richard Jaca thanked all the contestants and their respective schools as well as their families, relatives and friends including all customers, patrons and sponsors, for supporting the event. He expressed optimism for better participation in future staging of the McDonald’s Tacloban Singing Star in the years to come.

The grand finals was co-sponsored by Smart BunKang Marketing Corporation. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)