(BETTER AND BRIGHTER TANAUAN)
PALO, Leyte-Representing the town of Tanauan, James Martin Mendigo was declared as the grand champion of the 12th season of the Leyte Idol on Sunday (Jan.7) night held at the Leyte Academic Center, this town.
Mendigo bested nine other contestants from various cities and municipalities in Leyte who were declared winners during the elimination rounds.
Each singing competitor sang two songs which became the basis of the judges to select who among them was the best to win the most coveted title as Leyte Idol, the biggest amateur singing competition in Leyte.
His interpretation on Michael Buble’s song “Feeling Good” captivated the judges who chose him as the best among the five contenders who made it to the second cut on the finals night.
Mendigo won P100,000 cash prize and a trophy.
Ormoc City’s contender, Eldrich Manuel Sevilla, was adjudged as 2nd place winner winning P70, 000 cash prize while Christian Labrador of Tacloban City was declared 3rd place winner, winning P50,000.
Non-winners received P20,000 for those who reached the top 5 while the five contenders who were earlier eliminated in the competition after their first song received P15,000 each.
The Leyte Idol singing competition is a brainchild of Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla and is funded by the provincial government to look for exceptional singing talents among young Leyteños.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
