Here is the ultimate winner of Philippine Idol shown last sunday on ABC channel 5


Philippine Idol

The first Philippine Idol has already been chosen in the person of Soul Idol Mau Marcelo.

Mau has been consistently receiving rave comments from judges and fellow contestants about her performances. She may not be the best looking contestant in Idol but she has proven that even a gal who considers herself an ugly duckling really has a chance to be on top with hard work and perseverance.

I could still remember that moment when Mau was almost eliminated from the competition. I was devastated to know that she wasn’t included in the four female grand finalists, believing that people like Mau, who are better heard than seen, have no place in competitions that are supposed to prefer talent more than looks. But then again, people saw the light and voted for her, making her one of the 12 finalists in the competition.

Now, Mau made it. She won by a mere 1.42% but that’s all that she needed to win. With the way she grew up in the contest, trying hard to lose weight and refine her manners, she very well deserved the title as the first ever Philippine Idol.

Congrats Mau! Asian Idol is coming and I am pretty confident that you can bring home the bacon for the Philippines, with the talent that you have. Looking forward to your first album.

is she polynesian?

Lolz Big Momaaaaa!

I just watched the finale on YouTube.

ugly duckling? why, because she looks the least bit ethnic?

she is half Puerto -Rican

She deserves to win. She doesn't look bad at all and extremely talented.

Lucena singer chosen first ‘Philippine Idol’


By Marinel Cruz, Delfin Mallari Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 02:36am (Mla time) 12/12/2006

Published on page A1 of the December 12, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

“WINNING meant I won’t ever have to ride the tricycle on my way home again. With my prize money, I’d be able to buy myself a second-hand car.”

Maureen “Mau” Marcelo, 26, was declared the first Philippine Idol on Sunday night. The singer from Lucena City also won P1 million in cash, a recording deal with Sony-BMG Records, a nonexclusive talent management contract with ABC Channel 5 worth another P1 million and a management contract with FreeMantle Media, producer of the singing reality search program.

ABC 5 acquired the franchise for the “Idol” talent contest -- now held in 35 countries -- from the UK-based Fremantle Media.

Marcelo, a band vocalist, was among the three contenders for the title. The others were theater actor Gian Carlo Magdangal and employee Jan Kurt Nieto.

The grand finale of the search that started in June was held at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

Runners-up Magdangal and Nieto received cash prizes of P250,000 each from ABC 5.

“I really didn’t expect to win. I left everything to God,” Marcelo told a group of writers shortly after the show.

“I felt I was the underdog here, especially if one considered my family’s financial status. Both Gian and Jan came from good and expensive schools and they had enough money to support their campaign. I, on the other hand, only came from Quezon National High School.”

But Marcelo said she was aware that, apart from her family and close friends, there were people who faithfully supported her.

“That’s why I didn’t lose hope although I still got scared and doubted my chances of winning,” she said in Filipino.

Public voting

The winner of the talent show was determined through public voting via phone and SMS that commenced immediately after the three finalists’ performances on Saturday night.

Marcelo won by a narrow margin of 1.42 percent, “Idol” host Ryan Agoncillo said. The show’s producers did not say who placed second.

On Sunday night, Marcelo apologized for a comment she made early on in the contest that sparked debates on various Internet sites dedicated to “Philippine Idol.”

Marcelo, among the contestants whom “Idol” judge Pilita Corrales had told to lose weight, had remarked that the show “was nothing but a beauty contest.”

“It turned out that it’s not,” said the singer, who managed to lose 12 lb during the competition. “I made that comment earlier because most of the other female contestants are good-looking. That’s where I based my observation. I’m sorry for saying that.”

On Saturday night, judges Francis Magalona and Corrales predicted victory for a male “Idol” contender. Marcelo said this made her doubt herself.

“I felt really down. I guess that’s why the judges felt I didn’t do well in my first two performances that night,” she said.

Corrales and Magalona shared judging chores with master composer Ryan Cayabyab.

Three songs

The contestants were made to perform three songs -- their personal choice, the judges’ choice and a song picked for them by Sony-BMG.

Marcelo sang Mariah Carey’s “Love Takes Time,” “Balut,” which is a song by Cayabyab, and Whitney Houston’s “On My Own.”

“I deserve to win,” said Marcelo. “I’ve been joining amateur singing contests since I was 8. This is the fulfillment of all my dreams. I will not let my supporters down.”

A grand welcome awaits Marcelo in her hometown of Lucena.

“The city government will give her a majestic welcome befitting a Lucenahin who made every citizen of this city feel proud,” Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. told the Inquirer.

“As a matter of fact, my first order for the day was to make a beautiful float that she will use in the grand parade around the city.”

He also said he would send Marcelo and her husband Richie on a round-trip vacation in Hong Kong as his personal gift.

Marcelo’s relatives were jubilant with her victory. The first Philippine Idol will represent the country in the upcoming World Idol.

“I’m so very, very happy. My granddaughter deserves the title. She’s really good,” said Erlinda Reyes, Marcelo’s grandmother.

Reyes said she shed tears when Marcelo was declared the winner.

She advised her granddaughter not to forget the ordinary people that supported her.

Undaunted by criticisms

“She should thank them all and never forget them,” Reyes said.

Even vendors in the Lucena market were euphoric at Marcelo’s victory.

“Sulit ang aking mga text votes sa kanya (All my text votes for her were worth it),” said Fe Mendoza, a vegetable hawker.

Jenelyn Ilagan, Marcelo’s stepsister, said the Lucena delegation at the show was disappointed with the negative comments of resident judges after her first two songs during the finals.

“We could sense that Mau was all alone and even the judges were determined to frustrate her. But she exhibited her true fighting form when she impressively sang her last piece for the evening, which brought the whole Araneta audience to its feet. From thereon, and with the masses solidly behind her, she was already the winner. They could no longer stop it,” Ilagan said.

Jenelyn’s husband Martin brought Marcelo to Singapore in 2004 to give her foreign exposure in singing. He works in Singapore as an electronics engineer.

Big 3

All the 10 songs in Marcelo’s first CD recording were composed by Martin.

The two-night “Idol” showdown was dubbed “Big 3 at the Big Dome.”

Top performers Gary Valenciano, Hajji Alejandro, Cueshé, G Tongi and The Sexbomb Dancers appeared as guests. Agoncillo co-hosted the event with Heart Evangelista.

The sixth season of the phenomenally popular talent search “American Idol” will air on ABC 5 starting Jan. 17.

I think this girl shouldave won.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sbRsi6R6YU

Eey shes not ugly, not ugly at all shes just a bit healthy but shes gorgeous.

Eh Mau seems better...POw's singing seems shaky a bit.

Mau reminds me of the Latoya and Fantasia types in American Idol.
Very deep voice but can't seem to reach the high notes.

But she's way better then Jasmine Trias though. Mau should represent us filipinos in the Idol scene from now on.

Mau could certainly give Sarah G and Rachelle A-G a run for their money