4th yr ECE student is this year’s ‘Malayan Idol’ grand winner
“Malayan Idol 2011” grand winner James Michael Garcia. Photo was shot by Michael Abalon and was taken from “Malayan Idol” Facebook page.
A fourth year electronics engineering (ECE) student of Malayan Colleges Laguna (MCL) has defeated 11 other finalists to become this year’s “Malayan Idol” grand winner.
James Michael Garcia rendered his own version of David Cook’s “Time of My Life” during the competition’s grand finale on the night of October 14 at the MCL’s Francisco Balagtas Auditorium. The auditorium was packed with students, family members and supporters of the 12 contestants.
Cook was the grand winner of popular television show “American Idol” season 7, from which the “Malayan Idol” has been patterned. To make the competition more exciting, Engr. Raymond B. Monterey, head of MCL’s Center for Student Activities and Discipline and director of the Office for Student Services, said the organizers have added new criteria to determine the winner aside from the usual text votes. These were Facebook (FB) likes, vote bank and judges’ scores.
Garcia, who also grabbed the People’s Choice award, received 1,513 FB likes, 265 text votes and 1,524 bank votes.
The first runner-up was Nerise Aiel Ilao, a third year Hotel and Restaurant Management student who belted out a medley of Whitney Houston songs. Vanessa Madriaga, a third year chemical engineering student, was named second runner-up. Madriaga performed “Di Lang Ikaw” by Juris.
The Judges’ Choice award went to Vanessa Mae Vargas, who is taking up Digital Arts and Design program of the Institute for Excellence in Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (I-ExCELL).
On his post on MCL’s official FB page, Garcia thanked all those who voted and supported him.
“Salamat po sa lahat ng sumuporta at bumuo ng Malayan Idol 2011!” he said. “I had a wonderful and memorable experience with you all! Thank you po sa lahat!!! Kitakita po sa school palagi!”
The fourth year ECE student also congratulated his fellow finalists.
The “Malayan Idol 2010” finalists also performed during the grand finale.
According to Engr. Monterey, a total of 36 MCL students auditioned this year to become part of the annual singing competition. He said the number was narrowed down to 12 contenders.
He said “Malayan Idol” is one of the most anticipated events in MCL, noting that many MCL students are musically talented; in fact, a big number of students are part of music bands.
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