"Pilipinas Got Talent" winner got Cebuano roots

I was not surprised when Jovit Baldovino was declared the first-ever “Pilipinas Got Talent” grand winner at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday night. This was because the moment I saw him belting out Journey’s “Faithfully” during his audition several months ago, I knew that he would go a long way.

I am not a singer, but even back then, I already felt that there was something special with Jovit’s voice. It seems that the more he sings, the more his voice sounds better. Plus, he is only 16 years old; ABS-CBN has the luxury of time to push and package him in such a way that he could be bigger than our very own Arnel Pineda.

What amazes me about Jovit, however, is the fact that he has Cebuano blood in his veins because his father hails from Dalaguete in southern Cebu. I haven’t seen the interview that was aired over TV Patrol Central Visayas, but good friend Orly “La Orla” Cajegas revealed that Jovit speaks fluent Cebuano. That’s a “wow”!

Jovit’s victory is another validation to how talented we Cebuanos are. Therefore, even if there was no homegrown talent that made it to the grand finals of PGT, we still have something to rejoice in since the grand winner has roots traceable to Cebu. But really, what I loved about Jovit’s winning last Sunday was when he thanked God first before anyone else. I so loved that moment because it only revealed how strong and intimate Jovit’s relationship with God is. For that, I believe Jovit will never go wrong as he traverses the road to stardom.

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If there was something that surprised me recently, it was the eviction of Tricia Santos from the Pinoy Big Brother house last Friday. All the while, I thought the Big Night next Saturday at the Ynares Gymnasium in Antipolo would be a showdown between Tricia of Davao and Fretzie Bercede (who is touted as “Charming Angel ng Cebu”). But the votes had been cast and Tricia had been evicted, which excites me even more because Fretzie’s chances of clinching the title got a further boost.

With Tricia out, Devon Seron and Fretzie had automatically made it to the Pinoy Big Three, who will battle it out with the yet to be chosen Teenternational Big Three. So Cebu has just made TV history, being the only place that produced two representatives to the big night since Pinoy Big Brother started. Two Cebuanas Keanna Reeves and Kim Chiu have been declared big winner, will we have another victory in this top-rating reality show next Saturday? I’m very excited to find out!

Now, if I were made to choose between Devon and Fretzie, I’ll go for the latter simply because I have already established a good relationship with her dad, Dr. Dante Bercede, even if I have yet to meet him in person. A dentist by profession, I find Fretzie’s dad very approachable and very easy to interview since he never made me wait over the phone, although I will understand if he can’t attend to me right away knowing how busy he is in his clinic in Banilad. But no, the good dentist is literally just a dial away—always.

Also, based on my phone interviews with him, I really feel he is a good person, very respectful and humble. I feel the sincerity in his statements, and he is very soft-spoken. So because Fretzie has a respectful and humble dad, she is my big winner.

And I believe that the fact that she was never nominated for eviction means she really is charming inside and out. She should be this season’s big winner!

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MagTV, ABS-CBN Cebu’s Sunday magazine show, has embarked on a very exciting journey very recently. With its new timeslot (8:30am), comes the search for the next male “Ka-Mag” after model McBilly Wilford Sy, who initially went to the US for a much deserved vacation, has decided to stay there for good with his family.

So last week, Adrian Diongzon, the show’s executive producer held a whole-day audition for those interested to fill in the vacant slot. Lots of hopefuls troopped to the station’s Jagobiao studio and the latest update I got was that the 10 finalists were already chosen.

From what I’ve learned, the finalists will undergo a series of challenges that include dealing with a panel of jurors until only one will remain and will be declared the official replacement of McBilly. For sure, whoever will win will make a good addition to the energetic resident hosts Blinky de Leon and Phoebe Fernandez. Good luck!

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