CEBU, Philippines - Seven schools from Cebu City competed in GMA 7's Kapuso sa Pasko 2010 Caroling Contest held on a Sunday night (Nov. 14) at the Ayala Terraces. They put on their best Christmas costumes and performed at their most heartfelt since no less than singer Mark Bautista sat as one of the judges, along with other music industry insiders from Manila and Cebu.
Declared grand champion was the Pardo Elementary School Chorale who brought home P25,000. Second place went to Babag Uno Nightingales Chorale, winnning P15,000; while third place was awarded to San Nicolas Elementary School Children's Choir who received P10,000.
The kids, who were interviewed by program hosts Anna Maris Igpit and Cebuano model-turned-actor Marco Alcaraz, said they will use their winnings to help improve their school facilities. Marco repeatedly emphasized onstage that all of them were winners in their own right, since he saw some kids who were reduced to tears after not placing in the top three.
The rest of the finalists were Barrio Luz Elementary School Children's Choir, Mabolo Elementary School Children's Chorale, Pasil Elementary School Chorale and Zapatera Elementary Children's Choir.
Joining Mark in rating the contestants were judges Neil Bryan Llamedo, Gani Villarojo, Darlaine Angus Yap, Amor Caparas, Joel Oporto and Keddy Sanchez.
Before the winners were proclaimed, the Party Pilipinas balladeer (and soon primetime actor via Heart Evangelista's 2011 fantasy series "Dwarfina", as announced by the hosts) rendered two song numbers to the delight of the crowd made up mostly of parents of the elementary school kids, their proud teachers and choir masters. After which, all of the competing groups went back on stage to join Mark in singing Jose Mari Chan's classic holiday tune "Christmas In Our Hearts".
The Kapuso sa Pasko regional caroling event is on its third year.