Businessman is Sinulog Idol 7 champ

CEBU, Philippines – Jose Thaddeus “Jared” Roble turned emotional after he was announced as the grand champion of Sinulog Idol 2016 held at the Fuente Osmeña Circle Thursday evening.

The 23-year-old businessman and the former vice president of the University of San Carlos Choristers said he did not expect his triumph.

“It’s so unbelievable because my fellow contestants were all amazing, but I really worked hard for this since day one,” Roble said.

The audience applauded Roble when he sang “I Believe I Can Fly” in the first round. In the final round, he moved the audience and even the judges with his rendition of “Open Arms.”

Roble said he is thankful to his family who encouraged him to join the annual singing competition. He himself was not planning to audition for the seventh, he thinking that he was still unprepared.

“Thank you to the Senior Sto. Niño, because of not for Him, I will not have all of these. He gave me so many blessings not only in my work, but also in my singing,” he said.

“I will not take this for granted. Now, I will continue what I have. I will continue to share my passion because this is living proof that people really do appreciate what I have.”

One of the resident judges, Banat News entertainment editor Ryan Mark Borinaga, shared that he was impressed by Roble’s performance especially during the final round.

“I was rooting for Jared. He was not my winner during the first round, but then I felt his emotion with his final song. If I was touched during his final performance, probably the audience felt the same. He is really good actually,” Borinaga said.

The Sinulog Idol 2016 first runner-up is Denise Jeremiah “Kenji” Exaltacion, a student of University of San-Jose Recoletos who sang his version of “One Last Cry.”

Exaltacion was also surprised with his second place finish, after he was told he was one of the weakest contestants from day one.

Landing second runner-up is registered nurse Niña Riza Naputo, who sang the Mariah Carey hit “Through The Rain.” Naputo resigned from work to focus on her singing career.

Guest performers during the Sinulog Idol Season 7 finals were “It’s Showtime” Kalokalike Face 3 first-runner-up winner Melody Hodgson as Katy Perry of the Philippines singing “Dark Horse.

Before the announcement of winners, two of the resident judges – ex-Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Apple Abarguez and Ultimate Voice and Performance coach Jay Unchuan – gave a song number together with previous Sinulog Idol winners Jacqueline Chang, Rachel Faelnar, Ronna Lofranco, Chingkie Maylon, Claudio Deiparine and Kristina Cassandra Dilao.