Tears rolled down their cheeks, but the three kids were more than happy to have joined the search. They will never forget the things they learned from the search, the friendship they developed with the finalists and the experience of performing on stage.
"Teacher Kitchie (Molina) is the best. She taught us many things like breathing properly when singing and exercises to relax facial muscles and vocalization. I also learned the falsetto," 12-year-old Ysrael says.
He can now sing Hawak Kamay comfortably aside from Sugarfree’s Makita Kang Muli, Imago’s Yakap and M.Y.M.P.’s Sa Kanya.
Ysrael also strums his favorite piece, Wag Na lang Kaya, in the guitar. It eases his sadness whenever he misses his young siblings who live with his mom Janiaira.
The boy, who will graduate from the elementary grades soon, joined the search to help his paternal tita and lola financially. Ysrael lives with them since his dad Mario and mom separated. His dad is now abroad.
Although he finds life sad, Ysrael is a natural comedian, blurting out jokes during rehearsals. That’s why he gets along well with most of the contestants.
Ysrael’s elimination saddened fellow LBS finalists like Kristofer and Janet Japor. They cried when Ysrael had to go..
"Even during the audition, Ysrael stood out from the rest. One could sense that the boy has the X-factor," Marlou Natabio, who screened the auditionees, relates.
Some even predicted that Ysrael could be another Piolo Pascual. The boy is not only good-looking. He also acts well. He recently played the role of Tirso Cruz’s son in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya.
Meanwhile, good looks is what Kristofer of Olongapo has a lot of. He also has a good singing voice.
Kristofer joined the search to fulfill his ate’s dream before a vehicular accident took her life away.
"My sister taught me how to sing. She really wanted to be a singer. That’s why I feel she guided me in my every performance," Kristofer says.
Sore throat made him bid the contest goodbye as he didn’t perform Michael Bublé’s Sway well during the competition.
But that’s okay as direk Joey Reyes, the guest judge when Kristofer was eliminated, says, "He doesn’t have to sing, he has the face of an artista."
His six-week stay in the competition harnessed his singing skills, especially in R ‘n B songs.
If Kristofer is cute, Jea is pretty. The 12-year-old lass from Cavite is a singing beauty. She is a familiar sight not just in singing contests in her hometown but in beauty tilts as well.
Tagged as the Music Belle of the show, Jea can composee songs. Her first composition is about her dream to become a singer.
"I really love to sing especially songs of my idol Sarah (Geronimo)," Jea says.
Her elimination from the search shortened Jea’s chance of developing her talent further. But for Jea, the experience is enough reason to be happy as she got the chance to perform on stage and became an audience favorite.
After leaving the Little Big Superstar stage, Ysrael, Kristofer and Jea are looking forward to a showbiz career.
It’s enough that the ABS-CBN talent show has become a training ground for young people like them to develop their talents and get the chance to their skills in fields other than singing.
In fact, Ysrael and Kristofer are auditioning for the teleserye Maria Flordeluna. They are being eyed as a possible romantic partner for lead star Eliza Pineda.
"Since they know how to act, ABS-CBN is helping them find their niche in showbiz," Synergy specialist Erwin Aurella relates.
One LBS baby, Makisig Morales, hit it big when he bagged the role of Super Inggo after joining the search.
That’s why Ysrael, Kristofer and Jea hope Lady Luck knocks on their doors the way she did for Makisig.
Aside from auditioning for different shows, Jea, Ysrael and Kristofer are busy touring the malls with the remaining finalists. They have also guested on ASAP, Homeboy, Wazzup, Wazzup and Wowowee.
Tonight, the seven remaining finalists will perform songs with heartwarming message to important people in their lives.
Little Big Superstar, hosted by Sarah Geronimo, airs after Star Magic Presents Abt Ur Love.