Team Philippines ready for WCOPA

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-eight Filipino performing artists comprise Team Philippines at the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) to be held at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles, on July 11 to 18. This year’s delegation is led by Philippine national director Carlo Orosa, Philippine associate director Oliver Oliveros and KB Entertainment’s Kitchie Benedicto.

Singers vying for the Grand Champion Vocalist of the World titles are Martha Joy (Viva recording artist and Canadian Idol finalist); Evette Pabalan, (Sexbomb dancer and TV personality); Mayumi Morales (student of Spotlight Artists Centre); Rhap Salazar, (Little Big Star’s Brightest Star); Divo Bayer, (a recording artist based in LA); Keane Andeza and Oreo Vamenta; and Maila Mitra, Nicole Espolong, Melchi Bicua, CJ Concepcion and Mia Sinaguinan.

Solo vocalists Guy Lockwood and Izarzuri Vidal, and group vocalists Kulay Pikata and Young Voices of the Philippines Quartet are also part of the Philippine team.

Bryann Foronda, 2009 Department of Education (DepEd) Mr. Philippines Youth, is the country’s sole entry at WCOPA’s modeling competitions this year. He will compete in the photo and spokesmodeling events.

The WCOPA is the only official Talent Olympics for aspiring performing artists. It was designed to create a system of competitions that will provide invaluable experience and exposure for achieving artists around the world.

Contestants must be qualified and invited by Scouts and Licensed National Directors to participate in the world system of competitions. The Juniors are ages 15 and under, and Seniors are ages 16 and over. Contestants from 50 countries including the US compete for the top prizes in dance, vocal, modeling, acting, comedy, bands, instrumental and variety (various ages, females and males, individuals and groups). 

The top prizes at the WCOPA are the coveted Grand Champion Performer of the World titles. However, besides awarding gold, silver and bronze medals in the elimination rounds, Olympic-style awards are presented to over-all and grand champion winners in various categories of competition, along with $50,000 in scholarships to the School For Film and Television in New York.

Since the Philippines joined the WCOPA in 2005, five Filipino performing artists have won the competition’s top prizes: Jed Madela, 2005 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World and Grand Champion Performer of the World; Cercado Sisters, 2006 Grand Champion Group Vocalists of the World; Reymond Sajor, 2007 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World; Aria Clemente, 2007 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World and Grand Champion Performer of the World; and Catherine Loria, 2008 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World and Grand Champion Performer of the World.