4th Power rocks X Factor UK

Those who missed the show should make sure they catch it online. I am sure they will agree it was a goose bump-inducing performance. There were even sobs, near tears, screams of joy from the audience watching the 4th Power sing and dance and soar to stardom right before their eyes in one of the audition episodes of X Factor UK. The girls Mylene, Celina, Irene and Almira — the little Cercado Sisters of some years ago — are now grown-up and were simply magnificent. I think they really made Jessie J’s hit song Bang Bang sound even better.

Simon Cowell, judge and creator of the show, called it, “one of the best auditions ever.” Rita Ora said, “This audition has just changed your lives.” Cheryl Crow gushed, “You literally took the roof off Wembley Stadium.” And Nick Grimshaw remarked, “This will blow up all around the world.” They gave the girls four big “Yes” votes and a standing ovation.

I am sure there will be talks again just like what happened after El Gamma Penumbra won the grand prize in Asia’s Got Talent. They say that this happens in talent shows in many parts of the world nowadays. There is a lot more heart-pounding and knee-shaking when word goes around that there are Filipinos among the contestants. Why so? Because, and we can say this with noses, pointed or not, up in the air, Filipinos are so talented.

The Cercado girls are extremely talented performers and I am hopeful that X Factor will finally give them the success they deserve. I recall a story they told when they were starting out. They were so poor. Their father spent his day with his pushcart around town looking for bottles, newspapers and other stuff he could sell to the junk shop. Mom also did her bit, selling make-up, Tupperware, etc. But the poverty situation never stymied the girls. They loved singing and would perform in little gigs in their native Santiago in Isabela.

Back in 2003, they heard of this talent show for families Famjam. They wanted so much to go and audition but did not have bus money. Undaunted, the girls, very young kids at the time, went off and sang as an intermission number during a cockfight. They earned P3,000. That was enough to bring them to Manila. They did not win first prize but producer Kitchie Benedicto noticed their potential and gave them their start.

And that was the beginning of the long, hard climb to fame of the Cercado Sisters. They went off to the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles and came home as the Vocal Group Champion of the Junior Division with 16 gold medals. Then they did guest stints on TV, back-up vocals, the usual fiestas and nothing much.

They returned to the WCOPA two years ago and came home Grand Performer Of The World champs in the Senior Division. Again nothing much happened. So off they flew to South Korea where billed as MICA, a name made up of the initials of their first names they joined a talent show called Superstar K6. They came in second in the contest but again got good notices. But also nothing much. 

 And now there they are one of the hottest acts in X Factor. This was the show that discovered One Direction and where Little Mix and Leona Lewis were champs. A grand prize worth £1M awaits the winner. Note though that they are only at the beginning of what will be an arduous trek that will demand the best from 4th Power up to the December finals. They will have to generate votes of approval from televiewers in order to stay in the show up to the end. The judges loved the audition but they do not vote. They can only comment on the performances.

 Now I wonder, can we vote for 4th Power? Or are only UK residents allowed? Knowing how much Pinoys love to text or tweet, our support from out here will count a lot. If not, prayers should help. After all, we already owe these girls a lot in terms of the stardom they deserve.

Now to stay on track of the 4th Power X Factor adventure, keep watching the show on RTL CBS Entertainment as live via satellite at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays and Mondays with a primetime encore at 9 p.m. on the same days.

More news from X Factor: As of this writing, two more Filipino acts based in England breezed through the auditions and will next enter the Bootcamp round of the competition. These are Jenessa Gill, 35, from Manchester and Neneth Lyons, 37, from Chelmsford. Both are full-time moms.