Kristine Gonzaga Demeterio: 'The Next Big Thing' might just be this Cebuana

This charming Cebuana certainly has what it takes to be the next R&B diva. She dreams of a high-flying singing career and hopes for her very own SRO concert series in the future.

But Kristine Gonzaga Demeterio admitted that she was scared that she might fail to make it to the "Magic 5" of The Next Big Thing talent search that the international food chain McDONALD's had organized in collaboration with MTV Asia and Philippines and Vicor Music Corporation.

When the July 15 deadline came, an irritating, recurring cough continued to bother her throat. Disappointed, Kristine almost gave up. She even had to cancel her booking with a local recording studio.

But a friend prodded her not to pass up the opportunity just like that. He asked her to choose simple songs. During the evening, with no recording studio open and available at the time, she recorded two songs in her bedroom - "Emotions" by Destiny's Child and "Weak" by Sisters with Voices (SWV), an early 90's R&B girl group.

Kristine beat the deadline by submitting her entry by 10pm on July 15 at McDonald's Jones Fuente in Cebu City, but she felt she was not at her best in the demo she made.

Despite her doubts, however, she got a call Tuesday night (August 2) and received the good news. Little did she know that she and the four other finalists bested 67 other aspirants.

At 3pm last Thursday, after a quick interaction over lunch with the Cebu entertainment media at McDonald's Ayala, she flew to Manila to join the rest of the final five and brace for what will might be a new and exciting destiny for them.

They will perform and vie for the plum prize in three mini-concerts within August. Globe GENTEXT subscribers get to vote their favorite singers and watch all their mini-concert shows until August 21 with preferred seating.

Prizes at stake include a total cash prize amounting to P250,000 and a singing contract with Vicor. And there's more: the winner gets to realize her dream of a live concert performance together with today's hot recording artists to be produced by MTV.

There is much anticipation that the talented Kristine might just come home to Cebu with the top plum. After all, Kristine loves music, and music itself loves her. At 24, she sings with the One In Him Band that regularly performs at Camp Z (Zitro) in Banilad, Mandaue City.

A holder of a degree in Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts, Major in Advertising Arts from University of San Carlos-Talamban, she still looks forward at practicing her course. But now, her heart yearns for a career in the music industry.

With The Next Big Thing talent search initiated by McDONALD's, chances are this will be Kristine's ticket to stardom.