Cebuano shines in "America's Got Talent"

Here’s another proof that Cebuano talent can be world-class. Budding singer Luigi Seno, who was born and raised in Mandaue City, wowed the judges and live audience in the new season of the reality television show “America’s Got Talent.”

The 21-year-old Seno, who introduced himself on the show as a part-time student and shipping company worker, did an acoustic cover of Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning”—a well-executed performance that left celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne, and Piers Morgan impressed.

The first to comment on his rendition was the reality star Osbourne of MTV’s “The Osbournes”: “Luigi, you have a really cool, relaxed style. It’s fantastic!”

“Deal or No Deal” host Mandel, for his part, told Luigi, “You are truly a great entertainer. If you have an album out now, I’d be listening to you in my car.”

Journalist-turned-reality talent show judge Piers Morgan, on the other hand, made special mention of his charm, “You got this charm about you which I think is gonna go a long way.”

All three judges gave Seno a resounding “Yes!”, which meant he had survived the first of the live competition and elimination rounds and will be heading off to the “Vegas show” for his shot at the US$1 million grand prize.

Text-voting from supporters will not yet figure in the next round, so Seno will have to move past it by trying to win over the judges again.

The FREEMAN was able to get in touch with Seno through email yesterday, but he declined to give an interview. Luigi, who described himself as very Bisdak, explained, “Aww, I’m very sorry, but interviews violate my contract : (. My parents aren’t allowed also :(. All I can say (to Cebuanos) is to check my website for info. Thank you!”

According to his personal website, Luigi and his family migrated to Southern California, US in 2001 “in search of our ‘American Dream.’” The second in a brood of six, Luigi is presently a Music major in San Bernadino Valley College.

His creative streak is something he obviously inherited from his parents. His mother, Helen, is the pianist and music director for their church. His father Chito, on the other hand, is working as a web designer and portrait artist, who’s responsible for creating and maintaining his official website.

After getting the thumbs-up from the judges for his performance, a teary-eyed Seno rushed to his parents who were waiting for him on the sidelines, together with program’s host Nick Cannon.

When asked why making it to “America’s Got Talent” held so much meaning to him, he answered, “It’s for my family in the Philippines who I haven’t seen in a while. It’s been eight years (since I left).”

Seno is not the first Cebuano to make a mark in an international franchise of the originally British television show conceived and owned by Simon Cowell.

To recall, Alexander Martinez, a native of Minglanilla, Cebu, made waves in the latest season of “Poland’s Got Talent,” landing third place in the grand finals last December 2009. It was Martinez’s family in the Philippines that also served as his motivation to join the show, as revealed in his previous interview with The FREEMAN. Even if he failed to clinch the top prize, it was through “Poland’s Got Talent” that Martinez, together with his Polish wife and daughter, was able to return to his hometown last March after 13 long years.

“Got Talent” has also spun a Philippine version, with Batangueño Jovit Baldovino, whose roots can be traced to the southern Cebu town of Dalaguete, recently pronounced as its first grand winner.