The GMA Star Search winners

For the past three years, thousands of contestants from all over the country converge in Manila to join the annual GMA Star Search. For their last contest, GMA’s Star Search Chairman, Robert V. Barreiro, decided to do it differently.

They had regional contests first in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the National Capital Region, before holding the grand finals here in Manila recently.

We were there when the finals were held and the 12 talented teeners (all female) from various parts of the nation who competed are all amazing. As we say in Tagalog: "Walang itulak-kabigin."

After a long and careful deliberation, the exciting night yielded three winners.

Third placer is Jacky Garcia singing I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing. Second placer is Camille Velasco with her song How Could an Angel Break My Heart.

And the grand prize winner (drum roll, please) is Anna Katrina Lara going ala-Regine Velasquez with her rendition of On the Wings of Love.

Jacky is a tall and willowy morena beauty who can certainly join not only a singing contest but also a beauty pageant. At 5’6", this 18-year-old Cebuana is articulate and has a whislebait figure.

A product of several amateur singing competitions in Cebu, including Radio GMA’s DYSS, this became her ticket to becoming a lead singer in a top Cebu band and a regular guest performer in a local variety show, Singgit Cebu.

Jacky thinks her best asset is her genuine interest in people. "I find it very easy to make friends," she says. "Before the finals night, all the 11 other contestants became good friends of mine while we were rehearsing and soon, everyone is calling me their Ate Jacky. I have no reluctance about approaching complete strangers and conversing with them."

Second prize winner Camille is addressed by everyone as Beth Tamayo, simply because she looks like the movie star. She has been singing since she was three years old. Now, at 16, Camille is a formidable belter and a much sought after singer for private parties.

A senior high school student at UST, Camille is also an outstanding debater and a prolific writer of poems and short stories. She told no one at UST that she would be joining the GMA Star Search, so it came as a big surprise to her classmates when she won the second prize.

The petite Anna Katrina Lara is 18 and is taking up masscom at FEU. A devout Christian, she has been a soloist in their church choir since she was 13.

In FEU, she played the lead role in the musical Once in This Island. Her most ardent dream now is to do a praise and worship concert with Gary Valenciano. She’s also fond of acting and would like to try villain roles.

"I find contravida roles more interesting and challenging," she explains.

Among the 12 finalists, a real standout for us is 13-year-old Musica Cristobal. Although she failed to bag any prize, we believe GMA should take good care of this very talented teener.

She might look like a mere wisp of a girl, but she certainly sings like a grown-up who can hold her own against the likes of Regine, Dulce and Lani Misalucha, formidable belters all. Her rendition of Forever at finals night is simply stunning.

There are other first rate talents among the finalists, like 13-year-old Jennie Escalada who sang the only Tagalog song, Tunay na Mahal, and the tall mestiza from Antique who did a touching rendition of You’re My Home. GMA should also not let go of these talented neophytes who show a lot of promise.