Mau Marcelo puts up a good fight

Mau Marcelo could have also been a perfect representative of Asia to the World Idol if she had not lost to Hady Mirza of Singapore in the recently-concluded first-ever Asian Idol at Jakarta, Indonesia. ABC 5 aired the regional musical event.

Mirza, vocally talented and charming, was a surprise winner in the hotly-contested talent search by Mau, Jaclyn Victor of Malaysia and Mike Mohede of Indonesia. The other Asian Idol contenders were Abhijeet Sawant of India and Phuong Vy of Vietnam. Pilita Corrales sat as judge.

Asked by the hosts who would be the winner of Asian Idol, at least three of the judges replied it could be Mau, Mike or Jaclyn. But everybody was as surprised as Mirza when the Singapore Idol Season Two’s name was called as winner. Mau sang Reach and Ako Ang Nasawi, Ako Ang Nagwagi as her contest pieces in the Asian Idol.

Like in all other Idol franchises (e.g. American Idol and Pop Idol), the viewing public chooses the winner. This time, it was done through SMS where televiewers can vote for their two favorite contestants.

Asian Idol was star-studded as American Idol Taylor Hicks and Australian Idol Guy Sebastian graced the event and performed to the delight of 5,000 fans who trooped to the venue and over a million televiewers who watched it in the comfort of their homes.

Hicks sang Heaven Knows (with his signature dance moves and passionate harmonica playing) and Do I Make You Proud. The salt and pepper-haired singer has a series of shows in the Philippines. It is presented by Ayala Malls. Rivermaya with new vocalist Jayson Fernandez also guested on Asian Idol performing You’ll Be Safe Here.

Also at this time last year, Mau was crowned the first Philippine Idol in a glittering event held at the Araneta Coliseum. Her performance of Whitney Houston’s Own My Own sealed her victory. The Lucena lass impressed televiewers with her vocal calisthenics, soul belting performances and Aretha Franklin stance. Mau edged out the second placer by only 1.42 percent. It was a close fight just like in the Asian Idol.

Before Philippine Idol, Mau joined singing contests, from barangay to national levels. She has won more than a hundred trophies. Viva’s talent search Star For A Night saw Mau, then known as  Samantha Brown, competing with Sarah Geronimo and Mark Bautista.

As a Sony BMG recording artist, Mau has just released a CD titled Own My Owm and a full-length album I Shine For You. The song I Shine For You describes Mau’s struggles in the local version of Idol.