Angeles City lauds Thia Megia

MANILA, Philippines - Angeles City is all agog over Filipino-American Thia Megia’s bid to be proclaimed American Idol as its city council passed yesterday a resolution commending her being picked as one of the Top 10 finalists in the 10th season of American Idol, a popular US television show.

The resolution was passed after city officials found out that Thia’s mother Cynthia Lising Megia is a native of Barangay Sta. Teresita here.

Thia’s aunt and godmother Nolanda Marguez, a resident of the city, said the last time Thia visited the Philippines with her parents was when she was only three years old.

Councilor Edu Pamintuan, who sponsored the resolution, said, “Thia has made the city proud of her achievement in the international competition and she serves as an inspiration to the Angeleños and the Filipinos.”

 His resolution, unanimously approved by all local councilors, said that “In the process of exhibiting such exceptional talent, every Filipino, in general, and every Angeleño, in particular, beamed with pride as a kababayan, and a fellow Angeleño accomplished the feat of putting Angeles City and the Philippines on the entertainment map by besting others who tried, but failed, in making it to the American Idol finals.”

 Pamintuan noted that prior to her American Idol bid, 16-year-old Megia joined the fourth season of America’s Got Talent where she made it to the quarterfinals. She also had the chance to sing with David Foster in the concert of Charice in the latter’s concert David Foster and Friends in Vancouver, Canada, he noted.

Pamintuan also said that when Thia was nine, she sang The Star-Spangled Banner at the National Football League (NFL) in America for the San Jose Giants, Stanford football and San Francisco 49ers games.

Thia, he noted, is the youngest contender ever at 16 in the American Idol, following in the footsteps of Jasmine Trias and Camille Velasco (Season 3, 2004), and Ramiele Malubay (Season 7, 2008).

 In one of her interviews, Thia revealed that her favorite Filipino foods are sinigang, adobo and pancit. She said she could speak a little Tagalog and could understand it.

Last March 24, Thia again wowed judges Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez in her performance of Martha and the Vandellas’ Heatwave, an upbeat song far different from the ballads Out Here On My Own and Colors Of The Wind that she had sung in the previous weeks.

 Pamintuan appealed to Angeleños in the US to fully support Thia through text messages, as Thia continues to be a fan favorite with a strong following.