DAVID COOK wasn’t there. But even without American Idol’s latest champion, “Ateneo Idol 2008” was not wanting for talent as 10 Ateneans battled it out with swaying hips and melodious voices on November 27 to 28 at the Cervini Field.
During the finals night, Jinno Paulo Bonife (IV BS AMC), with 48% of the votes, went home with the title while Jan Cezar Dungca (III AB Psy) and Ma. Laurice Jamero (III BS Ps-MSE) won second and third place, respectively. Jamero was also awarded judges’ favorite.
Handled by the Office of Alumni Relations, Ateneo Idol is part of the Eagles of Hope Bazaar, held on November 27 to 29. The bazaar is an annual fundraising event for the excellence awards of non-teaching staff.
‘Idol’ supporters were able to vote after the last contestant’s performance during the elimination night and until 4:00 pm the following day. Each vote cost P2.
This year, Ateneo Idol registered 80,497 votes.
A case of “seniors’ syndrome”
Ateneo Idol winner Bonife said he joined because he had a case of “seniors’ syndrome.”
“It’s my final year…the last chance for me to participate in such an event that I’ve actually been interested in,” he said. “[Besides], I’ve always wanted to have a tarp that [will be] be placed around campus. Now I’m really ready to graduate,” he joked.
Although he believes Ateneo Idol is a great experience, Bonife said that his biggest prize was the support he got from his loved ones. “I just never knew they believed in me this much.”
“It just really takes a lot of heart [to be Ateneo Idol],” he said. “You just have to have the heart to perform, the heart to believe in yourself, and a heart that would touch other people’s lives who in turn would support you through the end.”
Bonife said that his focus on his song’s message, which judge and Filipino Lecturer Jethro Tenorio dubbed as “pikit-pikitan” acting, gave him an edge. “I just want to feel the music of the song whenever I sing.”
The contestants
Second placer Dungca said that he had difficulty choosing his song. “Halos isang buwan yata ako pumili ng kanta (It took me nearly a month to choose a song),” he said.
Dungca said that his competitors were good. “Magaling talaga sila. Okay naman silang lahat (They’re really good. They’re all okay).”
“All of them expressed a sincere desire and passion to perform on stage,” said Roberto Miguel Buhain (III AB Psy), who watched the competition. “I really saw the want to please the audience and make their performance topnotch as they found different, creative ways to deliver their songs.”
Eagles of Hope Project Head Lara Chuavon said that the competition was tighter with this batch. “Competitive ‘yung ngayon (this time),” she said. Chuavon added that they even had to hire a voice coach for the group’s “Seasons of Love” performance.
Angeli Diamante (III BS ME) said Ateneo Idol was a nice event, though some contestants needed more work. “[The contestants] were all good but I think some were not for an Idol level.”
Apart from the singing competition, the bazaar consisted of a cooking demonstration from the Center of Culinary Arts, a raffle, shopping stalls, a bingo contest for the university personnel, and a photo shoot with the Blue Eagles.
