The finalists of Marianas Got Talent pose for a photo with the competition judges and Music Performing Arts Competition Corp. officers at the multi-purpose center on Saturday.
People’s Choice awardee, Bench Legaspi, center, with the competition judges: Commonwealth Ports Authority board member Joseph Diaz, Public School System Social Studies program manager Vinnie Orsini, Rotary Club of Saipan President Irene Holl and Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo Pangelinan.
FOURTEEN of the 24 contestants of Marianas Got Talent will vie for the title on Nov. 25 at the Governor Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.
Previously known as the Battle of the Voices, the music competition started last month, drawing more than 100 contestants.
Daniel Quitugua, president of Music Performing Arts Competition Corp., which organized the event, expressed his gratitude to the judges.
“I know this is not an easy task,” he said, adding that a lot of the contestants “are so good it’s hard to rank them.”
Thirty-nine-year-old Bench Legaspi, who performed his version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” won the People’s Choice award.
The other finalists are 29-year-old Jessel Antonio, 35-year-old Dwayne Castro, 17-year-old Sebastian Tajibmai, 26-year-old Raniel Santos, 24-year-old Zoe Stephanson, 39-year-old Dean Borja, 36-year-old Rhobby Murillo, 22-year-old Arriane Antonio, 24-year-old Lorenzy Leo, 45-year-old Azenith Avila, 18-year-old Donato Santiago, 50-year-old Ronillo De Belen, and 17-year-old Bernice Sabino.
The judges on Saturday were Commonwealth Ports Authority board member Joseph Diaz; Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo Pangelinan, former Marianas High School Glee Club member and Public School System Social Studies Program Manager Vinnie Orsini and Rotary Club of Saipan President Irene Holl.
Music Performing Arts Competition Corp. board member Arlene Reyes said it was “a wonderful feeling to witness the incredible talents, confidence and vocal prowess of the contestants who live in our beautiful Mariana islands.”
She said MPACC is committed to creating other similar events, including a “Kid’s Rising Star” singing contest and a Chamolinian singing competition.
MPACC’s objective, she said, is “to nurture the intrinsic qualities of our local talents, and one of the best way to do so is to celebrate their talents on stage as they perform in front of you all.”
