9-Eleven Restobar karaoke grand final winners to meet in Battle of the Champions

IN a crescendo of talent, the grand final victors from the renowned 9-Eleven Restobar Karaoke Singing Competition are set to ignite the stage with an explosive showdown. Brimming with anticipation, the Battle of the Champions will dazzle and resonate, commemorating the illustrious seven-year journey of Garapan’s beloved bar restaurant on the unforgettable evening of Saturday, June 17. 

The grand singing competition, described by 9-Eleven Restobar owner Edwin Maratas as the culmination of a five-year search for the island’s best karaoke singers, will kick off at 6 p.m. It will feature the champions from 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, promising an evening of impressive vocal talent. 

Adding more fun to the big night will be the Groove Theory Band vocalist, Jasmine Nabelgas; guitarist, Niel Capacio; bassist, Reuel Contreras; drummer, Albert Leon Guerrero; and their new vocalist, Jean Cabral.  

Joining the festivities, 9-Eleven will unveil their latest addition, the Micro Mix local band, captivating the crowd every Saturday during happy hours from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

The Champions 

• The 2018 champion is the auto mechanic, John Singson, who got himself into the competition when he was singing karaoke at 9-Eleven. He was invited to join the audition on short notice. He was selected for the annual event’s first season and won the grand finals that year, by singing “Forever” by Kenny Loggins.  Singson is thankful to 9-Eleven Restobar for giving him such a wonderful opportunity to highlight his talent, and at the same time entertain other customers, something that he is always more than happy to do. 

• The 2019 champion is Robby Murillo who was having fun with friends at 9-Eleven, when he was urged to join the contest. Since he was not too busy at the time, Murillo tried it and passed the audition. There were ten of them competing for the 2019 title he said. He won the grand finals singing “I believe I Can Fly” by R.Kelly. Murillo said he is “super excited” and is happy to meet the other yearly champions. He said he is thankful to be part of this competition and looks forward to working with his competitors in preparation for the Battle of the Champions. 

• Delivery man, Ace Doca, won the annual event at the height of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. He said it all started with his friends who encouraged him to join. Since he likes singing in karaoke, he auditioned and was selected for the 2020 season and won the championship singing “There’s No Easy Way” by James Ingram. Doca who was a regular customer of 9-Eleven said he was a little nervous but managed to shake his fears off by thinking of it as another form of fun. “But I had to do my best,” he said. He also kept in mind that he was also helping to encourage others who have talent in singing.  

• Nilo De Belen, the reigning 2021 champion and a butcher by profession, was pleasantly surprised when approached during his special guest appearance at the Fiestang Pinoy singing contest and informed about the 9-Eleven karaoke contest. Intrigued, he decided to audition and was overjoyed to secure a spot in the competition, clinching the championship with a powerful rendition of Juan Karlos’ “Buwan”.

Maratas expressed his deep dedication to spreading joy among local customers and tourists through the 9-Eleven Karaoke Singing Contest, acknowledging that the annual event’s triumph was made possible by the unwavering support of patrons, sponsors, and steadfast bands like Groove Theory Band. With gratitude, Maratas extends his appreciation to all, while also wishing the champion good luck.  

9-Eleven Restobar has a branch in San Jose, where it continues to delight customers as a restaurant and coffee shop, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all.