FRANKO Deleon Guerrero’s rendition of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” earned him first place in the Voices of the Marianas Season 2 grand finale at the Crowne Plaza Resort’s Hibiscus Hall on Saturday.
Deleon Guerrero changed outfits on stage while performing his song number with heartfelt intensity.
Throughout the preliminary rounds of the competition, Deleon Guerrero performed Gospel songs, but in the grand finale he chose a song “that is for everyone here because anyone can be a star.”
His message to his fellow contestants was, “Be yourself, be unique. I only won because I was myself, I was being unique, I was being extra. So be extra.”
He thanked the music competition’s organizers and advisers, who, he said, were “amazing — they were just great. They did a great job.”
Deleon Guerrero won $800 cash and also received the Judges Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award.
Karlymae Lizama and Jason Lizama had to go through a tie-breaking round for second place.
Karlymae sang Keyshia Cole’s “You Complete Me” and brought home the $600 second prize, while Jason performed Frank Sinatra’s “Nothing But the Best” and settled for the $300 third prize.
The other grand finalists were 2023 Kids Rising Star champion Alyana Rotap, who sang Danielle Bradbery’s “My Day”; Johana Mogar, who sang “I’ll Never Love Again” by Lady Gaga; Justin Tubera, who performed a mashup of Jordan T’s “Sunset Tonight” and SWV’s “Weak”; and 2020 CNMI Got Talent Youth champion Donna Rose Santiago, who sang Celine Dion’s “To Love You More.”
Santiago also received the People’s Choice Award during the semi-final round of the competition.
In the grand finale, the contestants were judged based on the following criteria: voice and singing technique, 25%; overall stage performance, 25%; singing appeal, 20%; uniqueness, 20%; and audience impact 10%.
The competition judges were Irene Holl, Tom Basa, Vinni Orsini, Felix Rabauliman, Lovelyn Flores, Luella Marciano, Jonas Barcinas, Lucy Mendiola and Ed Diaz.
Franko Deleon Guerrero, center, Karlymae Lizama, and Jason Lizama display their awards at the conclusion of Voices of the Marianas Season 2 grand finale at the Crowne Plaza Resort’s Hibiscus Hall on Saturday.
Voices of the Marianas Season 2 champion Franko Deleon Guerreo sings ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” at the Crowne Plaza Resort’s Hibiscus Hall on Saturday.
Karlymae Lizama placed second in the competition.
Jason Lizama sings Frank Sinatra’s “Nothing But the Best” to win third place.
