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Filipina auditor in Dubai wins singing contest on wedding anniversary
It was a double celebration for Alona Lopez Kelada when she bagged the grand prize in the recent Birit King and Queen singing contest on her wedding anniversary in Dubai.
Kelada, a 45-year-old Filipina auditor, conquered the evening with her vocal prowess at the singing showdown at Avenue Hotel in Dubai on Saturday (May 28).
Her husband, an Irish dental surgeon, no doubt smiled from ear to ear when Kelada was declared the grand champion, sealing the deal with her rendition of Whitney Houston’s Run To You. The love song was the perfect backdrop on their second wedding anniversary.
Kelada said she drew a lot of courage from her husband who was there to cheer her on. "Before the competition started, he whispered in my ear, 'Pin them down, honey'," Kelada told
Expatmedia.net. Their love story started after a common friend, who works as his assistant, introduced them to each other more than two years ago.
"I remember that one of the hosts at the competition asked him what he thought of my performance, and he replied 'Excellent'. They didn't know he is my husband," she said. She scored 96.40 to take home the grand prize of P50,000 in cash, plus gifts from Kai Aesthetic and Kangen Water.
“Alona’s choice of song for the grand finale really suited her mezzo-soprano voice. She was able to hit the highest note flawlessly and with much gusto. Although the other contenders had given impressive performances, it was Alona who executed well in all aspects,” vocal coach Matilyn Bagunu, one of the judges, told
Expatmedia.net.
Usher Banzon bagged first place, while
Dubai’s singing makeup artist Josh Lorenzo came in second place.
Maricar Padilla, CEO of RP Events and Management that organized the contest, called it a “tight competition”. “It was a close fight with only a decimal point difference,” Padilla said, congratulating all the participants for giving their best performance.
Speaking to
Expatmedia.net, Kelada said she went with her intuition in picking her finale song by Houston, whom she describes as her musical inspiration. “I let my friends hear three songs that I prepared and they gave me feedback on which song I gave justice to,” she said.
Kelada said she was 7 years old when she started joining singing competitions in the Philippines. She sang every day to hone her voice. “Singing is my soul, my passion,” she added.
She has launched her first album, Mahal Kita by Alona Lopez, under Praise & Music Inc. The 12-track album contains Gospel songs. It is available on Amazon, Deeper and Spotify.
“I am planning to do my second album next year. I hope and pray that Expat Media will be part of it,” Kelada said.
Finalists in Birit Kings and Queens include Elisa Manalang, Fredmariel Angelu Adan, Roche Liguro, Diana Molina and Leo Manalac. On the judges’ table were Expat Media CEO Mars De los Santos, Alvin Pancito, Nora Manliquiz, Michelle Menor, RJ Francisco, Elipas Sibua and Baguno.
ICA/Expat Media
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