News:

2008 WCOPA Team Philippines bared

    Carlo Orosa and Oliver Oliveros, Philippine directors of the World Championships of
Performing Arts, have recently presented to the members of the Philippine press our
official delegates to this year's "Hollywood Olympics," which will be held at the Universal
CityWalk, Hollywood and Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles on July 19 to 27.

    The Philippines will be sending an "all-vocalists" team this year with eight junior
contestants (age 15 and below), and seven senior contestants (age 16 and above).

    Junior contestants are Catherine Loria, a singer from Lucena City, Cherry Palad, a
Trumpets Playshop alumna, Glee Nette Gaddi, the Department of Tourism's delegate to
the 2007 Korea Travel Fair in Seoul, Rachel Razon, a Fil Am pop and R&B vocalist, Marek,
Enzo, and Ruiz Sison, musical theater actors seen in the local production of Off Broadway
hit musical "Children's Letters to God," and Tippy dos Santos, Belle in Ateneo Children's
Theater's (ACT) production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."

    Senior contestants are CJ Concepcion, a singing nurse from Manila, Dex de Rosa, Thuy in
the Australian production of Cameron Mackintosh's "Miss Saigon," Abe Dorado, a Filipina
singer based in Milan, Italy, King, a Star Records' recording artist; Marielle Corpuz, a
singer from Nueva Ecija, Panky Trinidad, a scholar in ABS CBN's "Pinoy Dream Academy"
Season One; and Paolo Ledesma, 3rd Avenue band's lead vocalist.

    These contestants were among around 75,000 performers (singers, dancers, models,
actors, etc.) who auditioned globally for this year's WCOPA.

    WCOPA, now on its 12th year, is an international talent search run judged by powerful
agents and producers working in the Hollywood and Broadway arena. It is made clear in
the competitions that besides the entertainment "X" factor, the marketability of the artist
is highly considered by the judges. Every year, it gathers contestants from over 40
countries.

    Only four Filipino delegates won the Grand Champion Vocalist of the World title in the last
three years: Jed Madela in 2005, The Cercado Sisters in 2006, Reymond Sajor and Aria
Clemente in 2007.

    This year's WCOPA finals will be staged at the grand ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure
in Los Angeles on Friday evening, July 25. Jed Madela and Aria Clemente are guest
performers.

Source;	http://www.journal. com.ph/index. php?issue= 2008-07-05& sec=3&aid= 65452