Followers of the American Idol (AI) Season 7 talent search will be pleasantly surprised to know that David Archuleta, said to be “the most likely” to win, was once beaten by a Filipino singer in another US-TV talent search. He’s none other than Mark Mejia and the show was Star Search, hosted by Arsenio Hall, which should be familiar to Filipinos because that’s where our very own Josephine “Banig” Roberto won the grand prize, the first Filipino ever to achieve that feat, in 1988.
Here’s the full story from Edmund Silvestre (news editor of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter):
David Archuleta, the half-American, half-Honduran teen crooner, will be the next American Idol, predict several TV critics in the United States.
But before the 17-year-old AI frontrunner’s inevitable coronation at the end of Idol’s seventh season a few months from now, it would be of great interest to note that David once lost to a Filipino-American singer from California on CBS’ Star Search.
It was five years ago when David, then 12 and winner of the Junior Singers Competition on Star Search, lost to then 10-year-old Mark Mejia of San Diego during the Battle of the Champions, a winners’ circle showdown. Also defeated by Mark was Tiffany Evans, 10, of Ocean City, New Jersey.
Fast forward to 2008. David, now a teen dreamboat, is inching his way to becoming the next American Idol, and in the process crushed the aspiration of another AI Season 7 Top 12 finalist, Ramiele Malubay of Florida, to become the first Asian-American to clinch the AI title. (Ramiele, a Filipino-American, is reportedly eyeing a singing career in the Philippines after the AI US tour).
And Mark? The Fil-Am boy, now 15, seems to have gone to oblivion. At least for now.
According to reports Mark, son of Emmanuel and Gilda Mejia, is gearing up for next year’s AI when he turns 16, the minimum age requirement for AI contestants.
And he may just succeed where Ramiele and Jasmine Trias (from AI Season 3) failed.
California Fil-Ams who have heard Mark perform at a recent community event in the West Coast said Mark still possesses the voice that made him a two-time Star Search Junior Singer Grand champion. In fact, they claim that compared to David’s, Mark’s voice today is “more polished and natural.”
In the looks (and height) department, however, they admit that Mark has a lot of catching up to do. “The boy needs a makeover if he wants to impress Simon Cowell,” one observer noted, referring to the AI British judge known for his scathing remarks.
See Mark's Star Search performance below:
Here’s the full story from Edmund Silvestre (news editor of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter):
David Archuleta, the half-American, half-Honduran teen crooner, will be the next American Idol, predict several TV critics in the United States.
But before the 17-year-old AI frontrunner’s inevitable coronation at the end of Idol’s seventh season a few months from now, it would be of great interest to note that David once lost to a Filipino-American singer from California on CBS’ Star Search.
It was five years ago when David, then 12 and winner of the Junior Singers Competition on Star Search, lost to then 10-year-old Mark Mejia of San Diego during the Battle of the Champions, a winners’ circle showdown. Also defeated by Mark was Tiffany Evans, 10, of Ocean City, New Jersey.
Fast forward to 2008. David, now a teen dreamboat, is inching his way to becoming the next American Idol, and in the process crushed the aspiration of another AI Season 7 Top 12 finalist, Ramiele Malubay of Florida, to become the first Asian-American to clinch the AI title. (Ramiele, a Filipino-American, is reportedly eyeing a singing career in the Philippines after the AI US tour).
And Mark? The Fil-Am boy, now 15, seems to have gone to oblivion. At least for now.
According to reports Mark, son of Emmanuel and Gilda Mejia, is gearing up for next year’s AI when he turns 16, the minimum age requirement for AI contestants.
And he may just succeed where Ramiele and Jasmine Trias (from AI Season 3) failed.
California Fil-Ams who have heard Mark perform at a recent community event in the West Coast said Mark still possesses the voice that made him a two-time Star Search Junior Singer Grand champion. In fact, they claim that compared to David’s, Mark’s voice today is “more polished and natural.”
In the looks (and height) department, however, they admit that Mark has a lot of catching up to do. “The boy needs a makeover if he wants to impress Simon Cowell,” one observer noted, referring to the AI British judge known for his scathing remarks.
See Mark's Star Search performance below:
And here is Mark today:
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