A Filipina has just conquered Britain with just the power of her voice.
So powerful and beautiful and enchanting was her voice – that fully complements her personality — that she got the nod of even the most discerning and hard-to-please music judge in the entire planet, Simon Cowell.
The Filipina is Madonna. No, she’s not the Material Girl, far from the image of the former American enchantress.
She’s Madonna “Mado” Decena, a 32-year-old mother from the Philippines who’s one of the favorites to bring home the crown in the top-rating British popular talent search show “Britain’s Got Talent.”
Last April 24, Madonna took time from her busy schedule as a club singer in Britain to audition for the show at the Manchester Theatre.
Madonna sang the famous Whitney Houston song “I Will Always Love You” and brought her audience to tears of wonder on just her first few notes. She certainly brought the house down as the teary-eyed British audience gave her a standing ovation.
After Madonna’s number, the three British judges – Cowell (of “American Idol” fame), actress Amanda Holden and journalist Piers Morgan – were simply flabbergasted.
“With the performance, taking everything into account I absolutely love it,” the erstwhile praise-stingy Cowell said.
“I have nothing to say, it’s absolutely brilliant,” Morgan said.
A teary-eyed Holden also heaped praises on the Filipina revelation.
The three judges voted her through the semifinals, and now Madonna is the crowd favorite to win the crown.
Before she delivered her number, Madonna tearfully explained that she had to leave her two children behind with their grandparents in the Philippines because she did not have enough money to send for them in Britain. She said she decided to join the contest for her kids.
“Well it’s a chance for me to get more work, more opportunity for me to sing, for my kids,” Decena said. “If I do well in this competition it would be life-changing not only for me but for my kids, it’s a chance for us to be together,” she added.
The judges assured her that she would soon be with her children because she would soon be a big star in Britain and rake in all the money that she needs to bring her kids to England.
In an e-mail to a Philippine television network, Madonna said she’s hoping that she would be able to inspire Filipinos especially those who are working abroad whether she win or lose in the British talent show. “I hope win or lose I would be able to inspire a lot of Filipinos especially our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) all over the world who are sacrificing, and working hard for their loved ones to have better lives,” she said.
Madonna has also become a YouTube sensation. In fact, I discovered her in YouTube, singing her opus “I Will Always Love You.”
Just like the British audience and judges at the show, I was also stunned by her magical voice and her excellent rendition of the song. I have simply never heard of such a voice before. I’m definitely sure, she would go places.
Bravo, Mado! More success ahead for you. May you inspire more people!
Caption:
Madonna Decena (above and below) delivers her opus “I Will Always Love You” in “Britain’s Got Talent” show as captured in YouTube.
