By Bal Yujuico

A Touch of Class: Mau Marcelo, First Philippine Idol winner

Maureen Marcelo, a former QNHS student in 1995 was proclaimed the first ever Philippine Idol in a glittering finale at the Araneta Coliseum televised nationwide last December 9^th  .  Mau would have been a bona fide grad of the school but because of one subject she failed to complete- Pilipino- she did not earn her high school diploma on her last year at the school.

She was just too busy to think about her back subject while she was mainly preoccupied joining amateur singing contests to financially support her education.   The then principal Abelardo Sevilla, was very much aware of her standing during her graduation year-  “what if she makes it to the limelight and we are not keen in granting her the diploma ? ”  Sevilla told her teachers.

Now that she hit it big, the school might consider requiring her few lesson hours just to grant her the diploma.

But will Mau, now 26, need a high school diploma to hit it really big?   Will she have enough extra hours to squeeze her Pilipino lessons amidst the whirlwind of engagements on schedule.  Will her high school marks be a surefire-weapon to boost her popular image already reaching peak levels?  Let us see how the future holds for this talented diva of Philippine pop.

As expected Lucena City welcomed Mau, the lead singer of the band Chemical Supreme, with a grand parade along Quezon Avenue, but Quezon High was too busy to give her the honors because the school year was drawing to a close for the Christmas holiday vacation.   Marcelo’s victory was celebrated by thousands along the parade route particularly the public market.  The mayor of Lucena, Mayor Ramon Talaga gave her a rousing welcome speech which promised a round-trip vacation for Mau and her husband Richie in Hongkong.

“I felt I was the underdog here, especially if one considered my family financial status.  Both runnerups Gian and Jan came from good and expensive schools and they had enough money to support their campaign.  I, on the other hand, only came from Quezon National High School”  expressed Maureen about her winning in an interview with Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Mau won 1 million pesos in cash, a recording deal with Sony-BMG, million pesos singing contract with ABC Channel 5 and FreeMantle Media.  Marcelo has an African American father and a voice that rivals that of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.  Her winning performance included hits such as Houston’s  Try to Make it On My Own, Carey’s Love Takes Time and Ryan Cayabyab’s “Balut”.

Just like the American, Canadian, Australian Idol contests, the contestants face a determined public voting via phone and SMS and unpleasant 15 minute of fame in front of the judges who sometimes dole out the most lacerating brickbats and unrelated comments outside of their singing talents.

I worked as stage manager of Pilita Corrales Concert in Toronto last September 2005 at the Toronto Center for the Arts.  That time I asked Pilita whether she will consider being a judge of the Philippine Idol which was on the planning stage.

“I don’t have the guts to criticize a singer in front of her/him” Pilita answered.  She eventually became the Paula Abdul of the American Idol dishing a favourite commentary of the  King of Mean, Simon Cowell.  “You should lose weight” Pilita advised Mau after one of her numbers.  Francis Magalona and Ryan Cayabyab, the other judges agreed as well.   She did, 12 pounds of flabs during the competition giving her the splendid image at the finale while wearing creations by Lucena’s talented coutorier, Rholand Roxas.

One of  Mau’s contractual obligations is to attend a World Idol contest which never happened again after is debut on January 1, 2004 in London.  As the Philippine representative she will have a tough time competing against some 34 national winners of Idol contests from around the world.

The World Idol contest faced disappointing criticisms from the world press following its debut.  “It did lack the tenth of the sparkle of the local idol shows” commented one newspaper.  “It was the kind of television you hate yourself to watch” some voters complained.

Finally, Quezon High is planning for a separate welcome ceremony for Mau in 2007.  The elusive fast track high school diploma maybe in the menu and watch out,  could be the brightest shining jewel in the crown of her singing career.  Amen.