3 Pinoys pass AussieX Factor auditions

MANILA, Philippines - Three Filipino talents with incredible vocal abilities successfully passed the open auditions of the singing competition X Factor (Australia), which recently started its sixth season. Impressing the four judges (Ronan Keating, Redfoo, Nathalie Bassingthwaighte and Danni Minogue), the three will move to the next stage of the battle, which is the Boot Camp.

First to sail through the open auditions was 14-year-old Marlisa Punzalan from Sydney, who came with her parents and brother. “I’m quite shy,” Marlisa said. “I don’t speak that much. That’s natural to me. My dream is to be really confident just like other girls and to sing in front of a big audience.”

The high school student belted out The Beatles’ Yesterday. “That is the biggest voice I’ve ever heard from a 14-year-old,” remarked Redfoo.

“Marlisa, you sing from the heart and you have the voice of an angel,” commented Nathalie.

Ronan admitted Marlisa’s performance actually moved him. “I nearly had tears. I swear to God,” he said after hearing the teenager sing. “Marlisa, I’ve been looking beyond this panel for five years now. I’ve seen such amazing talent. Winners like Samantha Jade, Reece Mastin, Dami Im. You moved me with that performance beyond anything I’ve seen on that stage for five years. It was incredible.”

Meanwhile, diminutive Justin Vasquez from Melbourne nervously came to the open auditions with his grandmother, mom, dad, brother and uncle. “I’m here to make my mother proud,” said 15-year-old Justin. “I’m getting closer and closer to my dreams of being a musician.”

The teenager is into skating and plays basketball “even when I’m short,” he smiled. He started playing the piano at seven. He also plays the guitar. He started singing when he was nine. For X Factor, he crooned Sunday Morning by Maroon 5.

“I knew a little star was born. That was cool,” Redfoo said. “You got an old soul. You sing like a little young man.” Then he asked Justin, “Do you think you can win?” To which the young boy bravely replied, “Yes.”

“Justin, that is how you do an audition,” an impressed Nathalie revealed.

“That is so cool, so smooth. It was so confident. You were so cool on that stage,” Danni remarked.

“You got talent and ability. You know it. You’ve got everything that we’re looking for. Welcome to X Factor,” Ronan said.

Before he left the stage, Justin swore he’s a fan of Ronan. “But the biggest Ronan fan is my Daddy Vince,” revealed Justin, who made his dad’s dream of meeting Ronan come true.

The third Filipina who successfully went through the open auditions was 28-year-old Mary Ann Van Der Horst, a health care worker from Victoria, who got a standing ovation from all four judges when she sang Beyoncé’s Halo.

“I want to impress all the judges and I want to prove to them that I have the X Factor. People will love me because of my talent and my powerful voice,” Mary Ann confidently said before her audition.

Asked who among the judges she wanted to impress the most, Mary Ann excitedly said, “I want to impress Ronan because he’s the favorite in my work. I will try to get a kiss from Ronan for the residents and staff in my work because they told me, ‘Please give Ronan Keating a kiss for us.’ I will try my best.”

Mary Ann went to auditions with her family, friends and her 22-year-old husband whom she met while chatting on Facebook. They have been married for two years now.

Asked if she sings for her husband, Mary Ann answered, “Sometimes, but he’s annoyed. I think he loves my singing but is just hiding it.”

“That was spectacular,” Redfoo commented. “If your husband doesn’t like that, that’s just a game. Don’t fall for the game.”

The clincher, however, was Ronan’s comment. “Mary Ann, when you came out, I thought, oh she’s not serious, you know. She’s not gonna be able to sing. I was so wrong. Everything about you, Mary Ann, the way that you moved onstage, the way that you were singing that song like it was your own. It was incredible to watch. That was amazing. Well done.”

She got a resounding yes from all four judges. And yes, she got a kiss and a big hug from Ronan.

X Factor is created by Simon Cowell. To date, the show airs in many other countries, including Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Vietnam.