Nikki & Jerome: Search for a Star in a Million hopefuls

Her face can launch a thousand ships. Her talent can launch a thousand hit singles. ABS-CBN’s Search for Star in a Million hopeful Nikki Bacolod is arguably the prettiest in the bunch.

Precisely why she caught the attention of the Search for the Star in a Million’s razor-sharp Searchers and captured the hearts of fans in Manila and other parts of the country who bring home-made streamers on their own and scream her name like its their last breath during competition.

Born asthmatic, Nikki, 15, from Iligan City, found swimming to be the therapy that would reinforce her weak lungs. She has developed into quite a competitive swimmer in the past 10 years. She didn’t realize this activity also reinforced her belting abilities when it came to singing. In grade school, Nikki discovered she could sing. All she could think of was to be a part of the world of where the spotlights were bright, the music was endless, and where crowds cheered for her.

Together with the dream to become famous is the desire to help her family financially. Being part of the swimming varsity team enabled her to go to school for free. When she joins swimming competitions, she brings home big money to send her older sister to school.

Asked what she will do with the prize money if she becomes the grand champion of The Search for the Star in a Million, Nikki says she will give it all to her parents.

Another Search for a Star in a Million bet is Boholano crooner Jerome Sala. One of the three wild card finalists who made it to the champions league, Jerome’s strengths are his deep, moving baritone and his sex appeal. He sings like a modern-day Nonoy Zuñiga and has the same audience appeal as a new generation Rico J. Puno. More than being likened to other artists in the last two months of competition, Jerome has proven he has his own style.

Talent manager and Searcher Wyngard Tracy was so impressed, he told Jerome: "I’ve been trying to find a loophole in your performance but I can’t. It’s because you’re good."

From wildcard to winner, this Boholano’s wild ride started at the age of five, when his father made him sing. Jerome’s dad and grandfather sing. At five, Jerome won the first of his singing championships. Before long, Jerome found himself joining and winning in barangay, fiestas and municipal singing contests, even traveling in small island boats to join competitions in neighboring islands.

His is a life of hardship and poverty – carrying hollow blocks and enduring the scorching heat of the sun in the rice fields to make ends meet.

What is most amazing about Jerome is his ability to look at life’s challenges in the eye and smile at them. With his humble background, probinsyano charm and suave singing voice, Jerome is quite a find.

At stake in the Search for a Star in a Million grand finals are P5-M worth of prizes, including a house and lot in Laguna, P1-M in cash and a contract with Star Records and a regular performing stint on ASAP Mania.

The grand finals showdown begins on May 1 for episode one in Cebu, then continues on May 8. The main event is set May 15.