Another rising star from Bohol

Boholano star Jerome Sala seems not to miss a beat, or lose his graceful, sweet, innocent-looking and childish smile. In person, he looks even more fresh and handsome (he looks like a Turko, typical description of handsome men from India) than his photos suggest. Never mind his Tagalog, which is very Visayan to hear. This makes him more popular than the other contestants.

Jerome has been in the danger zone for the past Sundays and his fans, especially girls, were hopeful he could make it to the Search for the Star in a Million (SSIAM) Champions League of Five. His fans prayed that Jerome will be included in the magic five. That’s enough for them because Jerome will surely have an album.

There were more than 10,000 applicants for the Search for the Star in a Million. The list was trimmed down to 111, and then 30, and then 9. However, during the wildcard round, a surprise announcement was made. Not only one, but three wildcard searchees (including Jerome) got the chance to join the grand finals round or what is now popularly known as the Champions’ League of Five. The top five were chosen from thousands who tried it out from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The show is pulling all the stops to ensure that the grand champion will be someone who not only has the voice, but sports that elusive, all-important X-factor.

At stake for the winner is P5-M cash and prizes which include a house and lot, a contract with Star Records, and a sure spot in ABS-CBN’s ASAP Mania.

A whopping set of prizes awaits the grand champion, which includes P1-M in cash, house and lot, an exclusive contract with Star Records and A.S.A.P. and a movie contract with Star Cinema.

Born Jerome Sala Ucab on Nov. 29, 1986 in Barangay Bacagay, Pilar town to Municipal Councilor Jaime Ucab and Ruth Sala, Jerome is the third of four children and the most talented child. A self-confessed "Papa’s boy," Jerome grew up in Pilar. The town’s serenity, simplicity and natural beauty shaped his character and made him what he is now – humble yet assertive in achieving great things in life.

Jerome dismisses the idea that he’s a "Papa’s boy" but he loves his father so much he didn’t miss talking about his father on his TV spiels and interviews.

Jerome, who wants to "expose my talent and my music" auditioned for SSIAM in Cebu City. Knowing that a Boholano was included in the search, many paisanos in the country watched the show on Sunday night religiously.

Jerome’s gift was discovered when he was a kid. In one of the family gatherings, he just had the urge to grab the microphone. He sang his favorite song, which he heard over the radio. He also joined amateur singing contests, which at the time were instant crowd drawers in a town like Pilar. Back then, he already knew how to project himself in front of the people.

Jerome’s father encouraged him to become a singer to prove that the family’s singing genes were safely passed on to him from his grandfather. The father was right.

At five, Jerome won his first singing trophy. His winning piece was Usahay (Sometimes), a popular Visayan song.

Jerome found himself joining and winning in barangay fiesta, and municipal singing contests, even traveling to nearby islands in small dinghies to join competitions. Not even the near-tsunami waves and stormy skies could stop him from reaching his destination.

The P3,000 Jerome won in an amateur singing contest was a big help to buy viands for the family. He knew that life is made of wild rides and hard times. Jerome used to carry hollow blocks and endure the scorching heat of the sun in the rice fields to make ends meet.

One in a Million, Jerome’s winning song, had already brought him countless prizes in many singing contests.

During his elementary years at Bagacay Elem. School in Pilar, he was treated as a celebrity and was often asked to perform and sing onstage in many school activities.

When he finished high school at Virgen del Pilar Academy, he was considered the campus heartthrob.

In college, he enrolled at the Bohol Institute of Technology (BIT) and was a member of the Theater Group before he had to stop to undergo training in Manila for the Search for a Star in a Million.

Jerome’s family could not ask for more. Jerome’s inclusion in the magic five is already a blessing from the Lord.

"I prayed that Jerome would be included in the top 12 and my prayer was answered. Again, I prayed that he would be included in the magic five and it was granted. I could not ask for more. It is enough that Jerome is included in the top 5. Hayag-hayag na iyang kaugmaon (his future is brighter)," Jerome’s father, Jaime says.

He even told Jerome not to forget his friends and to plant his feet firmly on the ground. There is no need to let success get into one’s head because everything is God’s plan, Jaime adds.

With Jerome’s Turko look and genuine talent – plus the support of his parents and siblings, it won’t be surprising if he becomes the country’s new "golden boy."

Jerome says: "I was so ordinary and I never thought I could sing and one day perform in a national TV."

He is no longer the native Boholano, but an emerging heartthrob who has a magnetic smile, high energy and natural showmanship. He enjoys being part of the Search for a Star in a Million and pampers himself in a world-class spa, shopping and rubbing elbows with showbiz personalities.

The Search for the Star in a Million also has been a humbling experience for Jerome. "I really feel that I still have much to learn. The more my life unfolds, the more I realize everything’s part of God’s plan."

(The Search for the Star in a Million finals will be held tomorrow at Aliw Theater at 9:30 p.m.)