Polio victim declared Talentadong Pinoy 2011

MANILA, Philippines - A polio victim from Laguna was declared Ultimate Talentadong Pinoy 2011 at the grand Battle of Champions of the TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy talent search hosted by Ryan Agoncillo last Sunday night, March 13, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, bringing home P1M cash, a brand-new Chevrolet Cruze, a college scholarship and the right to represent the country in the 2011 World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, California, a competition dominated by Filipino artists year after year.

Simply known as Joseph The Artist, Joseph Erwin Valerio easily won the nod of the text voters (50 percent of the total score) and the “talent scouts” (judges, the remaining 50 percent) with his ability to graphically interpret in sand the song Dance With My Father.

The “talent scouts” included Annabelle Rama and her daughter Ruffa Gutierrez, Richard Gomez and his wife Lucy Torres, Talent5 head Audie Gemora, Tuesday Vargas, Kitchie Benedicto and Lani Misalucha who flew in from Las Vegas purposely for the event. She also sang on the show. Lani, Joey de Leon and Alice Dixson sat as “talent scouts” on the first night Saturday, March 12, but begged out on Sunday due to a previous commitment.

Ciara Sotto did a pole-dancing, together with the Far East Acrobats. They brought home P100,000 as Celebrity Talentado winners.

A tricycle driver, Joseph discovered his rare talent when, as a victim of Typhoon Ondoy, he sifted dirt and sand, and started making artistic drawings out of them.

“I never imagined that sand can be used as an art form,” said Joseph who will avail of the scholarship by enrolling probably in an art course.

The champions who competed were the show’s Hall of Famers that also included The Believers, Fire Attraction, Beatbox Gor, Broadway, Newborn Divas, Sfazhiva, Zion Show, RR Friends and the wildcard finalist Belinda Adora’s Stepkids.

Other Celebrity Talentados performed together with the Talentadong Pinoy with last year’s Hall of Famers Lea Patricio who sang with Rosanna Roces on drums, Valeen Montenegro in a fire dance number with the Tribal Dancers, and Makata Tawanan in a choreographed Balagtasan with Regine Tolentino.