Apple Deleva is Mc Jim Dreams Get Real champ

MANILA, Philippines – The search for the best among the six finalists of Mc Jim Classic Leather’s Dreams Get Real: The Search for the Next OPM Star Season 2 has come to an end when 19-year-old Apple Deleva was named the grand winner during the grand performance finale night held Monday at the Music Museum.

Not only did Apple’s power-belter voice earn for her a deafening shriek and applause from the audience but also the whopping P100,000 cash prize. She also clinched a full album and music video grant, artist marketing support and a talent management contract.

The Communications student of University of Perpetual Help bested five other contestants — Zsarina Concepcion, Carmela Ravanilla, Erickson Malabanan, Micah Llona and Tricia Mae Casauay — in the eight-month test of singing ability through rigid vocal training and challenges.

Tears of joy welled in Apple’s eyes after project head Chris Cahilig made the announcement. Her name reverberated around the four corners of the Music Museum and wild shriek from the audience instantly filled the air.

“If not for my mother, I wouldn’t be here in this contest and claiming the grand prize tonight,” shared Apple after the awarding ceremonies. “Because during the final day of submission of videos to Mc Jim, my mother asked me if I will send my contest piece, I told her I’m no longer interested since I already joined in a lot of competitions at di naman ako nananalo kaya nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa. But she convinced me to try my luck again with her promise of full support whatever happens. I obliged.”

What followed was a text message from Mc Jim staff telling her to prepare for the second round of competition. “So I prayed to God na sana ito na ‘yung way for me to realize my dream. This is my nth time (of joining singing tilts) and I’m very happy tonight because had I not listen to my mom I would have missed this opportunity.”

Competing in singing searches, according to Apple, is no longer new to her. She was 10 when she started joining in amateur singing tilts in the hope of earning money to help in the family finances. “Sumasali din ako sa mga TV shows pero ‘di ako pinapalad.” It was in 2009 when she became a contender in Eat, Bulaga’s Birit Baby. She, too, tried her luck in Willie Revillame’s former noontime show and the most recent was on GMA 7’s Bet ng Bayan. She went on to join singing searches abroad. Luckily for her, she won the 2014 Karaoke World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.

But she feels most proud over her triumph in the Mc Jim Get Real singing talent search “because it’s different winning in your own country.”

Apple shared singing is in her genes because her parents are good singers. “I don’t know why my Mama was crying in the backstage after my first performance and told me, ‘Anak, makakanta at makapag-present ka lang ng maayos sa mga tao okey na, panalo ka na para sa amin.’” She displayed her singing prowess through the heart-rending Kunin Mo Na Ang Lahat Sa Akin and Yeng Constantino’s Ikaw.

Asked about her career plans, Apple said that she looks forward to the projects being lined up for her by Mc Jim and the release of her album.

Chris related that he and Mc Jim will give their all-out support to Apple in carving her niche in the music scene.

“We will buckle down to work after this. Her being a power-belter is an advantage for her so we decided to enhance more her talent through series of vocal trainings (under Zebedee Zuñiga).”

Meanwhile, Chris revealed that there will be no third season in the offing for Mc Jim Get Real contest. What’s on the drawing board has something to do with films. “It’s like a film festival but we will make an announcement for that.”

Mc Jim Get Real Season 1 winners JBK, Neo Domingo and Fifth Dynamics, 1:43 and Boys, Boys, Boys performed in the event.