MANILA, Philippines—No, not that Madonna. Filipina Madonna Decena, who made it to the semi-final round in the second episode of the UK reality competition, “Britain’s Got Talent,” is now an Internet sensation.
The video of her performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” has merited over 39,000 hits as of Monday, and a five-star rating (exceeding the four-star system) from YouTube viewers.
In the video, Decena’s sob story—and singing—left the entire Manchester Theater in tears, including judge Amanda Holden and two stagehands who led the 33-year-old Filipina to the stage.
Holden, an acclaimed West End actress, explained on the program’s Web site that she was “moved” by the Pinay’s touching real-life drama. “She had to leave her two daughters in the Philippines to work [in the UK] and she hasn’t seen them in a year (actually, six months),” Holden related. “Every penny she earns, she sends back home.”
At first, Holden said, she tried to contain her emotion. “But when she started singing … I completely lost it, really badly. I knew she was singing for her babies.”
Now dubbed Madonna of Manchester on the Web site, Decena received two standing ovations from the audience—one at her song’s end, another after the judges’ comments—and a wink from the initially blasé judge and show co-creator Simon Cowell, who was shown chewing on a pencil throughout the Pinay’s performance.
Holden says in the online interview that Decena is “a possible finalist—she’s great!” On the show, she was just as effusive, telling the Pinay: “You’ll go a long way on this show and you’ll have all the money in the world and you’ll be able to put your children in a plane and you’ll be together. Because you, lady, have got talent.”
Inquirer Entertainment was alerted to Decena’s story by reader Alma Borja. Blogger and TV host Daphne Oseña-Paez sent us a link. Clearly, this Madonna has touched quite a lot of hearts.
Copyright 2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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