MANILA, Philippines?After featuring the 17-year-old Pinay singing sensation, Charice, on her top-rated talk show, Hollywood?s most powerful TV hostess launched ?Oprah?s Search for the World?s Smartest and Most Talented Kids.? One of those featured in that special segment last November was 13-year-old, Singapore-based Filipina singer and musical-theater ingenue, Julia Abueva (who, Oprah said, ?blew our socks off!?)?and we couldn?t be prouder and happier for her!

Julia was only nine years old when she performed in Monique Wilson?s 25th anniversary concert at the Music Museum in 2005. Then, we acted with Julia in Andrew Lloyd Webber?s ?Aspects of Love? in 2006, sang with her in Monique?s Sri Lanka concert the following year, and directed her in the local staging of Stephen Sondheim?s ?Into the Woods.?

Preference

For us, however, there?s more to Julia than looks and talent: We find her sweet, unaffected ways?and her preference to perform for her fellow Filipinos?endearing. She intimates: ?I will always be a Filipino. It?s wonderful to perform for our people, because we?re very warm and accepting.?

Julia was a tiny tot when she started performing: With her eyes twinkling, she recalls: ?The first time I sang in front of an audience was at my Lolo Pepe?s birthday party. They were asking who among the young ones wanted to sing for him. They didn?t ask me, because I was so small. So, I grabbed the microphone and started singing ?Tomorrow!??

The young singer?s ?pedigree? is nothing to scoff at: Lolo Pepe, Julia?s paternal grandfather, happens to be former UP president, Jose Abueva. On the other hand, her maternal grandmother is UP?s first woman president, Emerlinda Roman.

First solo concert

Now 13, Julia continues to shuttle between Singapore and Manila. She topbilled her first solo concert at the Esplanade last December and released a CD single, in which she covers Janet Jackson?s ?Together Again? and Yolanda Adams? ?I Believe.? She?s in town to play Luisa, the lone female character in Repertory Philippines? restaging of the 1960 musical, ?The Fantasticks,? from July 3 to 26 at Onstage.

Julia looks up to two musical-theater veterans: Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson, who she says ?opened doors for me.?

With Lea and Monique rooting for her, Julia says she feels like she?s singing in the musical of her life. Just how lucky can a girl get?