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JM Servilla: Grand plans for Birit Baby 2009

Author: Ronald Constantino
Column: HighSpeed

GRAND CHAMPION, GRAND PLANS - "Eat Bulaga" has grand plans for Birit Baby 2009 grand champion Jude Matthew Servilla. He's being managed by no less than Malou Choa-Fagar, the amiable and efficient lady behind TAPE, the producer of "Eat Bulaga," the long-running noontime show on GMA.

JM will soon have his own segment in "Eat Bulaga," billed "Songs from the Heart," requested by televiewers and the boy's big following.

Twelve-year-old JM won the hearts of the public - reduced them to tears - with his winning song, "Hanggang," a Wency Cornejo original. Aside from winning the plum prize, he also got the People's Choice Award with 70,000 votes. JM pocketed R200,000 in prize money, used mostly to pay family debts.

He comes from La Carlota, Negros Occidental, the eldest son of poor couple Wilfredo and Georgina Servilla. JM has two younger brothers.

"Eat Bulaga" producer, TAPE Inc., is supporting JM's high school studies in Manila and even provides a home for the Servilla family in the city. Malou said that TAPE hired an esteemed voice coach for JM, Arnel de Pano.

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WINNING STREAK - At such a young age, 12, Jude Matthew sings with so much power and emotion. He reveals that being poor and sad experiences in his young life give him the inspiration to pursue his dreams - making it big and providing for his family.

He's been singing and joining amateur contests since he was five years old - winning most of them.

Actually, before the "Eat Bulaga" birit tilt, he was in Manila earlier this year to compete in a videoke contest, where he emerged top winner, pocketing R20,000 or so.

JM shyly but truthfully admits that he watched "Wowowee" back in La Carlota in the family black-and-white TV set. He got to learn about the "Eat Bulaga" Birit Baby contest when the family attended a fiesta in a nearby town. "Naghanap ng pamasahe pa-Maynila," JM recalls, speaking in Ilonggo-accented Pilipino.

The rest, as they say, is history.

JM admires Wency Cornejo, Regine Velasquez, and Jed Madella, one of the judges in the Baby Birit contest. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jed, who won the grand prize in the so-called World Olympics for singers in Hollywood. Kitchie Benedicto offered to send JM to the World Olympics, but of course the go-signal will come from Malou.

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SPEED NOTES - Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho are still very much together - as lovers and NOT merely friends. In fairness, Hayden of sex video fame is redeeming himself... Don't be deceived by the "sweet projection" of this TV host. At home she's mataray to maids and drivers... Noynoy Aquino's lovelife is now front-page news. Think of bold starlet Barbara Milano and newscaster Bernadette Sembrano. Not at all bad for his image... Will Krista Ranillo and father Archie watch Manny Pacquiao's fight in the US?... Where is Sunshine Dizon? Hopefully, she can face squarely problems plaguing her life... Miriam Quiambao is ready to fall in love again, now that her divorce with Italian husband Claudio Rondinelle is almost final... Lyka Ugarte needs professional help. She's attempted to kill herself four times. The next time might be fatal.

Source: Tempo