KZ Tandingan - The Lady Who Never Gave Up

During X-Factor
KZ Tandingan is one of those who auditioned during the last fews days of X-Factor Philippines in Davao City (below are Charice Pempengco, Gary Valenciano, Pilita Corrales, Martin Nievera).

The Judges of X-Factor Philippines

In the audition, she tells about her vocal problem in the past which changed her singing style. The vocal problem caused her not able to belt high-note songs anymore. But then KZ wowed the judges and the audience after singing her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

KC Concepcion on Stage with Guests on the Show

The audience asked for more after the first song and she sang Ready or Not with her own twist to it. It turns out she can not just sing, but can rap and scap. People have no idea she can dance until she did while singing Forever by Cris Brown during her X-Factor Top 4 performance.

KZ Tandingan Poses with Fan

After X-Factor

PAGCOR at Sucat, Paranaque

Now, she's the grand winner. All the efforts of KZers (supporters of KZ) and Chasters (supporters of Charice Pempengco) around the globe are not in vain. These two groups were the ones who cheered her in PAGCOR at Sucat, Paranaque and also bought the sims, e-pins & ABS-CBN vote cards, campaigned and provided venues as meeting places for voting.

KZers at PAGCOR

Being one of the KZers admins, I remember a Filipina chatted and called me all the way from Taiwan  at night just to sponsor votes for KZ.

The PAGCOR Grand Theater

KZ is a God-fearing person as her mother also told me in Facebook. It's obvious as she gives thanks always to God before giving her gratitude to anybody else.

Before X-Factor

The Night the Tandingan Family Watched X-Factor Live

Now this is a story I personally heard from KZ's parents while queueing with them outside PAGCOR to watch the X-Factor finals live. With teary eyes, KZ's father told that before X-Factor Philippines even started, he was asked by their church pastor to make a plan for their collapsing church building. Mr. Tex Tandingan is an engineer.

KZ with Her Father and Friends

The pastor asked what amount will they promise to give. He boldly said with faith that his family is giving a million for the construction of the church. Nobody from them expected that KZ will make it through the X-Factor audition and continue to the finals and finally, be hailed as the grand winner.

KZ Tandingan - The First Winner of X-Factor Philippines

It's a pleasure meeting KZ and I was really touched meeting her family and hearing their testimony. It's no accident that God allowed these wonderful things to happen to her and her family.

X-Factor Live - Top 8 Performance Result

Watched X-Factor live at Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in Sucat, Paranaque for the Top 8 results night episode.

X Factor Stage

Not the first time to watch live though and I am with fellow supporters of KZ Tandingan known as KZers.

PAGCOR at Sucat

The grand theater is packed with people screaming for their bet.

Joan Da singing her Survival Song

The show became more intense as it arrives to the bottom two for last night's performance votes result among the finalists.

KC Concepcion, Gary V and Takeoff

The judge's decision between Joan Da (mentee of Pilita Corales) and Takeoff (mentee of Gary V) ended to a deadlock: two votes for Joan and two for Takeoff.

Just a Parking Lot Sign in PAGCOR :)

After the deadlock, decision was based on the number of votes and the singing group Takeoff went home during the night.

Gary V's On Higher Ground Concert

After a series of successful On Higher Ground concerts this year, Gary Valenciano had a repeat of the concert on June 8 and 9. Luckily I was able to watch at its last date.

The stage production was very colorful. And what's amazing was they also planned this monochromatic scene with Gary jut wearing pure white.

Gary had a duet with Julianne, also a singer and composer. They sang songs from Gary's existing albums.

The concert was full of contrasts. Gary sang songs both old and new. In this outfit, he wears an outfit he usually wore before as he sings with the band popular 80's songs.

Gary sang soap opera songs he recorded accompanied by visually appealing landscape backgrounds. There are times he stops to tell a story about a song before he sings that make the audience chuckles before he starts to sing.

Overall, the concert was awesome. It was also an experience for me after taking video and pics of the concert at the same time. Imagine a digicam on my left hand and a camera on my right. I just don't know how I look that moment.

In case you want to watch some videos of the concert, check out this link.