Filipinos sing their way to competition

Alan Bulan talks to Filipino singers. Right: A Filipina during the audition.

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Participants of an annual singing competition are expected to showcase their talents on May 3 at the Philippine School of Doha (PSD) for the first elimination round.

Dubbed as “Kantahan sa Doha”, the event aims to entertain thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will attend the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Qatar on June 14.

Alan Bulan, head of the organising committee for the competition, told Gulf Times that at least five of the 15 participants from the adult category have qualified for the May 3 elimination.

The organisers held the first audition on April 12 at the Cocina Filipina restaurant. At least 15 of the 20 aspirants qualified for the second audition held on April 19.

For the kids’ category, four students from PSD and four from the Philippine International School-Qatar (PISQ) made it to the finals.

Bulan said a group of Filipinos known as “Pag-Iribang Bicolnon Qatar (PIBQ)” has organised the said competition headed by its president Robert Caneta.

“Most Filipinos love to sing and there are many talented singers here in Doha,” he said.

Bulan said the second elimination will be held on May 10.

Organisers will select five qualifiers from each of the elimination rounds and will compete again for the semi-finals set to be held on June 7. The grand finals will be held on June 14 at the Sheraton Doha Hotel.

Bulan disclosed that there would also be a dancing competition and battle of the bands.