Kapuso snub saddens ‘Philippine Idol’ Mau Marcelo

Painful This sums up the feelings of Mau Marcelo, grand winner of ABC 5’s “Philippine Idol.”

In an e-mail, Mau says feels hurt that she’s not being recognized as the country’s first "Idol" by GMA 7, which now holds the local Idol franchise. “It’s as if all my hard work has been wasted,” she says. “I feel bad for the people who voted for me, who supported me throughout the competition. It’s not fair.”

She recently moved back to her hometown of Lucena in Quezon province, since work in Manila has become rare. “What’s more painful is that my supporters are wondering what I’m doing now,” she notes. “It saddens me that I can’t give them a definite answer.” She refuses to think that "Idol" was more a bane than a boon for her music career.

“I’m proud of it. I owe a lot to ‘Philippine Idol.’ That show introduced me to the public. I’d like to think my title is prestigious. It’s not baduy!” Indeed, don’t count her out just yet. She’s confident about her place in Idol, and local pop, history even if GMA 7 is billing its new show as the first “Pinoy Idol.”

“‘Philippine Idol’ was a nationwide contest and I was the first winner. Orig ako (I’m the original); I’m the only one with that holds the title,” she asserts.

That title opened doors for her.

A good show

• An album (Sony-BMG’s “I Shine for You”). It changed my life and my family’s life for the better. I treasure all of these things.” She’s not resentful, either, that she failed to bring home last year’s “Asian Idol” crown which went to the Singaporean bet.

• She relates that her only goal at the time “was to enjoy myself … I just wanted additional exposure and experience. Who knows that contest may lead to an international singing career? I may get discovered!”She firmly believes “Philippine Idol” was a “good show … it’s just that ABC 5 isn’t as big as ABS-CBN or Ch. 7. That’s why it lost the franchise.”

• She admits that she sometimes feels impatient about the pace of her career. “I just lift everything up to God. But my manager (Sandra Chavez of Artist House) and I have been talking about some new things she’s working out for me.”