Fueled by the encouragement of her loved ones, School of Nursing (SON) Panthers’ freshman Tiffany Shane Vistal clinched the title despite facing health setbacks during her preparations.
Vistal credited the support of her family, friends, and seniors for encouraging her to push through the competition, particularly after she unexpectedly came down with the flu a week before the event.
“With the motivation from my ates and kuyas and the words from my mother, sa akong mga friends, they enlightened me to keep going gihapon… even though naga-freeze jud ko ug sipon and slight paos jud sa akong tingog… at least nagpadayun gihapon ko and I was able to connect what I wanted to say to the audience,” Vistal stated.
Vistal recounted how the illness affected her voice, leaving her unable to speak for nearly three days before the competition.
“A week before the competition, I suddenly had the flu and not only it affected my sinusitis, it also affected my voice. I almost didn’t talk for like almost three days and I remember crying.”
As a first-year nursing student off-stage, Vistal also shared how she balanced her academic responsibilities while preparing for the competition.
“We did our best to manage and balance our priorities… I learned a lot from them, sa akong mga ates and kuyas, especially as someone who is an artist and then also taking nursing. I learned how to enhance my skills in time management.”
The competition consisted of two rounds of medley performances featuring songs from popular theater musicals, with all nine participants competing in the first round, after which five advanced to the second and final round.
Vistal explained that she chose Wicked as the theme for her performances because she was drawn to the complexity of one of the musical’s characters, Glinda, since childhood.
“I always chose Wicked because Wicked has been a special part of my life and I’m connected to Glinda so much as a kid because I remember falling in love with her character, her complex character and I really wanted to show that Wicked isn’t only about Elphaba but also as Glinda.”
The Star Search champion emphasized that her performance aimed to highlight Glinda’s strength, further underscoring the lessons that audiences can learn from the character.
“I really wanted to show the people how complex a character Glinda is and her imperfections, her mistakes, her actions really reflect on Elphaba’s story and how she is a really good friend to Elphaba and I really want to show them that Glinda is also a strong character.”
Finishing as first runner-up was School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Tigers’ Johann William Ferrero, while Social Sciences (SS) Dragons’ Zeleeah Simone Salvador secured the second runner-up title.
This year’s Star Search was held on October 15 at the Bapa Benny Tudtud Auditorium.