Talentenista Season 3 Grand Champion Pauline Tolentino sings her heart out during the said event held at Roxas Grounds, August 14. Photo by Camela Mijares

A first year BSA student outperformed four other finalists during the 66th Ateneo Fiesta’s talent search competition known as Talentenista held at ADDU’s Roxas Grounds this morning.

Pauline Tolentino was hailed the Talentenista Season Three Grand Champion minutes after her own song rendition, Jaya Cambronero placed 1st runner up, and Regina Dominica Calo bagged the People’s Choice Award aside from being the 2nd runner up.

The program began with an opening remark from the Samahan Central Board President, Mr. Regel Asuero. “I hope we can still enjoy the fiesta even under the heat of the sun. For this year, we expect much from our very own talented Ateneans,” he said.

An opening salvo was presented by selected Atenean students to initially warm up the crowd with their dance moves which complimented the street-art graffiti backdrop on stage. Afterwards, five finalists from different divisions showcased their talents on the center stage.

Four of the finalists showed their own renditions of hit songs. A finalist, Manuel Perie Quano displayed a unique talent as he performed a track called “Sync” live directly from his laptop.

Intermission numbers were performed by James “Yoyo Boy” Apolonio and Franklin “Frank the Magician” Anota, both former Talentenista Grand Champions of Season 1 and Season 2 respectively. They were also judges of the said event with Mr. Romarico Robert Doctura, a current faculty in ADDU from the Schools of Art and Science in Mathematics.

The criteria for judging were 50% for overall performance, 25% from stage presence, and 25% audience impact.

After the winners were announced, awards were given out to the winners composing of gift certificates, consumable passes, and exclusive privileges from different sponsors of the fiesta.

Atenews interviewed Ateneans on what they think of this year’s Talentenista. “It’s okay. We expected more unique talents, but they were all good naman,” a student from the Humanities and Letter division said.

Overall, many Ateneans interviewed expressed opinions that this Talentenista disclosed mediocre performances in contrast with those of the past Talentenista events.