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Sagana, Sune top inaugural CNMI Voice competition
Uncle Ben Studio staff, judges, and CNMI Voice Season 1 top winners pose for a group photo after the competition. (Jayson Camacho)
BonnieGio Sagana and Mica Ella Sune topped the CNMI Voice Festival Season 1 competition last Friday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi Purpose Center in Susupe.
Sagana came in first place for the teen division with a powerful rendition of You Raise Me Up, with the judges giving him scores above 90.
Sune, who sang Whitney Houston’s One Moment in Time, came in first place in the children’s division.
Sagana also got two more medals—the Quartermaster Award and the Voice Fest Fellow Award—plus $325 in cash.
The competition judges were 2014 Miss Marianas Teen Gianna Camacho, Northern Marianas College instructors Chavel Green and Zerlyn Taimanao, and martial arts instructor Tai Doram.
Top placers for both categories—teens and children divisions pose with their awards, trophies, and prizes. From left to right: Teen division third placer Angela Barbo, Miss Marianas Teen 2014 and judge Gianna Camacho, teen division second placer Mikaella Cunanan, teen division winner BonnieGio Sagana, Most Popular awardee for teens Ramhae Awit, children division third placer Hyena Kim, Most Popular awardee for children Shaina Dimalanta, children division winner Mica Ella Sune, children division second placer Alyson Camacho, and CNMI Voice judge Tai Doram. (Jayson Camacho)
After the competition, Sagana told Saipan Tribune he was amazed that he won against other great singers.
“I feel amazed because I think that the other contestants were really good. My parents and friends supported me and I would like to thank all of them for being here and doing what they could for me,” Sagana said.
“I chose this song because it best represents me and I dedicated it to my mother [Lyn Maglanque] because she supported me through my endeavors on CNMI Voice,” he added.
Sune surprised everyone with her powerful and strong voice despite being so young. Judges described her as impressive.
She got the first place trophy in the children’s division, $250 in cash, and a Best in Classical Music medal.
Thanks to her numerous sponsors, Ramhae Andrea Awit got the Most Popular Award. She received $400 in cash plus three medals: the Leadership Award, Community Service Award, and Music Excellence Award.
The Most Popular Award for the kids went to Shaina Dimalanta, who also got $250 in cash and a Best in Broadway Music medal.
Uncle Ben’s Studio manager Charry De Guzman said all competition participants went through six months of training.
“I’d like to thank all the parents because of their support throughout the training leading up to the grand finals. It ended successfully and we thank the sponsors who supported the competition,” she said.
The CNMI Voice Festival was the first competition hosted by Uncle Ben’s Studio. It will be soon hosting Season 2 of the competition.
