Lack of funds hobble Cha Cha Cañete, PH reps to Euro Pop Contest in Berlin

Remember Cha Cha Cañete, the four-year-old girl who caught people’s attention as Bulilit in a popular commercial for a real estate company?

The girl is still a Bulilit, but she’s 10 years old now.  Cha Cha has two silver medals at the World Championships of the Performing Arts (WCOPA),  is a consistent honor student in school, and has an album to her name.

Other reps

She is also one of six Pinoy delegates to the Euro Pop singing contest set in Berlin on November 27 (the Philippine organizer is looking for one more rep).

The other child contestant is Cabanatuan City’s Natalie Martinez, who can sing “Tomorrow” as if her life depends on it.

Joining Cha Cha and Natalie as part of the first Philippine delegation to Euro Pop is a roster of just-as-talented singers: Gleenette Gaddi, Ana Ramsey (singer Elizabeth Ramsey’s granddaughter) and  Gian Marla Gloria.

Charie Vega, who heads the group in charge of the Philippine  delegation, is looking for one more representative to the contest, whose Grand Prix winner will get 500 Euros and the honor of recording his or her winning song in Berlin for distribution all over  Europe.

Only Asian country

This year, the contest gathers participants from 18 European countries with the Philippines as the only Asian nation in the race. Judging the representatives are European pop stars, choreographers and other industry luminaries.

“I’m very confident we can bring home the grand prize. Iba  talaga mag-peform ang Pinoy.  When I submitted their (the delegates’) videos, walang nasabi ang founder ng  Euro Pop (Viktor Leis).”

Charie hopes the Philippines will pave the way for other Asian countries to join Euro Pop next year.

Fund sourcing

But first, she has to hurdle a big challenge: funds.

Veteran performer Elizabeth Ramsey, delegate Ana Ramsey’s grandma, laments that the government gives little support to Filipino talent representing the country abroad.

“Nagtataka ako bakit ang hirap humingi ng pera sa goberyno para dito. Kailangan talaga ng back up ng gobyerno. Nung panahon namin kay Marcos (the late president Ferdinand Marcos),  libre kaming lahat – ticket, hotel.”

Sponsors

That’s why Charie is moving heaven and earth to get sponsors for the delegates’ plane fare, hotel, food and other expenses in Berlin. She needs P1-miillion for that and is asking help from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts  (NCCA).

But nothing is final yet.  Charie says she’s waiting for funding approval from government higher-ups.

Till then, members of the talented Philippine delegation must be ready to burn a hole in their pocket to represent the country in an international singing tilt.

Let’s hope they don’t have to.