Madonna Decena
Encyclopedia
Madonna Decena is a Filipina
performer ane club singer in U.K who landed a spot in the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent. She had captivated both judges and the audience with her emotional renditions of popular love songs and her story, which is common among overseas foreign workers. She was one of the few non-Britons who made it to the semi-finals. Madonna’s accomplishment is significant to the Filipinos, being 100 percent Filipina, she epitomizes the millions of overseas Filipino workers sacrificing separation from their families just to give them a better future.
, she worked part-time to augment her parent's income.
with a degree, she had been performing as a singer in various lounges in the local scene before going abroad. she worked hard as the family’s breadwinner. In search of better-paying opportunities, she went to Singapore
to sing with a band. Being a single mother to two daughters, whom she left to the care of her parents in Quezon City
. In search of better-paying opportunities, she decided to try working in the UK. She sang in several music lounges in Manchester before being admitted to Steve Jones Entertainments based in Merseyside
, a small talent management company. However, she found the pay still not enough. This prompted her to audition for Britain’s Got Talent. In her interview with the Liverpool Echo
she stated “I was studying music in Manchester
, but I needed to get a visa to be able to work, so a friend suggested I get a manager who could help me,” she explains. Madonna found Steve, a manager based in Prescot
, and went to an open audition he was putting on for cruise ship singers. “Steve took me on straight away and helped me to get my visa. He and his wife even opened up their house to me. “He gave me confidence and encouraged me to apply for Britain’s Got Talent."
Madonna has become a crowd favorite in the ongoing search, especially after the three judges – Simon Cowell, actress Amanda Holdren and journalist Piers Morgan (who is also a judge in America’s Got Talent) – picked her for the semi-finals during the live audition at Manchester theatre.
When interviewed by Piers during the first round of audition, Madonna said she joined the show to be able to provide for her two young daughters, then cried uncontrollably before the gallery crowd.
The female judge, Amanda Holden, cried in sympathy which turned into awe as Madonna sang Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and belted the last line with such emotion and conviction that knocked the audience off their feet. After her semi-finals stint at Britain’s Got Talent, Decena decided to leave UK for home. With the help of Filipino boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, she had come back to the Philippines where she is expected to join the local entertainment industry.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
performer ane club singer in U.K who landed a spot in the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent. She had captivated both judges and the audience with her emotional renditions of popular love songs and her story, which is common among overseas foreign workers. She was one of the few non-Britons who made it to the semi-finals. Madonna’s accomplishment is significant to the Filipinos, being 100 percent Filipina, she epitomizes the millions of overseas Filipino workers sacrificing separation from their families just to give them a better future.
Early life
Decena already showed promise with her talent in singing. She began training at age seven. At age eleven, she began joining singing contests. By the time she became 16, she already made it a profession by singing with bands in several music lounges. Despite being a singer, she managed to do well in school, consistently being one of the students at the top of her class. By the time she became 16, she already made it a profession by singing with bands in several music lounges. She graduated high school from AMA Computer College. While she was finishing her degree in communications arts at Miriam CollegeMiriam College
Miriam College is a non-stock, non-profit Filipino Catholic educational institution for girls and young women in Quezon City, Philippines. It offers academic programs from pre-elementary to post-graduate and adult education levels that develop the learning and caring competencies of students and...
, she worked part-time to augment her parent's income.
Singing career
Decena graduated from Miriam CollegeMiriam College
Miriam College is a non-stock, non-profit Filipino Catholic educational institution for girls and young women in Quezon City, Philippines. It offers academic programs from pre-elementary to post-graduate and adult education levels that develop the learning and caring competencies of students and...
with a degree, she had been performing as a singer in various lounges in the local scene before going abroad. she worked hard as the family’s breadwinner. In search of better-paying opportunities, she went to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to sing with a band. Being a single mother to two daughters, whom she left to the care of her parents in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
. In search of better-paying opportunities, she decided to try working in the UK. She sang in several music lounges in Manchester before being admitted to Steve Jones Entertainments based in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, a small talent management company. However, she found the pay still not enough. This prompted her to audition for Britain’s Got Talent. In her interview with the Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
she stated “I was studying music in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, but I needed to get a visa to be able to work, so a friend suggested I get a manager who could help me,” she explains. Madonna found Steve, a manager based in Prescot
Prescot
Prescot is a town and civil parish, within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in Merseyside, England. It is 8 miles to the east of Liverpool city centre and lies within the historic boundaries of Lancashire. At the 2001 Census, the population was 11,184 .Prescot marks the beginning of the...
, and went to an open audition he was putting on for cruise ship singers. “Steve took me on straight away and helped me to get my visa. He and his wife even opened up their house to me. “He gave me confidence and encouraged me to apply for Britain’s Got Talent."
Britain’s Got Talent
Madonna has reached the semi-finals of the judges’ auditions for “Britain’s Got Talent.” If she makes it to the voting round, she will compete in live telecast of the final round on May 31, 2008.Madonna has become a crowd favorite in the ongoing search, especially after the three judges – Simon Cowell, actress Amanda Holdren and journalist Piers Morgan (who is also a judge in America’s Got Talent) – picked her for the semi-finals during the live audition at Manchester theatre.
When interviewed by Piers during the first round of audition, Madonna said she joined the show to be able to provide for her two young daughters, then cried uncontrollably before the gallery crowd.
The female judge, Amanda Holden, cried in sympathy which turned into awe as Madonna sang Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and belted the last line with such emotion and conviction that knocked the audience off their feet. After her semi-finals stint at Britain’s Got Talent, Decena decided to leave UK for home. With the help of Filipino boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, she had come back to the Philippines where she is expected to join the local entertainment industry.