t's August 2005. A grand total of 3,500 acts from 51 nations are competing in the ninth annual World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Burbank , California . The host country, the United States , is fielding as many as 500 contestants. The Philippines has only two entries. And the overall winner is…!

Jed Madela from the Philippines!

The 26-year-old Jed, along with Rizza Navales, was one of two talents picked by GMA Artist Center head Ida Henares to represent the country. During the opening ceremonies, some participants even laughed when Jed and Rizza were introduced as the only performers from the Philippines .

“Dalawa lang kami, tapos ang laki-laki ng flag namin. It was really a humbling thing for us. Pero sabi naming, okay lang. we're here to enjoy, to have fun, and for the experience.”

For those who are not in the know, the WCOPA is by invitation only. Singers, dancers, models, actors, instrumentalists, and other performers are judged by agents, casting directors, and other entertainment representatives, who are also scouting for fresh talent.

At the end of the eight-day event, winners are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals and championship trophies. The two highest overall awards go to the Grand Champion Performers in the senior and junior division.

“It was really crazy!” Jed says of the frenzied elimination round. “Sobrang crazy! Ang gulo! It was takbuhan dito, takbuhan doon. One ballroom was for the singers, one ballroom was for the dancers, one ballroom was for the actors. Then yung hallway, ang daming nagtatakbuhan! May nag-aayos ng damit, may sumisigaw, parang palengke talaga!”

At the end of the elimination round, Jed had his hopes high for at least one medal. “We were kinda ninenerbiyos. Imaginin mo, 3,000 people, and they were going to give out medals for the best. Isa lang yung the best. So sabi ko, isang medal lang, okey na ako.”

When the host started announcing the winners in the various vocals category, Jed found himself going up the stage several times to receive his medals. It got to the point where the host told him: “I think you should stay onstage, because there's more.”

“So tumayo na lang ako doon,” Jed relates. “Sa six categories na I joined in, lahat nanalo ng gold!” Jed got his medals for these songs and categories: Aerosmith's “I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing” (pop), Gary Valenciano's “Take Me Out of the Dark” (gospel), “Home” (boardway), Martin Nievera's “Be My Lady” (original work), “I'm Your Angel” (pop duet), and “Last Night of the World” from Miss Saigon (broadway duet, sung with Rizza Navales).

There was more to come. Besides the six medals, Jed went on to win two plaques, bagging the Champion of the World-Overall Duo award with Rizza Navales and the Champion of the World-Male Vocals.

And all this was just for the first round! For the second round, the finals night, the more than 3,500 acts had been cut down to only 40. Jed's name was one of four included in the finals' vocals—solo category. By this time, Rizza was out of the finals as a solo performer, although she had won five gold and one silver and had qualified for the finals' duet contest.

Each performer was now required to sing only one song. Jed reprised Aerosmith's “I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing.” When it was time for the winners to be announced, the boy from Iloilo found himself praying hard.

“They announced the overall winners first—best singer, best dancer, best instrumentalist, model, lahat. So when they announced for the vocals category, “The Grand Champion Vocalist goes to the Philippines !', nagulat ako. Sabi ko, ‘Thank you, Lord, okey na to.” Then I moved back… I was not expecting too much na, kasi baka ma-disappoint lang ako.”

And still there was more. Once again, Jed was called onstage. He had won the songfest's biggest award—2005 Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World!

Jed's adventure didn't stop there. After winning the WCOPA title, he and Rizza stayed for another month in the US to meet with producers and agents.

“Ang dami ng offers—recording, acting for Hollywood . They wanted me to stay. They wanted to fix my papers and let me stay permanently there.”

But Jed decided to come home. “I want to share the victory with my fellow Filipinos muna,” he says. “I don't see myself giving my talents to the foreigners na hindi ko naibibigay pa sa Pilipinas. There's a lot more for me to give—my music—sa Filipinos. Dito muna, then next na sila.”

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