Shielah Faye Labadan won the Grand Prize in the Embassy of Japan’s recently concluded J-pop Anime Singing Contest Grand Finals at the SM Cinema Centerstage in the SM Mall of Asia.
Shielah, who performed “Yuki no Hana” by Mika Nakashima also won an all-expense paid four-day trip to Japan.
A joint project of the Embassy of Japan, together with the Japan Foundation Manila and SM Cinema, the 10th J-pop Anime Singing Contest aims to create a platform for young Filipino talents to share their love for Japanese music and culture, which contributed to the further deepening of ties between Japan and the Philippines.
Racianne Castro Elorde won second place for her rendition of the song “Sincerely” by True, and Julius Matthews placed third for his version of the song “Marine Snow” by Sukima Switch in this showcase of Filipino talents sharing a mutual fondness for J-pop music and.
Special awards were also given to other finalists: Bandai Namco’s Best for Marjorie Gocela, Mayden, PatYam and Zaine Gabarda; and Toei’s Favorite for Tensai and Nicx.
The J-pop Anime Singing Contest panel of judges included the Embassy of Japan’s Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) Director Ms. Junko Sato, the Japan Foundation Manila Director Hiroaki Uesugi, All Nippon Airways Sales Manager Takahiro Kimura; Center for Pop Music Philippines Head for Sales, Marketing & Talent Management and Voice Coach JJ Manuel, and Toei Animation Philippines General Manager Nestor Palabrica.
