Philippine Idol Finalists - Finalists

Finalists

Maureen "Mau" Marcelo, from Lucena City, Quezon Province. A "veteran" in amateur singing competitions, she sang "Dahil Naroon Ka" (You Were Always There) by Jaya during the Luzon Main Auditions. She was dubbed as the "Soul Diva" during the competition, and won the title on December 10, 2006

• Semi-finals: "Sweet Love" (Anita Baker)
• Wildcards: "'Til My Heartaches End" (Ella May Saison) - Qualified for Finals, September 17
• Finals week 1: "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin" (Ariel Rivera/Regine Velasquez) - Hot Spot, October 1
• Finals week 2: "Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé)
• Finals week 3: "Ako ang Nasawi, Ako ang Nagwagi" (Dulce) - Bottom 3, October 15
• Finals week 4: "So Slow" (Freestyle)
• Finals week 5: "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston)
• Finals week 6: "Shy Guy" (Diana King)
• Finals week 7: "Mahal Naman Kita" (Jamie Rivera) - Bottom 3, November 13
• Finals week 8: "Diamonds Are Forever" (Shirley Bassey, from Diamonds Are Forever)
• Finals week 8: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (Jennifer Holliday, from Dreamgirls)
• Finals week 9: "My Funny Valentine" (Diane Reeves)
• Finals week 9: "Waray Waray" (Eartha Kitt) - Hot Spot, November 27
• Finals week 11: "Love Takes Time" (Mariah Carey)
• Finals week 11: "Balut" (New Minstrels)
• Finals week 11: "Try It on My Own" (Whitney Houston) - Winner, December 10

Jan Kurt Anthony Nieto, from Antipolo City, Rizal Province. A former Customer Marketing Manager for Unilever Philippines, he sang "Limang Dipang Tao" (A Five-Dipa-Long Queue of People)--a composition of Cayabyab—during the Luzon Main Auditions. He was dubbed as the "Hunky Idol" during the competition, and was one of two runners-up as announced on December 10.

• Semi-finals: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Simon and Garfunkel) - Qualified for Finals, September 3
• Finals week 1: "Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka" (Basil Valdez)
• Finals week 2: "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" (The Spinners)
• Finals week 3: "Umagang Kay Ganda" (New Minstrels)
• Finals week 4: "Tuloy Pa Rin" (Neocolours)
• Finals week 5: "Kailangan Kita" (Ogie Alcasid)
• Finals week 6: "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Ricky Martin)
• Finals week 7: "You Are My Song" (Martin Nievera) - Bottom 3, November 13
• Finals week 8: "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?" (Ogie Alcasid, from Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?)
• Finals week 8: "Corner of the Sky" (John Rubinstein/Paul Jones, from Pippin) - Bottom 3, November 20
• Finals week 9: "Beyond the Sea" (Bobby Darin)
• Finals week 9: "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra) - Hot Spot, November 27
• Finals week 11: "Say That You Love Me" (Martin Nievera)
• Finals week 11: "Quien Sera (Sway)" (Michael Bublé)
• Finals week 11: "Evergreen" (Westlife) - Runner-up, December 10

Giancarlo "Gian" Magdangal, from Parañaque City, Metro Manila. A former boy band member and musical theatre actor, he sang "The Last Time" by Eric Benét during the Visayas Main Auditions. He was dubbed as the "Livewire Idol" during the competition, and was the other runner-up as announced on December 10.

• Semi-finals: "Footloose" (Kenny Loggins)
• Wildcards: "Lately" (Stevie Wonder) — Qualified for Finals, September 17
• Finals week 1: "Himala" (Rivermaya)
• Finals week 2: "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (James Brown) - Bottom 4, October 8
• Finals week 3: "Give Me a Chance" (Ric Segreto) - Bottom 3, October 15
• Finals week 4: "Pare Ko"? My Buddy (The Eraserheads)
• Finals week 5: "Superstar" (Luther Vandross)
• Finals week 6: "Rock DJ" (Robbie Williams)
• Finals week 7: "Bakit Pa Ba?" (Jay-R)
• Finals week 8: "Sana ay Ikaw Na Nga" (Basil Valdez, from Eto Na Naman)
• Finals week 8: "Greased Lightning" (John Travolta, from Grease)
• Finals week 9: "They Can't Take That Away From Me" (Fred Astaire)
• Finals week 9: "The Very Thought of You" (Nat King Cole)
• Finals week 11: "The Impossible Dream" (Luther Vandross)
• Finals week 11: "Volare" (Gypsy Kings)
• Finals week 11: "Flying Without Wings" (Westlife) - Runner-up, December 10

Miguel Mendoza III, from Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila. A senior high school student of De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School who tried out during the Luzon Main Auditions, he was the youngest finalist in the competition and was fondly called as "Bunso" (Youngest Child) by his fellow finalists. He was eliminated on November 27. He was declared third runner up in Pinoy Dream Academy 2 on September 14, 2008.

• Semi-finals: "Highways of My Life" (The Isley Brothers) — Qualified for Finals, September 3
• Finals week 1: "Next in Line" (After Image)
• Finals week 2: "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green)
• Finals week 3: "Swerte-Swerte Lang" (Joel Navarro)
• Finals week 4: "Harana" (Parokya ni Edgar)
• Finals week 5: "Sandra" (Barry Manilow)
• Finals week 6: "Make It With You" (The Pasadenas)
• Finals week 7: "Hanggang" (Wency Cornejo)
• Finals week 8: "Growing Up" (Gary Valenciano, from Bagets)
• Finals week 8: "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" (Elton John, from The Lion King) - Bottom 3, November 20
• Finals week 9: "True" (Spandau Ballet)
• Finals week 9: "I've Got You Under My Skin" (Frank Sinatra) — Eliminated, November 27

Paula Patricia "Pow" Chavez, from Quezon City, Metro Manila. An openly-lesbian band singer, she was mistaken as a boy during the Luzon Main Auditions singing "I Want You Back" by Jackson 5. She was dubbed as the "Power Idol" during the competition, and was eliminated on November 20.

• Semi-finals: "Ikaw Lamang" (Janno Gibbs/Zsa Zsa Padilla) — Qualified for Finals, September 10
• Finals week 1: "Nakapagtataka" (Hajji Alejandro/Rachel Alejandro)
• Finals week 2: "You Got It Bad" (Usher) - Bottom 4, October 8
• Finals week 3: "Till I Met You" (Kuh Ledesma)
• Finals week 4: "Forevermore" (Side A) - Bottom 4, October 30
• Finals week 5: "For Once in My Life" (Spiral Starecase) - Bottom 3, November 6
• Finals week 6: "Got To Be Real" (Cheryl Lynn)
• Finals week 7: "Love Moves (in Mysterious Ways)" (Julia Fordham)
• Finals week 8: "So Far So Good" (Sheena Easton, from About Last Night...)
• Finals week 8: "I'd Give My Life For You" (Lea Salonga, from Miss Saigon) — Eliminated, November 20

Kenneth "Ken" Dingle, from Baguio City, Benguet Province. A former boy band member and hotel receptionist in Australia, he tried out during the Luzon Main Auditions. He was eliminated on November 13.

• Semi-finals: "More Today Than Yesterday" (Spiral Starecase)
• Wildcards: "A House Is Not a Home" (Dionne Warwick/Luther Vandross) — Qualified for Finals, September 17
• Finals week 1: "Di Na Natuto" (Gary Valenciano)
• Finals week 2: "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye)
• Finals week 3: "Magsimula Ka" (Leo Valdez)
• Finals week 4: "Ligaya" (The Eraserheads)
• Finals week 5: "Get Here" (Oleta Adams)
• Finals week 6: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (Stevie Wonder) - Bottom 3, November 6
• Finals week 7: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (Bryan Adams) — Eliminated, November 13

Cherry Anne "Apple" Chiu, from Carmona, Cavite. An interior designer by profession, she rendered an unusual R&B version of the novelty song "Ispageti Song" by SexBomb Girls during the Luzon Main Auditions. She was eliminated on November 6.

• Semi-finals: "Rhythm of the Street" (Patti Austin) — Qualified for Finals, September 10
• Finals week 1: "Ngayon" (Basil Valdez)
• Finals week 2: "Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin)
• Finals week 3: "Sometimes You Just Know" (Jaya)
• Finals week 4: "Wag na Wag Mong Sasabihin" (Kitchie Nadal)
• Finals week 5: "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Ella Fitzgerald/George Gershwin) - Bottom 4, October 30
• Finals week 6: "Lady Marmalade" (Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mýa, and Lil' Kim) — Eliminated, November 6

Armarie Lourdes "Arms" Cruz, from Zamboanga City. A band vocalist and daughter of late character actor Mohamad Faezal, she sang "Hiram" (Borrowed Time) by Zsa Zsa Padilla during the Mindanao Main Auditions. She was the only finalist from outside of Luzon, and was eliminated on October 30.

• Semi-finals: "Superwoman" (Karyn White) — Qualified for Finals, September 10
• Finals week 1: "Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi" (Didith Reyes)
• Finals week 2: "Respect" (Aretha Franklin)
• Finals week 3: "Anak"/ The Child (Freddie Aguilar)
• Finals week 4: "Makita Kang Muli" (Sugarfree)
• Finals week 5: "If I Believe" (Patti Austin) — Eliminated, October 30

Jellica Marie "Jelli" Mateo, from Pasig City, Metro Manila. A lounge singer/ model/ events host by profession, she wooed Idol judge Magalona with her rendition of "Someone to Watch Over Me" by Ray Charles during the Luzon Main Audition. She was eliminated on October 30, along with Cruz.

• Semi-finals: "Bridges/Travessia" (English/ Portuguese/ Tagalog version, Sérgio Mendes/Kevyn Lettau) — Qualified for Finals, September 10
• Finals week 1: "Iisa Pa Lamang" (Joey Albert)
• Finals week 2: "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey)
• Finals week 3: "Isang Mundo, Isang Awit" (Leah Navarro)
• Finals week 4: "Paglisan" (Color It Red)
• Finals week 5: "You Don't Know Me" (Ray Charles) — Eliminated, October 30

Reymond Sajor, from Lucena City, Quezon Province. A singer and theatre actor, he was the Grand Champion of Hamilton Talent Hunt in Ontario, Canada, who delivered "This is the Moment" from the musical Jekyll & Hyde during the Luzon Main Auditions. He was eliminated on October 15.

• Semi-finals: "Tell Her About It" (Billy Joel) — Qualified for Finals, September 3
• Finals week 1: "Hindi Magbabago" (Randy Santiago)
• Finals week 2: "I'd Rather" (Luther Vandross)
• Finals week 3: "Be My Lady" (Pedritto Montaire/Martin Nievera) — Eliminated, October 15

Paul Andrae Wilde "Drae" Ybañez, from Quezon City, Metro Manila. A charity volunteer by profession, he tried out during the Luzon Main Auditions. He was eliminated on October 8.

• Semi-finals: "What You Won’t Do for Love" (Bobby Caldwell) — Qualified for Finals, September 3
• Finals week 1: "Hang On" (Gary Valenciano)
• Finals week 2: "You're Still a Young Man" (Tower of Power) — Eliminated, October 8

Stephanie "Stef" Lazaro Bainbridgge, from Gold Coast, Australia. A singer by profession, she tried out in Australian Idol, but only reached the Theater Eliminations. She returned to the Philippines to try out during the Visayas Main Auditions of Philippine Idol. She was eliminated on October 8, along with Ybañez.

• Semi-finals: "Home" (Diana Ross)
• Wildcards: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler) — Qualified for Finals, September 17
• Finals week 1: "Pangako Sa 'Yo" (Rey Valera)
• Finals week 2: "Proud Mary" (Tina Turner) — Eliminated, October 8