Joy Carbonell: PrimeCredit’s champion

Joy Carbonell receives prize for winning the tilt from PrimeCredit executives

FILIPINOS love singing – whatever the occasion may be, music is always there.

PrimeCredit, a Hong Kong-based financial institution serving the migrant workers community in the city, supports and harnesses the Filipino’s passion and talent for singing.

In 2010, PrimeCredit launched “Superstar Search”, a singing contest for OFWs in Hong Kong.

The 4th Season of Superstar started in April 2016. A series of audition and elimination rounds were held all over Hong Kong to search for the next singing superstar.

Hundreds of hopeful contestants joined the most prestigious and credible singing contest for OFWs in Hong Kong. The semi-final round was held on September 18, 2016 at Lung Wo Road, Central wherein the judges selected eight grand finalists.

Once the grand finalists were chosen, they all underwent rigorous training sessions with the Superstar Search musical director Nobel Gabasan.

According to Nobel, the expectation for this season is higher than ever, as the contestants get better and better every season.

“Mahirap, pinakamahirap na season ito. Ang gagaling ng contestants.” Nobel also stressed that what he is looking for in all of the Superstar Search winners is the “IT” factor – the character, personality, regardless of how they look; someone who becomes so big when on stage. Nobel’s advice for the eight grand finalists was to “make the song become you, and you become the song”.

On November 27, 2016, the Grand Finals was held at West Kowloon Cultural District. Nobel, together with eight other judges, were faced with a difficult task – to select the next singing superstar.

There were three rounds during the grand finals. In the First Round, all eight contestants sang their chosen medley of two songs. Four contestants were chosen for the Second Round.

The top four then performed one song each. From four, only two moved on to the last round.

In the last and most intense round, it was Hong Kong-newbie Jerick Mora from Caloocan and returning contestant Joy Carbonell who were selected to sing an original composition of Nobel, titled “Munting Pangarap”.  This song is about every OFW’s ultimate goal in going abroad – to fulfill a dream, no matter what it may be.

“Yung idea ng Munting Pangarap ay nabuo dahil ang mga OFWs ay hindi nagta-trabaho para sa sarili nila, kundi para sa mga mahal natin sa buhay sa Pilipinas even if it means death to our own personal ambition”, shared Nobel.

In the end, Joy got the judges’ votes with her moving version of the song, and getting the most applause and cheers from the audience.

All eight contestants received a plaque, HK$1,000 gift voucher, and a Samsung Galaxy Mobile Phone.

Joy’s prizes for winning the contest are: Professional Singing Course, Makeover and features in media, plaque, a personal recording album, and P150,000 .

Joy is also the new brand ambassador of PrimeCredit. Truly, a Singing Superstar in her own way, PrimeCredit’s season 4 Grand winner is Joy Carbonell.

To cap off Joy’s wonderful night, PrimeCredit gave her a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sing with the Philippine’s rock maestro – Bamboo. They did a duet of the song “Man in the Mirror”, to the delight of the audience and Bamboo himself.

Joy is 39 years old and hails from Nueva Ecija.

“Dahil sa pagkanta ko, maraming nagbago sa buhay ko. From being mahiyain hanggang sa naging confident na ako sa pakikipag-usap at pagharap sa iba’t-ibang tao. Being a retuning contestant from Season 1, it was Joy’s ultimate goal to win the Season 4 tilt.

“Ang pagasali ko dito is already part of my journey. Unfortunately ‘di ako nanalo noong Season 1 (Joy was declared 1st runner-up of Dona Degamo, Season 1 grand winner). Natututo ako and now, sa season 4, gusto ko ipakita sa tao na yung unang paglagpak mo ay hindi katapusan. Kailangan mong bumangon, kailangan mong matututo sa pagdapa mo. At sa pagbangon mo na yon, haharapin mo ang bagong ikaw.”

Joy dedicated her performance to her mom Febe, her special someone Lea, and to all her supporters since Day 1.

Joy is very close to her mom and shares:  “Siya yung number 1 fan ko. Siya ang kakampi ko, sa ups and downs nandyan siya palagi.”

Last October, Joy shared that she wished her mom would be able to watch her sing live during the grand finals.

This wish came true. Not only was her mom able to see Joy sing live, but also got to witness Joy winning the Superstar Search Season 4 title!

About her special someone, Joy shares that Lea is her main support.

“Tuwing nanghihina ako, siya ang nagpapalakas ng loob ko. Siya ang strength ko. Without her, I’m not Joy. I’m not Joy Carbonell.”

After winning the competition, Joy will start to realize her dream, which she earlier shared.

“Ang dream ko is mag-iwan ako ng isang tatak dito sa mundo. Kahit mawala na ako sa mundo, ‘yung maririnig nila ang boses ko na buhay na buhay. ‘Yun ang legacy na maiiwan ko dito,” she said.

As part of her prizes for winning PrimeCredit’s Superstar Search Season 4, Joy has started training with Nobel , and will record her songs (all original compositions by Nobel) in February, which will be released digitally by PrimeCredit.

To follow Joy’s journey and stay updated with special offers from PrimeCredit, please “like” facebook.com/PrimeGems.