Golden Cañedo wins first ever The Clash Champion title.

Golden Cañedo and Jong madaliday on stage waiting for the announcement of the winner.

It was truly a “golden moment” for Golden Cañedo last night (Sept. 30) when she was declared the grand winner of the first ever “The Clash” singing competition. As such, she was the recipient of P4-million worth of prizes including an exclusive contract with GMA Network, P1-million in cash, a brand new car and house-and-lot from Bria, of which the figure key was handed her by the donor herself, Cynthia A. Villar.

Golden Cañedo, as grand winner of the first ever ‘The Clash’ singing competition, won P4-million worth of prizes including an exclusive contract with GMA Network, P1-million in cash, a brand new car and a Bria house-and-lot.

The diminutive but sprightly Golden couldn’t contain her happiness for emerging the grand champion of the unique singing contest when she met a group of entertainment writers after the announcement of her winning. Dubbed “Ang Golden Voice from Cebu “ Golden, the youngest of the contestants at age 16, expressed happiness, pride and honor not only for winning the title, but also for having been likened to pop princess Sarah Geronimo.

“Sarah G. is my idol and I am proud that people see in me the young Sarah kasi sobrang galing niya at sobrang sikat siya. Nagpapasalamat ako kanila, I really feel so blessed.” Her other idols, she said are Regine Velasquez-Alcasid who is the host and grand master of “The Clash,” and Morisette Amon.

Golden expressed: “I never expected to win although I did my best. Now I want to prove to all that I am deserving to be the winner of the first ever competition ‘The Clash’ by doing good in my forthcoming challenges.” She referred most especially to the soon to start musical show “Studio 7” and other GMA shows where she will be cast in. She also looks forward to try acting in movies.

She started singing when she was in kindergarten, Golden recalled. Her father was an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and when he returned, he made her join a barangay singing contest and she won. That started her passion for singing.

Golden’s first big dream was to be a flight stewardess. But with her height as obvious hindrance, she said “I focused my efforts to be a good singer instead.” She confessed she did not undergo formal lessons in voice (“it was only when I joined ‘The Clash’ that I had experience with voice coaches,” she said). She had YouTube as a good teacher too, where she learned songs and singing styles.

Golden had Jong Madaliday, “Ang Trending R&B Star of North Cotabato,” as her fiercest rival for the coveted title as “The Clash” grand champion. She floored one of the judges, Ms. Lani Misalucha, when she sang George Canseco/Basil Valdez’s song “Ngayon.”

Said Lani: “Sa unang few notes pa lang, punong-puno na ng puso. We are proud of you, you did a good job.”

This validated our belief that in a singing competition, it is of paramount importance that a contestant sings the right song to showcase his/potential to the utmost. Jong’s first song during his and Golden’s clash for the championship was perfect (it was full of emotion as judge Christian Bautista described); but his second and last song didn’t quite make the mark.

Golden, who was named so because of her brown skin with some golden marks in it, and after a 100-year old woman in their place told her mother that the girl would be her lucky charm. “Huwag daw ako ipalaglag dahil magiging swerte daw niya ako,” Golden revealed.

A senior high school student in Cavite, Golden and the rest of the clashers developed close bonding and friendship during the 13 weeks that they competed against each other in “The Clash” which premiered on July 7, 2018. Initially, there were 62 clashers from all over the country, trimmed down to the Top 12, then Top 6. On Sept. 29, Anthony Rosaldo was taken out, making the finalists only five, including Garrett Bolden, Golden Cañedo, Jong Madaliday, Josh Adornado and Mirriam Manalo.

Golden and Jong became close friends, always joking and telling each other “kahit sinong manalo basta may balato na 50 thousand.” So Jong, expect P50k as your balato from Golden!

A special award for being the “Most Loved Clasher” went to Esterlina Olmedo who received P100,000.

By the way, with her cash prize, Golden will be able to finance the operation of her nine-year old cousin who was born with a stomach problem (she couldn’t excrete body waste through her anus, she said, and she is being ridiculed for having a colostomy bag attached to her tummy). “I want to help her kaya nagpursigi akong manalo.”

Congratulations Golden!

• • •

Tidbits: Happy birthday greetings today, Oct. 1, go to Fr. Gerry Orbos, GMA 7 executive Marivin Arayata, Charo G. Yu, Charito Macalintal, Reginaldo Oben, president of Wallems Phils. Shipping, Inc., Vikki Lizzi, Ma. Elena Sen Lim, Juliet Lee-Uy, Mario Somera, Shirlee Castro, Jojo Lazaga Labrador, Reynald Oro, Liam Arden Escaño Nava, Angelica Noble, Rhoeda Farolan, Remy Umerez, Mico del Rosario, Ferdinand Estipona, Roberto Hernandez, Jr., Astrud Lev, Jerelyn Ramirez Palmis, Kevin Penarejo, Mary Ann Rebusa Dulfo, Ervin Aeron Cruz Santos, Macky Salas, Andrei Pido Caparas, Maricel Quinto-Comahig, Erwin Marquez, Engr. Emysol Menor, Te Barrun, Nanay Teresita Nuñez-Nantes, Renz Tunechi Miranda Raymudo, Glaiza Canta, Lyrico Mapa, Baby Annica Thea Solano, Lottie Mariano-Cruz, Reman Verano Lansangan, Ednal Accad, John Ray Selim, Nica Villacampa, Matt Baguinon, Vheck Olimpo, Zyrus Maralit, Shirley Agan, JR Masla, Jako Arceo, Jovy Buhain, Mary Jane Daguio Depra, Ian Nivadura, Norma Estadula, Tita Ma-ann Sayman Flores, Vivian Cruzada Añonuevo, KC Wales Anonuevo, Phoemela Baranda and Tom Rodriguez… Happy sacerdotal anniversary Fr. Herbert John Camacho… Happy wedding anniversary to Gerson and Vicky Sabido and Ailene and Mark Edwin Rivera.